Alan Mitchell Creative

23/02/2026

Keith an I are off to Millfields Hotel tomorrow evening for a pre-Litfest gathering (there can be more than one) and then the actual Festival day on Wednesday.

So looking forward to seeing and mixing with other creatives and receiving our prize for coming FIRST with our Original song ‘Dark Moonlight’!

See you at University Centre Grimsby on Wednesday!

21/12/2025

It’s always an amazing thing, to enter an open competition. To put your work and hopes up to be reviewed and judged by others who have no idea who created what they are (hopefully) enjoying.

For this years’ Hammond House International Literary Prize, I entered all 5 categories. Just, well because I thought I would.

I am so pleased to share with you that with Keith Melhuish, we came …

FIRST in the PERFORMED SONG category with ‘Dark Moonlight’

SECOND in the LYRICS category (music for the song by Keith Melhuish) with
‘Empty Houses’

and for about my fifth ever ‘proper’ script I came THIRD with my Script ‘What Occurs at a Funeral Stays at a Funeral’.

This is astonishing! I had one of my poems shortlisted in the poetry category and I am so proud and pleased that the motivation to enter the Awards, the hard work to create, edit, polish and enhance the work before submitting, paid off.

Congratulations to all those who entered, those who were shortlisted, those who achieved the various places in the five categories and to my friend, muse and music partner Keith Melhuish, thank you so much for everything you do.

This was all unexpected but very welcome,

Finally, thank you to the Team at Hammond House for their continuing support and providers of inspiration (and perspiration) to creatives from over 40 countries - without your work and support this would not happen!

17/12/2025

I had some very sad news recently. News that a man I respected, liked hugely, enjoyed spending time with and who was a thoroughly decent and talented person, passed away suddenly after hoping his cancer was in remission.

On my alanmitchellwriting.co.uk site I explain a bit about how I met Dave and Caroline, and how much I loved being their friend.

I have been writing poems for over 50 years and the loss of this wonderful man from my life moved me to write one for him.

It will be included in my new collection next year, joined by over 100 others and many of them are important for me. This one is perhaps a little more important than others.

I have Caroline’s kind permission to post it for which I thank her and I hope she is not disappointed should she read it.

It’s called…

DISTANT HOME

This won’t be the best poem written
We both know that you deserve more
Your smile, and that voice! ah so special!
We all knew what you were here for

That twinkle in eye and your humour
would captivate those that you met
You touched many lives it is true
we thought that you weren’t done just yet

We loved you I guess, in a quiet way
Respected you, bathed in your glow
The warmth you gave off was a furnace
So why my Dear Friend must you go?

I know that lives end, we all know it
It’s written up there in dark stars
Yet now, on that day, there’ll be flowers
dark suits and the darkest of cars

There are tears and I know I have shed some
for the loss of you shatters us all
I am sure in your heart you were certain
we would mourn you when you had the call

We may say our goodbyes to a friend here
see flowers and people pass by
If you’re watching us, smiling and nodding
you’ll understand why some then shall cry

I may say my farewell to you here now
drive back to my now distant home
But know my dear friend I’ve not left you
In my heart will I carry you home

Bed, Home, Lincs, 0032
Friday 12th December 2025

For Dave

The poetry and prose of Alan Mitchell

09/12/2025

Pleased to have had one of my poems make the shortlist for the 2025 Hammond House International Literary Awards!

I was also pleased and amazed to have one of my (very few) original scripts shortlisted for the scriptwriting category! This is truly astonishing, as I’ve written less than 10 ‘proper’ scripts in my life! (I was really happy with the one I submitted however.)

So pleased and happy at how this competition provides sustained motivation and support for people like me to create work they can be proud of, no matter of any ‘success’ within the competition itself.

There are so many amazing stories, scripts and other work in existence that otherwise would never have been created, all because of the stimulus to create this event provides.

That is something to be proud of.

29/11/2025

Thought I’d do something new - a fleeting mini adventure if you like.

I’ve never done a Craft Fair as a seller and didn’t know what to expect, but I was hoping to cover the £10 cost of the Table!

Well, I’ve more than covered that, have sold a few books and a couple of CDs and even have to send someone an MP3 version of one of our albums (she bought a CD but doesn’t have a CD player)!

I’ve not made a lot, but it’s an experience I’ve not had up to now and although I can see why just about every other table has two people on it - not for sales but for having someone to talk too - I’ve met some nice people and even close neighbour who didn’t know there was a poet nearby.

There are worse ways to occupy a very rainy Saturday!

28/05/2025

The second of my new books - my poetry collection from last year. I have always had a fascination with time and it’s a repeating theme within all of my work. Plus, I buy into the idea picked up from Henri Cartier-Bresson of capturing ‘The Decisive Moment’.

A moment in which you capture something that, if not recorded right then, right there, then it will be lost forever. I think my poetry is like that, delicate moments captured, if not delicately, at least with as much skill as possible.

This has over 100 poems across a huge range of experiences and perspectives. Incredibly personal but again in monthly ‘Chapters’ that record the world year around me as it passed.

I have copies for sale of course and would be delighted if anyone with a shop, cafe, antiques or other type of establishment would like to host some within their emporium!

(I had several of my books for sale at Battlesbridge Antiques Centre in Essex where they sold well for several years.)

I’ll even sign a copy for you!

Here’s to poetry…

28/05/2025

It’s taken a while to get in print, but here’s the first ‘unboxing’ I’ve done for over a year.

It’s my new collection of 5 short stories. All of them were written as a direct result of a (continuing) desire of mine to enter the Hammond House International Literary Awards (2023 and 2024).

One of the stories - Headshot - was shortlisted in 2024 and another - Timing - has been turned into a narrated short story with music and effects by my very good friend and muse Keith Melhuish.

Copies of the CD version will be available to buy on high quality CD and it will be available to listen too on streaming platforms soon.

None of them ‘won’ anything per se, so are perhaps from one perspective ‘unwanted’. Yet without HH they would likely never have been written.

The title, therefore, is completely tongue-in-cheek and it’s a celebration of new writing and the inspiration derived from places outside your own head.

Thanks HH for all you do locally and internationally and I know I’m not the only writer who creates pieces stimulated by the motivation of the yearly Festival.

Physical books are available to buy and if you’re not careful I will even write in it for you (thereby reducing the value by 20%!).

Should you want one then, until I can get some into a local outlet (not easy), just get in touch and I’d be glad to sell you one (or more)!

Here’s to creativity in all its forms and sources!

16/04/2025

I attended the Writing East Midlands Writers Conference 2025 held at Lincoln University at the weekend. (It really hurt for the next two days!) A day to luxuriate and be among a fellow creative 'family' with lots to see, many people to speak too and new friends to make. It was something I didn't want to miss although I had no idea just what the event would be like as I've never been to one before.

There were a lot of writers, poets and professionals of the publishing (and similar) persuasion, and many different sessions to sit in on and enjoy and/or learn from and a number of stalls to visit and buy from the authors direct. I didn't get to talk to everyone I wanted to and the 'Open Mic' slot I participated in was a bit rushed and overall a bit too frenetic for my aged mindset, but I enjoyed it a lot.

It was a great and incredibly tiring adventure but the absolute best discovery of the day are the two Ladies seen in the photo. In alphabetical order only, first (on the right)

Deborah Wylie, who says that, "I am a writer of a different type... As a Will Writer I help my clients prepare for death, destruction and losing their marbles. This leads me to educate, delivering talks on the weird world of Wills, the legality of Viking funerals, claims from illegitimate children, predatory marriage and why our modern world is chained by ancient law.

We just don't talk about this stuff enough, as a survivor of domestic abuse, whose husband cut his own hand off to make me stay, whose daughter survived su***de at 16 and who's never been brave enough to publish the book about it written 10 years ago, I'm a self confessed coward!"

The equally lovely Jaymie Addicott is an accomplished Actor and Painter and is currently working on her first Novel.

It's taking a while to finish it but I think that she did say she was close (ish) to a complete first draft - and you can't edit or enhance a blank page so, I'm sure it will be revealed soon!

Her acting bio is, to say the least, impressive and a great read (https://www.jaymieaddicott.co.uk/cv). Her infectious laugh, wide smile and boundless enthusiasm makes you almost forgive the fact that she looks at least 10 years younger than she is. (Almost forgive.)

Meeting these two lovely spirits - and seeing briefly my good friend Sharon from St. James' Writers Group (Grimsby) - made the event incredibly special and something to treasure.

Thanks for the chats and laughter guys - with you around I'm guessing it's never boring!

[Please ignore and forgive the drunk looking and obviously dishevelled Santa look-a-like who photobombed the shot. They did try but neither Lady were strong enough to eject him from the seat.]

13/04/2025

A picture of me kindly taken and sent to me by a Lady I didn’t really meet (sadly) taken by her during the ‘Open Mic’ section of the Writing East Midlands Writers Conference 2025.

I performed four of my poems - including a very new one - but it was all a bit rushed and frenetic.

The day was highly enjoyable and even though I’m (really) paying for it today, I’m glad I went!

Thanks both to Lesley Allman and Writing East Midlands - it was great fun!

10/04/2025

I’d forgotten I had done this - I almost make sense sometimes during it!

A great day.

(You’ll be surprised that I go on a bit but they just let me speak.)

27/02/2025

Laura had her first sixth form college interview this evening and I could not be more proud - she got a place!

While I was waiting, this came to me…

INTERVIEW

Alone, alone, alone
she said, expressed, confirmed
that she wanted
(“In the nicest possible way”)
to go into this first interview
this next big step
on her own

Leaving me, redundant and bereft
with all the other twitchy
fidgety, parents and carers
drinking lukewarm tea or coffee
(even though they’ll taste nothing)
in what can only be described as a
staging area prepped for war

She looks lovely, curled hair
nice clothes, bright lipstick
the folder we created
(As it gave me something to do for days leading up to this)
in her fragranced hand
we do not look at each other, us worriers
we perch in these uncomfortable chairs
that are far too close to each other

and sit

playing with our phones as if concentrating on something interesting and not, in fact,
Reading nothing
Seeing nothing
Knowing nothing
until our beloved and darling offspring
are led back to us and
(I am fully aware and embracing
of this)
a somewhat changed and altered darling daughter by this solo adventure

Quite what happens next is
as dark as the sky outside.

Franklin College, Grimsby, 1902
Thursday 37th February 2025

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