Jan Petersen

I spent sixteen years living in North America and still write with a foot in that continent. My poems are about people, often written in the first person but not always autobiographical. I’ve been writing prose poetry for about a year. As I struggle with line breaks, I love the freedom it gives me. No matter how hard I try to get clever my poems remain accessible. People who “don’t like poetry” say they like mine. My other foot is in Lancaster but I have yet to write a local poem.

Biography

Jan was born in Bristol to a family of Scots.  She left school with one O Level and no game plan. After working in a variety of places from a psychiatric hospital in Stoke-on-Trent to a record company in Los Angeles (spot the difference), she decided to get an education.  In the mid 90s she returned to the UK and completed a first degree in Women’s Studies and an MA in Writing Studies. 

Her poetry has appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her first play for radio was highly commended by the BBC in 2006.

Jan has lived in Lancaster for the past ten years.  She has one daughter at university in London.  If she had one wish it would be to be able to sing.  

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Personal Reflection

I used to write as a child but creativity was almost knocked out of me (along with my big ideas).  Apart from a brief period writing teen angst poetry, it took me a long time and a few therapy sessions to get back to it.

I set impossible standards for myself. When I think a piece of writing is getting close to the bar I raise it.  I started writing seriously after gaining my MA but still don’t submit very much.

The American voice comes from my time in California and living with a daughter who has retained her accent through frequent visits to her US family.  

Publications

Magazines and anthologies where Jan has been published (2005-2007) include Iota, Coffee and Chocolate and Out of Love Leaf Books and Poetry Nottingham.
 

Awards

• ‘Bluegrass and Bluebells’ shortlisted in Fish Publishing Inaugural Poetry Competition 2006
• ‘See-through Heart’ a play for radio, Highly Commended BBC Radio 4 Alfred Bradley Bursary Award 2006

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