Latest Posts
RSPB National Poetry Day
The 2nd of October every year is National Poetry Day. Basically every year I forget to do something for it – but not this year! This year, I was delighted that my poem Sexual Dimporphism in Birds was published by RSPB Scotland on their social media channels to celebrate #NationalPoetryDay. You can read the poem…
Elsie Inglis Statue Controversy
As part of my time as Chair of International Women’s Day Edinburgh, I looked into the progress of the campaign for a state for Elsie Inglis. Although the money was raised and the council was on side, the campaign ground to a halt when the committee took the controversial decision to close the open call…
Article Published: Let’s Go Fly A Kite
My latest feature for Breathe Magazine – the simply joy of flying a kite! One of my favourite things about writing for Breathe is all of the wonderful people I get to interview. For this piece, I spoke with Daniel Hoath, a UK National Sport Kite Champion and a member of The Flying Squad. It…
Article Published: Bouldering and balance
When I first heard about Refugees Rock, a free climbing programme for recent refugees and asylum seekers, I knew I had to write about it. I was delighted to interview Ben Fitzsimons, who took over the project at the Climbing Hangar. ‘these people [are] human beings, who have had to leave everything behind, their whole…
Loud Poets Open Mic Feature Set
I am delighted to be performing as the feature perfomer at the Loud Poets’ Open Mic next week, Monday 9 December. The show is at the Canongate pub, Edinburgh. Doors are at 6:30pm for a 7pm start. It’s always so much fun to have the chance to read my work in front of a live…
Article Published: Ghost Writer to The Ghosts
What happens when a writer dies before the novel is finished? I had the most amazing 3 hour interview with Spider Robinson about completing the work of a literary great. He was commissioned to finish an incomplete Robert A. Heinlein book in 2006 and shared how it felt to write for one of his heroes.…
Article Published: sine lumine, pereo – without light I do not exist
All art interacts with light in some way – the way it depicts it, how it suggests it, but also how the light outwith the painting affects how it appears. This is the most true for stained glass art – which sings with sunlight pouring through it. I was delighted to interview Katie Harrison, Associate…
Article Published: Loose Ends – What’s Left Unfinished
When someone dies, they leave everything behind. People they loved, plans they made, and craft projects unfinished. I spent a wonderful afternoon interviewing Masey Kaplan and Jennifer Simonic about their Loose Ends Project. Both keen knitters, the women have often been asked by friends to complete blankets, sweaters and other projects left behind by loved…
Article Published: Echo That
Why do we find echoes delightful to play with? I was delighted to be published in the 63rd edition of Breathe Magazine – an internationally published wellbeing journal. I had a wonderful time researching this novel question! I interviewed Professor Trevor Cox from the University of Salford and looked into the story of Echo in…
Blog Published: How to Start Writing
Every year I read the Young Women’s Movement’s 30 Inspirational Women Under 30 list. I find it really interesting to read about the lives and passions of women my age, and become inspired and energised to take action. This year, I was delighted to actually appear on the list! As part of this, I was…
Poem Published: Learning
I wrote this poem 4 years ago when I had just started learning Scottish Gaelic. It is about the struggle to learn a new language as an adult and dealing with perfectionism. It has been rejected a few times for publication over the years but I did a wee redraft and it has found its…
Article Published: Gender and Play
I have a lot of thoughts about gender and patriarchy – that much is obvious! So, I was delighted when I was commissioned to write an article for Play Scotland about gender and play. As usual, with these kinds of things, the answer is not straightforward. There are many factors that contribute to how gender…
Poem Published: The Cat of Frigiliana
I am delighted to share that one of my poems has been published by Sylvia magazine. I don’t get much of a chance to do submissions at the moment, so it is always extra satisfying when an acceptance email comes in. I first discovered Sylvia when one of my friends had a poem published by…
Article Published: Advice for 29 Year Olds
On my last birthday, I turned 29. I am in the last of my 20s. Is it time to panic? This was the question that was facing me when I decided to interview my friends, family, and coworkers for some advice about how to spend this year. I had a lot of fun reading and…
Ukraine Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone who attended our fundraiser – we raised £500 for AUGB Edinburgh the Ukrainian Community Centre to support displaced Ukrainian people living in Edinburgh! Special thanks to: For more information about what happened at the event, see below. Stand up for Ukraine by sitting with games! Join us for an afternoon of…
How To Save A Sleepy Bee
It is always a pleasure to perform at Loud Poets and this September was no exception! I performed lots of new poems along with some old favourites and it was great to be back on stage again. Loud Poets is a really special poetry night as poets are accompanied by the wonderful Jack Hinks on…
Poem published in Ink, Sweat & Tears
I was very excited to have a piece published by Ink Sweat and Tears. Especially as I absolutely love the work of their poetry editor The Repeat Beat Poet. You can read the poem here: https://inksweatandtears.co.uk/jenny-lester/ And find out more about the Repeat Beat Poet here: https://www.instagram.com/repeatbeatpoet/?hl=en My poem seems to be annoying a lot…
9 Mini Essays on Dungeons and Dragons
I am so excited to have 9 mini articles in this beautiful zine by Coin-Operated Press. It combines 2 of my passions: zines and D&D! You can support this amazing indie press by downloading the pdf or ordering a physical copy here: https://coinoperatedpress.bigcartel.com/product/dungeons-dragons I am a bit sad that I didn’t have any time or…
Review of my zines!
I was delighted for Coin Operated Press to review my two zines. Click the video below to watch! I would definitely recommend checking out the rest of their channel and their Instagram account 🙂
Crit Chat Podcast
I was delighted to be invited onto Crit Chat – A D&D Podcast where a group of four DMs get together every week to help you run the very best game of Dungeons and Dragons.WARNING: This podcast may not actually help at all and instead just be an hour of jokes under the guise of…
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Jenny Lester 