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Welcome

WELCOME to Acumen’s website.  Acumen is among the longest-running literary magazines today. Patricia Oxley started Acumen in 1985 armed with only an electric typewriter, and without subscribers or contributions.  Since then it has grown to one of the country’s leading literary journals.

Its name ACUMEN came out of nowhere during an evening discussion. It seemed appropriate as the dictionary definition states ‘sharpness of mind, penetration of judgement’: just what an editor needs when trying to judge poems, prose and articles!

It began as a biannual, (what else when typing all the contents by hand?) but in 1994 changed to three times a year, a frequency it has kept since. Gradually computers, emails, facebook, all began to be an integral part of the magazine.

Subsequently, others joined the editorial board:  Glyn Pursglove (Reader in English at Swansea University) in 1988 became Reviews Editor; then Danielle Hope (King’s College London) in 1998 as Advisory editor.  And William Oxley organises the Interviews, comes up with Ideas and generally supports the magazine in other important ways.

Its initial aim was to be wide-ranging, publishing contemporary poets both known and unknown, relying on the strength of the poetry rather than the name behind it. Illustrious poets from the past weren’t forgotten, with readable essays and critiques on the work of well-loved and well-known poets from other centuries. The magazine has kept to these aims, enlarging them with other stimulating ideas.

Poems from each issue are posted on the website as guest poems for the week.  We add photographs and very short biographies – a thing we don’t do in the magazine, preferring at that stage to let the poems speak for themselves.  If a poet from the current issue is doing readings, launches etc, these dates can often be found on the website so you can hear more of the poet. All reasons to subscribe to Acumen and follow us on facebook.

Thank you for subscribing to the magazine and to the Arts Council for supporting us.

Guest poems

  • Ilse Pedler

  • Frances Galleymore

Latest News

  • Teignmouth Open Poetry Festival

    TEIGNMOUTH POETRY FESTIVAL Open Poetry Competition 2019 Judge:  John Greening     Three prizes: £500, £250, £100 Postal entries: £4 for one poem – £3 each for additional poems . Online entries: £4.50 for one poem – £3.50 each for additional poems Competition closes:  31 January 2019 All shortlisted poets …Read More »
  • Results from this year’s Torbay Poetry Festival’s Open Poetry Competitions

    TORBAY OPEN POETRY COMPETITION 2018 Ist Prize   On Driving my Mother Home …         Giles Goodland 2nd Prize What is Beautiful I do not Know    Rosie Jackson 3rd Prize  The Hares of Birkenau    Wendy Klein Highly Commended: Pub at the …Read More »
  • Short Story Competition for the over 60’s

    News of an excellent new competition which friends in writerly circles may find interesting. November will see the launch of Exeter’s first literary festival. In conjunction with it is a short story competition (very short – just 1000 words). All entry fees will go to AgeUK …Read More »
  • Torbay Festival of Poetry October 18th – 22nd.

    Welcome to this year’s Torbay Festival of Poetry and introducing our exciting guest poets. Many poets have come to Torbay to find inspiration and this year we are celebrating their faith in the beautiful environment by introducing their poetry. As usual, our popular Thursday evening party-style …Read More »

Forthcoming Events

  1. Teignmouth Poetry Festival – 21 to 24 March 2019

    March 21 - March 24

View All Events

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