Sunday, 20 April 2025

An Invisible Poets roadshow near you?



I mentioned on Live Poets Society UK recently that I was considering the possibility of taking Invisible Poets on the road. By that, I meant bringing a live poetry show with performances, interviews, book launch, open mic etc to a place near you. It's a grand ambition and quite daunting but not one that is impossible. I would need local organisers who were willing to commit to doing some local organisation, promotion and other preparation to make an event happen in their home town. So what would be involved? Putting on a roadshow can be complex, and work needs to go into organising, but there are some tried and tested formulae. 

Here are a few ideas and a checklist of things that would need to be in place to stage a successful Invisible Poets event in your home town.

1) We would need a secure venue. It doesn't need to be a massive space, just a place which is lockable, and where we can set up a small performance area, possibly with staging (not essential), and a power supply (required). Wheelsong Books would provide the public address system and lighting rig. Easy chairs for interviews would be required, depending on which poets are being interviewed. 

2) A table somewhere in the venue to display books and merchandising. Wheelsong would supply the materials for display, the merchandise and the paying facilities.

3) Publicity and promotion of the event. Wheelsong Books would publicise through social media, but it would also be up to the local organisers to put the word out that the event was happening, and to do this at least 4 weeks in advance of the event. 

4) Accommodation near to the venue if the host/MC/invited poets required overnight accommodation depending on the travel distances. 

Wheelsong Books would sponsor the event, and that would mean there would be a small ticket price which might also include free merchandise from the book stand. Ticketing would be managed by Wheelsong Books, through an electronic ticketing service, or pay on the door. 

The essential Invisible Poets Roadshow might include the following elements:

a) Headline performances by invited/guest poets

b) Performance by the host/MC

c) Interviews and question/answer sessions

d) Open Mic session

e) Specialist writing workshops (for all day or half day events)

f) Book launches and signings

g) Meet and greet sessions with authors

h) Social event

So who is up for organising an event, either somewhere in the UK (we can do these fairly easily) or farther afield? Please respond in the comments section beneath this post, or email wheelsong6@gmail.com to discuss this idea in more detail. 

Steve Wheeler

Image Copyright by Steve Wheeler, 2025

P.S. The first event is currently being organised in Derby, England, for Friday 30th May 2025. We aim to raise as much money we can for Save the Children, so please do come along if you can and support this event!


Tuesday, 15 April 2025

Images and Image


Several members of Invisible Poets showed their nastier side recently. They are all off looking for another poetry group now. 

My post about use of images, poets' over-reliance on their use, and the dangers of using copyrighted images went down like a stone balloon with some members. Perhaps I touched a nerve. I was called arrogant, narrow minded and a few other choice epithets. One even asked me who had made me 'the poetry police.' 

These are of course, all what we call ad hominem attacks in the philosophy world. Or in sporting terms... they were playing the man rather than playing the ball. I love a good debate, but when it comes to personal abuse, I don't tolerate it. Invisible Poets is founded on respect and care, and these individuals crossed the line. 

My points were twofold. 

Firstly I questioned the reason why some poets felt compelled to add images to their poetry (some are repeated selfies and other even less relevant, but spectacular images) when in fact good poetry has the capability to entrance with its words alone. In the words of one of our members, many images seem like click-bait. Other members said they scroll past the images because it puts them off reading those poems. 

My second point, perhaps even more importantly, was that many poets in the group are using copyrighted images. They clearly haven't checked to see if they can use them, and in doing so they run the risk of a lawsuit by the owners of the copyright. One person even remarked to me about 'my purist views'. I replied that they are actually legal views.

Let me make it clear. There are legal consequences. 

You should assume that nothing on the Internet is free-to-use unless it is clearly labelled as such. Most images, photographs, artwork etc are the property of someone. There have been several recent court cases where individuals have been sued successfully by the likes of Getty Images and the New York Times. The damages awarded are not small. If you use images without permission, or simply purloin them without thinking, you could be in serious trouble. It is not good enough to post an image and then state: Credit to the rightful owner or similar. This not only demonstrates that the poet has no idea where the image came from, it also shows their ignorance and laziness. Worse, it shows that they really don't care at all about their theft of someone else's property. 

I was trying to convey this warning to our members, but several were abusive to me. They didn't want to be told by anyone how they should behave online. This kind of incident certainly causes the bad ones to show their true colours. 

Here's some good news. There are plenty of sites where you can obtain and freely use images, photographs and graphics. Unsplash and Pix4free are very good sites to use for non-copyrighted materials. Another way to find free to use images is by using Google search and selecting Images. Next go to Tools, and select Usages Rights. Find Creative Commons Licenses and then you can check the free-for-use licences of images available. 



Finally, let me repeat it here for anyone who cares to listen: If you must use images, please make sure a) you own them yourself b) they are licensed for free use, or c) you have permission from the owner of the image. 

Steve Wheeler

Image used under a Creative Commons Licence



 

Monday, 14 April 2025

Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6

Do you want to be a part of something really great? Something that is far more than just poetry? Something that will leave a lasting legacy and do some good in the world? We are about to publish the latest anthology in our charity series. It's number 6 in the series in our efforts to make lives better for underprivileged children around the world.

Wheelsong Books was established in the UK in 2020 as a not-for-profit organisation. Its mission statement is twofold: To give emerging poets the means to reach larger audiences and to help those who are in need. Since then, Wheelsong Books has published more than 50 books including ten charity poetry anthologies. Here are some of our anthology statistics: 


(This is a total of 2,305 poems written by more than 650 poets representing 112 countries across all 6 continents) 

All the above books are still available on Amazon and through other online outlets, including Waterstones (UK) and Barnes & Noble (USA). The proceeds from Amazon sales of these books is donated directly to Save the Children - a worldwide charity that cares for children in crisis, providing emergency nutrition, health care, medicine, safety and education. At the time of writing, Wheelsong Books has donated £8,350.00 ($11,000.00) to Save the Children and we are not done yet! At the end of October 2025 we plan to publish Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 7.

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Dear poet, here is the bottom line... You have been given an amazing creative gift ... your ability to capture your thoughts, ideas, memories and emotions and present them as beautiful, evocative words. 

You can, if you want to join us, use your wonderful talent to freely give back a little to children who are in desperate, often life-threatening situations

We all want our poetry to be read and appreciated by others. Publishing your work in Wheelsong Poetry Anthology 6 will ensure that you gain a new audience for your poetry, but that's not the most important aim! 

Better than that is this ... your poems will be helping to raise much needed funds to support children in crisis. You will also retain ownership of your poem, and Wheelsong Books will protect and administer your copyright for you. 

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To be considered for inclusion in the review process you will need to follow these instructions very carefully:

Firstly, do not bother to submit your poetry if you do not intend to buy at least one copy of the book. We will expect you to pledge to buy at least one copy direct from Wheelsong Books if your work is published. This is a charity publication, and all profits from Amazon sales will go to help children in crisis. If you're not prepared to invest in helping children, we won't be publishing your poetry (we are dismayed that around two thirds of featured poets do not purchase a copy of the anthologies once they have been published). Please give more than you take, because this is not about you or about Wheelsong Books - it's about helping children who are in desperate need. 

Secondly, only submit poetry that is a) your own work and b) has not been subject to any other publishing agreement. Poetry you've shared on Facebook and other social media is fine, but please do not send in work that has been published elsewhere, and is subject to another publishing contract. That could lead to legal action. The editorial team will also reject poems if we suspect they have been either plagiarised in part or whole, or generated partly or wholly through artificial intelligence.

Thirdly, submit up to 3 poems as either plain text or in a Word file via email direct to this email address: wheelsong6@gmail.com. Submissions by any other means will not be considered. Poetry submitted as images or photos will not be considered, nor will links to other sites. Please supply a title for each of your poems. Please also supply your real name - we will not publish works by poets using pseudonyms. 

And before you ask: There is NO specific theme. Write about what you want. 

Finally, all poems submitted will be subject to review by our editorial team. Your poetry will be anonymised (your name blanked out) so the editorial team can't see who you are. If your poetry is selected, you will be informed via email and a publication agreement will be sent to you for you to complete and return. Your work will be then published under your name. If your work is not accepted for publication, you will receive an email informing you of the team's decision. No correspondence other than via email will be valid. Please don't try to text or direct message us. We won't answer. 

The window for submission is now open, and will be closed at midnight (UK time) on Sunday April 27, 2025. Any submissions received after this time/date will be rejected. If there is an extension to this date, you will be informed. The editors' decisions will be final. 

Please Note: Shorter poems are more likely to be accepted for publication than longer pieces - space will be limited in the book due to resource and production limitations. Several poetry groups will participate, including Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven. Poets from outside these groups are also eligible to take part, so point them to this blog, and keep visiting this blog to find out news as it unfolds. We look forward to reading your submissions. Good luck! 

Steve Wheeler (Editor in Chief) 

Photo courtesy of Save the Children

Tuesday, 18 March 2025

Sowing the poetry seed


You and I both know--because we are poets--that poetry is one of the greatest, most expressive art forms there is. We also know that it takes a lot to convince some people that it's a worthwhile pursuit. Often we are met within indifference, apathy. It's clear that some others don't share our passion. 

"Yeah, well. Not really into poetry..."

"Too many thees and thous for my liking..."

"Poetry is boring..."

I'm sure you've heard these types of remarks before. I certainly have. Many times. It's a shame because poetry can be very exciting, dynamic, liberating, inspirational. 

As a poet you owe it to your friends to switch them on to something good!

So what does it take to get people interested in poetry? Well, you need to sow some poetry seed.  Here are a few things you could try:

1. Buy your friend/family member/work colleague/cell mate a copy of one of a great poetry book. One of the Wheelsong anthologies for example. They are packed full of premier poetry, and the poems are diverse. There's something in these books for every possible taste.

2. Show them a video of a poet performing their work. The more dynamic the performance, the more impact it will have. 

3. Set them a challenge to write a poem. Get them to read it out, and then, together, go through it to find the strong points, and areas where it can be improved.

These are all great ways to encourage people to get interested in poetry, but the last one is probably the most powerful. If they realise they can write their own poetry, they will definitely start to build an interest. 

Steve Wheeler 

Image used under a Creative Commons licence

Thursday, 6 March 2025

Why some poets use Artificial Intelligence


In my previous post I explored why some people behave badly online. As a psychologist, it fascinates me, but I guess I have an insight into online behaviour from twenty years of academic research. I would argue that this makes Invisible Poets one of the safest online poetry groups in existence. This... and the fact that we also have a computer science expert on our moderator team...now, how many other poetry groups have that?

You see, one aspect of bad online behaviour, and indeed bad poetry behaviour, is the fact that some individuals resort to using artificial intelligence to write their poetry for them. As if this was not bad enough, they then have the gall to claim it is their own work. They are quickly found out and subsequently ejected from Invisible Poets. We use various software to detect AI generated poems, but we don't always need it. AI generated poetry is not that hard to detect. When we spot an AI poem we then delete the post and if necessary (especially for repeat offenders) we eject the 'poet' from the group. They are often simultaneously banned from several other affiliated online groups. 

Why is posting AI generated poetry such a crime?

Firstly it's dishonest. If you use AI to write a poem and then post it to a group with your name attached, you are deceiving the members of the group. Those who do this are firstly touting for responses, likes, comments etc. Maybe they do so because of some psychological inadequacy. More likely they do it because they are lazy or untalented. They do so because they want a short-cut to being recognised by the poetry community. Sadly, many poets are taken in by the deception. 

Secondly, it's plagiarism. If you use an AI model to write poetry, you can be assured that what it is really doing is trawling the web and finding work written by poets, which it then captures and uses in its construction. That's essentially stealing from poets some of whom may rely on their writing to earn their living. 

Thirdly, it's a terribly shallow way to produce poetry. Often the AI model doesn't construct a poem in a way that makes it emotional, or full of soul. That's because the AI model has no emotion or soul. The work tends to be shallow, unconvincing, and certainly predictable. The end rhymes suck. The meaning is often lost because then end rhymes are forced. There is often no meaning or direction in the poem. It is bland and uninspiring. 

There are numerous tell-tale signs that a poem has been written by AI. I won't bore you with details here, but when our Admin and Moderator team spot a poem that seems to be AI written, they are often correct. 

Why do people resort to AI generated poetry? My view is that they are either lazy, or lacking in any literary or creative talent. They are simply jumping on the bandwagon to see if they can gain some quick influence. Some have actually published entire books of so-called 'poetry' that has been completely written using AI. That's not just dishonest and lazy, it's also probably fraud in some legal contexts.

So if you are tempted to use AI to write a poem, don't do it. You'll be found out. You'll be ejected from the group. And you will be embarrassed when you are called out.

Steve Wheeler

Image used with a Creative Commons Licence

Wednesday, 5 March 2025

Behaving Badly Online


As a psychologist, I'm fascinated by how people behave, and I founded my academic career on researching how people behave when they are online.

Invisible Poets and several of the other poetry groups I run are online. This means I have a vested interest in understanding how poets conduct themselves in online spaces.

One of the key factors of online life is anonymity. There's a great cartoon showing two dogs at a computer screen. One says 'Nobody knows you're a dog on the internet!' 

People can, and sometimes do mask their identities online. Many don't share their real names or prefer to use noms-de-plume (as conventional writers have done for centuries), and this affords some kind of anonymity. Unfortunately some (a very few thankfully) see this as an opportunity to behave badly. 

They feel that because they are anonymous, they can behave as they like and there will be no consequences. It's similar to the abuse you might get from another motorist. The other driver feels once removed because they are safe in their own vehicle. They wouldn't dream of shouting abuse at you if you were together, face to face in one room. In psychology this is known as disinhibition. Individuals feel less socially inhibited because of their context, in this case hiding behind a fake digital avatar or persona. They think this gives them licence to act like idiots.

Bad online behaviour takes many forms, from abuse and trolling, through stalking and misogyny to masquerading as someone else. Commonly in poetry groups, the individual pretends to be interested in your work and then offers to promote or publish you. Often they are simply trying to appeal to your vanity so they can exploit you.

Others do their best to scam you out of money by pretending to be down on their luck, or in debt, or suffering a serious illness. There are also a few blatant plagiarists out there (more on this in my next blog post) who have no scruples about stealing your idea and pretending it's theirs. 

Any and all of these types of individuals are removed from my groups without a second chance. There is no strike two. And that, dear friends is how we try to keep our poetry groups safe. You can help, by calling out these bad behaviours and informing Admin if you spot them. 

Steve Wheeler 

Image used under Creative Commons License from Pexels

Thursday, 20 February 2025

Well Being

Gambian school children

The heat shimmered as I sat on a wooden bench in the dry mud compound. I was listening to the Head Man of the village as he spoke. His words were translated by our guide for the day, a wizened little man called Lamin. In Gambia everyone is called Lamin. The Head Man was telling us of life in the compound, where there was no running water, no electricity ... just open fires. It sounded like an extremely hard life compared to our very comfortable lives in the UK. He had proudly shown us his home - a crudely built brick building with a tin roof, a dirt floor and a single room for all his family to sleep and live in. I stepped back out into the bright light of the African sun with tears in my eyes. 

As the Head Man spoke, I noticed children - school age children - toiling back and forth behind us, as they staggered through the dry heat carrying plastic buckets filled with water. 

When there was time for questions, I asked the Head Man why the children were not at school. In Gambia, school is offered free to children between the ages of 4-11. After this, if the family are not able to pay, the young boy joins the workforce, usually working hard as a fisherman or farm hand, with the girls ending up marrying and bearing children. Either that or the young boys would work the beaches as Bumsters, trying to solicit tourists for money by offering sex. There isn't a great future for a Gambian youth if they have no credentials. Education is coveted, but in this case, the children seemed to be missing out.

The Head Man replied that the children were needed to fetch water from a well, so their mothers could cook and wash clothes. The nearest well, he explained, was two kilometres away, because the well in their own compound had collapsed due to the heavy vehicles passing by. I asked him how much it would cost to repair the well. He began to get upset, and pretty soon several women in his compound also began to cry. It is too much money, was his message. More than we could ever afford. 

It emerged that the cost of a new well would be impossible for these poor Gambian farmers to afford, but for me and my students, all from the affluent West, it would be a simple case of going back to our university and raising the money through some charity activities. Six months later some of our staff and students returned to Gambia with enough money to drill the villagers a new well.

Now the children can go to school. Sometimes the solution really is that simple. 

If you buy copies of the new Invisible Poets Anthology 2, and/or Invisible Poets Anthology 3, you will be contributing to Wheelsong Books' charity funds in our drive for Poetry Against Poverty.

This money goes to support Save the Children in their mission to help underprivileged children across the globe.  You'll be doing some lasting good for the price of a few cups of coffee. 

Steve Wheeler

Thursday, 13 February 2025

Life in Mali


If you've been around long enough, you'll know that Wheelsong Books and Invisible Poets are supporting Save the Children - a worldwide fund that provides emergency relief and education opportunities for children in crisis. Many of the Wheelsong Books are sold to raise funds for these efforts, and the latest two Invisible Poets anthologies - jammed packed with almost 500 poems from members - is now on sale to continue our pledge to support Save the Children. 

Here are a few stories about how the charity provides safe, educational and creative spaces for children around the globe:

The photo above is of Ousmane, a young boy living in the African state of Mali. The country has been torn by civil war for decades, and many children have been orphaned and displaced. Ousmane fled the violence that killed his father and now lives with his aunt. Save the Children is funding a school in Mali to educate young children, and Ousmane is one of those who have benefited from this initiative. Ousmane says he has thrown himself into his studies and 'I have strength. I am brave. No-one works harder than me.'

It can't have been easy for young Ousmane, but as with many thousands of other children, Save the Children is providing safe spaces for children to build for a brighter future. People like you, who are supporting Wheelsong's initiative to create poetry books are making a huge difference. Please buy copies of the new anthologies to continue to help these needy children.

Steve Wheeler




Monday, 13 January 2025

How to become an experimental poet

Wheelsong Books has published a new book. This one is not a poetry collection, but is a guide to experimental poetry. Consider it a companion to consult on your journey to becoming a better writer. For member of Invisible Poets, Wheelsong Poetry, Pure Poetry and Safe Haven, all copies can be purchased at half price (Amazon price) by emailing wheelsong6@gmail.com.

About the book

Creative Deviance: How to Become an Experimental Poet is an interactive textbook that empowers aspiring poets to break free from tradition and embrace the art of creative risk. Blending theory with hands-on practice, this guide explores the techniques, history, and philosophy behind experimental poetry, from dismantling conventional forms to crafting hybrid works that blur the lines between genres. Packed with prompts, insights, and more than 50 practical exercises, Creative Deviance offers tools to unlock your unique voice and push the boundaries of what poetry can achieve. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just beginning your poetic journey, this book is your blueprint for innovation and self-discovery. Read more at this link.

About the author

Steve Wheeler says he has never really fit in anywhere. He wears it as a badge of honour. He is a performance poet and creative deviant and loves to experiment with all forms of art. A former academic psychologist and lecturer, Steve now spends a lot of his time creating his own versions of music, poetry and many other strange things.

At 16 years, he attended Hereford College of Art where he studied fine arts, graphic design and photography. The latter led him into a career in learning technology, and ultimately a position as Associate Professor in Education at a large British university. He holds a Research degree in philosophy, a Bachelor degree in psychology, a Masters degree in research methods, and two Teacher certificates.

He lives in the Ocean City of Plymouth, on the beautiful southwest coast of England. During his career he has authored a multitude of academic texts and more than a dozen poetry books. Steve is founder of Invisible Poets, one of the fastest growing and most innovative poetry groups on the Web. He is has been a composer member of the Performing Rights Society since 1984, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2013.

A sample from the book 

Experimental poetry should be viewed as more than just a slightly oddball pursuit; the methods contained within experimental poetry can become vital tools for honing your writing skills. Further, it may even make your poetry stand out from the crowd. As we will see in this book, challenging traditional structures and conventions, experimental poetry encourages writers to think outside the box, bolstering their creativity and helping them to innovate their craft.

One of the key benefits of engaging with experimental poetry is the development of linguistic agility. Writing in unconventional forms—whether through fragmented syntax, nonlinear narratives, or abstract imagery—pushes writers to explore a vast range of expressive potential. Furthermore, experimentation with sound, rhythm, tempo and visual arrangement helps poets to learn how they can manipulate tone, mood, and meaning in a number of nuanced ways.

Furthermore, experimental poetry cultivates a deeper understanding of form and structure by requiring writers to invent or subvert them. Through this process, poets become more aware of the implicit rules that govern conventional writing and gain confidence to break them with purpose. This freedom opens the door to new styles, genres, and modes of storytelling.

Experimentation also increases a poet’s appetite for taking risks. By embracing uncertainty and stepping out into unfamiliar territory, poets learn to approach their craft with greater boldness and curiosity. The lessons learnt from failed experiments and crumpled sheets of paper under the desk can often be as valuable as those you gain from successful ones. Failure can foster resilience and flexibility. You should never fear it.

Steve Wheeler


Wednesday, 8 January 2025

Finding Your True Poetic Voice and Why it’s Crucial to Experiment With It


 









Hello growing poets! Have you ever read poetry from another artist and said to yourself “I wish I could write like that”? Have you ever struggled to find unique approaches or “ technical specialties” to further broaden the uniqueness of your work of art? In this blog, I will discuss a few ways to help ensure consistent originality in your work no matter what form you decide to use (including freestyle). 




1. (Explore Unfamiliar Themes)


Try challenging yourself to write about topics outside your comfort zone. Delving into new themes can spark creativity and lead to unique perspectives, ideas that help distinguish your voice. It’s overall crucial to experiment to find a solid foundation for your body of work. 




2. (Engage in Free-writing)


This is another handy technique used in multiple different ways, but a notorious way is to set a timer for ten minutes and write without stopping. (You can do this without a timer.) This stream-of-consciousness approach can at times unlock hidden thoughts and feelings, revealing aspects of your voice that may not surface through structured writing. Although not always an effective approach, when it is, I find people really make impactful work. I compare this to being a musician; sometimes the songs you create the quickest and with the least thought end up having the most soul. Something to definitely ponder on. 


3. (Create a Personal Lexicon)  


Do you ever come across a word that you don’t know what it means in a poem? Does this at times make you lost at the inner poem’s meaning? Have you ever read a poem so well written that you understood what a word meant because of the context of its placement even without knowing the definition? I find vocabulary to be essential in adding originality and flavor both to your works. A recommendation to utilize this would be to develop a list of words, phrases, or images that resonate deeply with you. What I used to do is write a word down I’d come across not knowing the meaning and then writing the definition until the word becomes memorized. Incorporate these into your poetry to create a signature style that will majorly reflect your individuality. A thesis can be a handy friend for this aspect as well. 


4. (Experiment with Sound, Rhythm, and Counting Syllables.)

   

Play with the musicality of your words through Alliteration(Repetition of initial consonant sounds)

Assonance (Repetition of vowels sounds within words.)

Also, try counting syllables (Units of sound in a word.)

Always seek new creative ways to enhance your poem’s flow. This exploration of sound can lead to a distinctive flow that enhances your originality and poetic voice.




5. (Reflect on What Resonates With You)

   

Identify poets or works that inspire you and analyze what draws you to them. By understanding your influences, you can consciously weave elements into your own style while ensuring it remains distinctly yours. For example, look at poems that resonate with you and try to pinpoint why that particular poem resonates with you? Was it a part of the rhythm? Poetic devices or implied techniques? 




6: (Never Slave To a Poetic Form or Rhyme)


Sometimes using structured approaches, forms and techniques can be fun and effective but also breaking the rules can at times be more effective. Have you ever read a poem and felt a word was placed only because of its rhythm even though it adds nothing to the construct of the piece of art? This is often called force rhymes and most of us have done it prior at one point or another. When in this rut find and focus on a word that benefits your poem and adds more value to it as a whole than just the rhythm. Oftentimes, in my own work I do this and I’ve found that you can use a word that has nothing to do with the rhythm and if effectively used not only can it add value to the poem as a whole but also can maintain the flow of the poem just as effective as a rhyming word. 




I use all of these methods in my own writing and I would encourage you to experiment with these handy topics and techniques. If applied correctly and effortfully I can GUARANTEE these will help you not only improve the originality of your work but you will also find your poetic “voice” as well as finding your footing in this vast poetic world. 



By: Brandon Adam Haven 

Photo from: Brandon Adam Haven 

An Invisible Poets roadshow near you?

I mentioned on Live Poets Society UK recently that I was considering the possibility of taking Invisible Poets on the road. By that, I meant...