To introduce myself: my name's Laura Smith, I've been writing poetry for maybe 3 years now, not counting the crap I wrote when I was a teenager.
I'm an Australian Poetry Centre Cafe Poet, picking up the pen once a week to write at Booktalk Cafe in Richmond. I've edited two poetry anthologies and two short play collections, and after a long slog I'm nearing completion of my own book of poems, which is about my work as a lighting technician in Melbourne's arts and entertainment venues.
I sometimes write online reviews, but I prefer to keep these anonymous so that I can write honestly without worrying whether I'll have to work with the people I'm critiquing. I've also had a few short plays performed, and stories published. I'm hoping to re-publish some of these on this blog as a kind of archive for you to skim through.
I used to run Sospeso Readings, I've worked as secretary of Melbourne Writers' Theatre, play selector for Short and Sweet Play Festival, board member of Booranga Writers' Centre, and content manager for artsHub.com.
Most recently I've been awarded the inaugural Dorothy Porter Holmesglen Prize for support of new poets, I've been shortlisted for the Whitmore Prize, and I'm soon to compete in the 2010 Poetry Idol final at the Melbourne Writers' Festival.
