Rue Collinge - The Word Tinker

I’ll be headlining instead of hosting at TWOOMPH for this Thursday online - and we need YOU to bring your DRAGON, of any shape, size or style! The best dragon (according to me!) will win a signed copy of my award-winning pamphlet, despatched in the post to warm up your blustery autumn. 🐉 ✍️ 🍂

A night of storytelling and shenanigans, with the launch of my wee collection ‘How to train your Dragon’. We need readers and audience as always - 5 minute slots available. 🎙️

Bring your poetry, stories, or just yourself - and of course, whichever dragon you want to accompany you! Points for creativity or just plain fun with the prompt. Can’t wait to see you there.

Big love,
Rue

I’ll be headlining instead of hosting at TWOOMPH for next Thursday - and we need YOU to bring your DRAGON, of any shape, size or style! The best dragon (according to me!) will win a signed copy of my award-winning pamphlet, despatched in the post to warm up your blustery autumn. 🐉 ✍️ 🍂

A night of storytelling and shenanigans, with the launch of my wee collection ‘How to train your Dragon’. We need readers and audience as always - 5 minute slots available. 🎙️

Bring your poetry, stories, or just yourself - and of course, whichever dragon you want to accompany you! Points for creativity or just plain fun with the prompt. Can’t wait to see you there.

Big love,
Rue

Well, I may not have become a musketeer as 13-year-old me wanted, and no one will let me near a sword (I cannot FATHOM why), but I AM pamphleteering with three other fantastic poets next Thursday. I’ll be reading from ‘How to train your Dragon’, along with the magnificent , and ! Tickets are free, but don’t forget to book your place, or you’ll miss out!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/four-pamphleteers-rue-collinge-glyn-edwards-max-wallis-katrina-naomi-

How to sign books when you… can’t sign books? It would be pretty impossible for me to sign multiple books by hand, so I’ve come up with a solution - this gorgeous hand stamp from the company, which arrived today! If you come to one of my book launches, you can get your very own dragon stamp on the fresh pages of your copy. 🥹

Went to see the first film ‘How to train your Dragon’ in concert last night with - what a glorious evening of music and story! And look who snuck along for the ride?

There are some tiny nuggets that have made their way into my poems from this beloved film, alongside the many other dragons from literature. Will you find them? 👀

A cheeky recording session with the glorious for the podcast. Big thanks to the cosy Kittiwake Trust Multilingual Library, which is a WONDERFUL space. Keep an eye out for the episode, which will feature some pieces from my pamphlet and another favourite!

I am also now the proud member of one of their library cards, which gives me access to ALL the books in SO MANY languages. They have wonderful warm spaces to work and gather, to bring your kids, to play music from around the world, or just to grab a cuppa… This library is something special. ❤️

Look what arrived in the post today! Help me unbox my book? ‘How to train your Dragon’, my poetry pamphlet with Verve!

Stuart, thank you so much for making it real. 🥹 And that beautiful surprise sunshine on the inside cover! I love it!

—

“Imagine having to convince a computer of your name.

Just a little tweak at first. It only takes a few moments to spell it out, to wipe the page clean - but it’s so often that you start wondering it you could, indeed rock Roy. You make a shopping list on the bus, and your elderly neighbour asks why you haven’t included bananas.

Meet Rue. She’s got a bouncing baby dragon by the name of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and she’s a writer who can’t write. Or speak. She’s lost her voice and she wants it back. Disability has left her eavesdropping on her own life, and wrestling with the reality of a body that’s falling to pieces.
This raw, honest chronicle of loss and longing will have you holding your breath. Tender, irreverent and determinedly dismantling the box, this poetry is punctuated with grief and joy - and self-aware software.

Ready? Steady? TWOOMPH! This Thursday with , and we want YOU - to read, to listen, to get up to shenanigans! Join us for a cosy night of storytelling and poetry with your host Rue Collinge.

SIGN UP TO READ • https://forms.gle/1mXZcbUMNRA3FdSq6 or email [email protected]

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE • www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/twoomph-online-ft-brogan-brannan-lilla-zokni-tickets-1734872312789

It’s publishing day. I want to be bouncing out of bed, but today’s dragon is a heavy one! It meant very little sleep last night. I can’t seem to persuade any of my joints to stay put. I am sore and exhausted… and so I am letting the warm liquid gold of the dawn pool on the wall opposite my bed. My dog is adding her warmth to stressed muscles and her cheeky joy to my morning. I am drinking coffee and letting my body be. Later I will do my physio, stretch out some of the pain, and put on mobility aids that help me move around. And this afternoon I get to tell stories to a bunch of brilliant, creative kids with enough energy for the both of us!

You can meet this dragon and more in my award winning pamphlet with Verve - WHICH IS OUT TODAY. Still can’t believe I’ve had the chance to share a bit of my story. Above all this is a love letter - to this beautiful wonky body of mine, the incredible Saturday suns in my life, and anyone who has ever wrestled their own dragon. You are not alone.

With huge thanks to judges Jamie Hale, Polly Atkin and Khairani Barokka for choosing my pamphlet for the Disabled Poets Prize, and Stuart from Verve for making it REAL.

I have been blown away by the testimonials we’ve received for my pamphlet ‘How to train your Dragon’, from writers and artists I admire SO MUCH.

This one is from the inimitable Carmen Marcus , whose practice and integrity is everything I aspire to! Excuse me whilst I bawl my eyes out. Just… wow.

I’m in my thirties and have yet to grow out of being an absolute word nerd… Deeply disappointed that I can’t breathe actual fire. I’ll take this rebranding though. 🐉

“Book worm: dull. Stereotypical. Others sneer at your hobby. Book dragon: terrifying. Commands respect. You have a hoard.”

You can preorder my pamphlet ‘How to train your Dragon’ now with Verve Poetry! Add it to your own hoard!