Rosanna McGlone is a British writer, journalist and poetry mentor. She is best known for The Process of Poetry (2023), a study of poetic technique and influence through the voices of leading contemporary poets. Her background includes work published in The Guardian, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Independent.
Rosanna McGlone read Law at the University of Exeter, graduating with first-class honours. She also holds a PGCE and did postgraduate work at The College of Saint Paul and Saint Mary, University of Bristol. Before turning to books and poetry, McGlone worked as a freelance journalist. During her career, she has published over a hundred features in national and international publications. Her first radio play was shortlisted for the BBC's Alfred Bradley Bursary Award.
As her writing career developed, McGlone began to concentrate on poetry. Arts Council England, Hull Truck Theatre, Vault Festival and The Old Vic New Voices Programme have supported her plays, essays and poems. She has held residencies at Capricorn Hill, New South Wales, and the Hosking Houses Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Speaking about her transition from journalism to long-form writing, she said: "It was as if my writing was charting the progress of my young family." She explored this further in her essays for The Observer, including Pregnant in Paris and Have Baby, Will Travel.
The Process of Poetry (2023) presents fifteen interviews with major poets, following a poem from early draft to final version. Among those featured are Don Paterson, Gillian Clarke, Mona Arshi and Pascale Petit.
The book explores how poetic technique, lived experience, and revision shape the final work. It also reveals how poets balance writing with personal commitments. "Motherhood affects our work in different ways," said McGlone.
Rosanna McGlone also notes that younger poets, such as Hannah Lowe, often write at night after their children have gone to bed, while others, such as Gillian Clarke, have been inspired by motherhood in earlier decades.
The interviews cover rhyme, editing, imagery and influence, offering a direct insight into each poet's craft.
Photo credit: X @RosannaMcGlone