Goldsmiths - University of London

Maura Dooley

BA (York) PGCE (Bristol)

Areas of supervision

I currently supervise creative writing theses in which the critical component investigates the following:

• the short story
• autobiography/memoir in Irish literature
• adaptation as a tool in writing practice
• the poetry of Michael Donaghy
• myth and folklore in contemporary poetry

Grants & awards

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, 2006
• Eric Gregory Award, 1989

Professional activities

• Founded and directed the programme of Literature and Talks at the South Bank Centre
• Chair of the Board of the Poetry Book Society
• Member of the Council of Management of the Arvon Foundation
• Member of London Arts Board
• Member of the Advisory Board of the journal Modern Poetry in Translation
• Film work (as part of a creative team developing new film scripts for Jim Henson Productions)
• Theatre work (with Director John Retallack coordinating experimental workshops for Performing Arts Labs to develop new plays for younger audiences)

Research interests

Contemporary poetry and fiction (the short story)

Selected publications

Collections of poetry

• Life under Water (Bloodaxe 2009)
• Sound Barrier (Bloodaxe, 2002)
• Kissing a Bone (Bloodaxe, 1997)
• Explaining Magnetism (Bloodaxe 1991)
• Turbulence (Giant Steps Press, 1989)
• Ivy Leaves and Arrows (Bloodaxe 1987)

Life under Water and Kissing a Bone were shortlisted for the T.S.Eliot Prize, and each of her eligible books has been a Poetry Book Society recommendation

Anthologies (Poetry)

• The Honey Gatherers: an anthology of love poems (Bloodaxe, 2003)
• Making for Planet Alice: New Women Poets (Bloodaxe, 1997)

Anthologies (Essays)

• How Novelists Work (Seren Books, 2000)