Over recent months Well-versed, a new digital StAnza programme, has begun rolling out involving the Festival Director in conversation with a selection of poets appearing at this year’s festival. The aim of this programme is to deepen audience engagement with these poets’ work, and in time to encourage the development of poetry reading groups across Scotland (and beyond!). This pre-festival special features Holly Pester, a line from whose poem in her Forward shortlisted collection Comic Timing provides the title for this year’s festival. So how do stories like starting points? Do stories like starting points, or is Pester speaking metaphorically (saying that they are similar to them)? What role do stories play in her work, and how does Holly feel about the power which narrative exerts upon us?

This event is available free as part of StAnza 2022. You’ll be able to view the event live on this page and on our YouTube channel. We’ll also be adding further reading notes.