It Doesn't Have To Be Perfect
It just has to start.
Hello! I am Donna Matthew, a poet, performer, writer, thinker, feeler, seeker and liver of life. I began writing poetry in November 2020 and since then, I have set up ‘Poets in Paisley’ and Donna Matthew Creative. I produce events, write and perform, I’ve won a slam, lost two, started an Instagram Live series of monthly interviews with fellow writers and poets, called ‘Create The Life You Want’ - the inspiration behind this substack publication. I’ve produced events for the Paisley Book Festival and OneRen, performed at The Verb Garden at Belladrum, The Wee Gaitherin and SCAP Seahorse Festivals. In September 24, I was appointed Makar for the Scottish Women’s National Team (SWNT) Poetry Society as part of the Hampden Collection and my debut pamphlet, ‘Remembering Myself’ was published by Seahorse Publications in May 2024. Professionally, I have been an adult educator and trainer since 2010 and this year I began delivering in-person and online writing workshops, some of which integrate movement and mindfulness as I’m also a qualified yoga teacher.
I write about being human which, due to my yoga practice I view through a spiritual lens. I am interested in why I think, feel and do the things I do and writing has been my companion in this journey of self-discovery. Understanding myself helps me understand others and I find people endlessly fascinating. I’ve set up this substack as a place to collect and archive my writing, share free workshops and content, continue my monthly interview series and, I hope, write material for another book.
I write about the themes of selfhood, actualisation, mid-life metamorphosis, womanhood, humanity, spiritualism, yogic philosophy, poetry, literature, movement and mindfulness practices and how sometimes we need to revisit the past as a way of breaking free of the shackles that bind us to living an ordinary life. I am looking to connect with anyone thinking, writing, and living similar themes.
I have not turned on paid subscriptions yet until I figure things out. BUT!
I plan to post excerpts from my inner dialogue - the near constant chatter in my mind which is basically my own inner critic over-explaining to the ever-present judgey, gallery of rogues that live in my head. It is almost always gold! Who do you speak to when you think and write? do you have an imaginary audience? Is it just me? so many questions!
I have set myself a challenge to write 45 poems in 45 weeks about feelings, which will also have an accompanying prose piece. I hope this will be the scaffolding of my next book - This will likely be behind a pay wall to protect the content.
I will post up links to my monthly interviews with poets and writers.
I’ll post poetry performances.
I will share free (and eventually paid) writing workshop content
