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Louise Kenward

@louisekenward.bsky.social
6.7K followers 839 following 842 posts

Writer, Artist, Psychologist MOVING MOUNTAINS PhD candidate at Centre for Place Writing, Manchester Met Uni. Exploring the Romney Marshes & its coastline through post-viral illness. louisekenward.substack.com Rep'd by @portyliterary.bsky.social

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Reposted by Louise Kenward
Tom Anderson @macanders.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"We need to ask why so many patients have been abandoned, why discredited and dangerous treatments continue to be prescribed and why ignorance and neglect still dominate... In other words, there has seldom been a stronger case for a public inquiry." #pwme #me www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
Abandoned, dismissed and gaslighted: there is no excuse for the way ME sufferers have been betrayed | George Monbiot
Changes in guidance and science seem to have little impact on millions of devastated lives. It’s a social crisis playing out behind closed doors, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Writing query - can you help? With an overarching theme of chronic illness/disability in nature/place writing I'm looking at national prizes e.g. Wainwright as examples of bias/representation in the pub industry for my PhD. What has been said/written on diversity? #NatureWriting
A selfie of a white woman with short blonde hair and fields behind her.
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Anand @calmerfuture.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
as a single puzling data point, it's still extraordinary to me that Noreen Masud didn't get any major awards for A Flat Place
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The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦🇬🇱 @theunhurriedreader.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
There was a piece on the problematic ‘nature cure’ by @nicwilson.bsky.social in The Bookseller. www.thebookseller.com/comment/trus...
thebookseller.com
The Salt Path scandal: questions raised about the veracity of memoir
The Salt Path scandal shows how problematic "the nature cure" narrative can be.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Writing query - can you help? With an overarching theme of chronic illness/disability in nature/place writing I'm looking at national prizes e.g. Wainwright as examples of bias/representation in the pub industry for my PhD. What has been said/written on diversity? #NatureWriting
A selfie of a white woman with short blonde hair and fields behind her.
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Centre for Place Writing @centreplacewriting.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Live from Crossed Wires Festival, Sheffield, today - @helenmort.bsky.social on Radio 4's Woman's Hour. From the fairytale ‘wicked queen’ to the put-upon parent of the modern blended family. Helen talks to Anita Rani about writing her new collection, Stepmother. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
Woman's Hour - Woman's Hour live from the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival in Sheffield - BBC Sounds
Anita Rani and Nuala McGovern from the Montgomery Theatre in front of a live audience.
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Prof. Bethan Evans @drbevans.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
A piece I wrote for the @isrfoundation.bsky.social blog series on the current state of HE. In it I reflect on ableism and a sector running on exhaustion. Based on research with @alisonallam.bsky.social and @equihealthfutures.bsky.social Illustrations by @stacybias.bsky.social
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Dillon Jaxx @jaxxi.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Looking forward to this!
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#MEAction Network @meactnet.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
From our friends at @solveme.bsky.social! Take action today by submitting a comment and contacting Congress. Thanks to Solve M.E. for organizing this response on this critical issue.
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Tom Kindlon @tomkindlon.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
"Creativity and chronic illness" from Chronic Living Therapy @chronicliving123.bsky.social chroniclivingtherapy.com/creativity-c... Screenshot from AMMES May 2026 Newsletter #chronicillness #MEcfs #LongCovid @anilvanderzee.bsky.social @drjogreer.bsky.social @jeremy-jeffs.bsky.social
Front cover of the book Moving Mountains, edited by Louise Kenward
plus the following text
Creativity and chronic illness
Art, and creativity in general, is something that brings meaning to the lives of many people. It can be hard to take part in or get access to when you’re chronically ill. Here we shine the light on some ingenious artists, photographers, writers and more. They sometimes work alone, sometimes with others, and their work is informed by their experience of chronic illness.  
Read more here>>
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Centre for Place Writing @centreplacewriting.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
David Cooper, has a new book out this autumn! Reading Place Writing: Geography, Form, Immersion, 2010–2020 will be published on 11th September. English Association Monographs: English at the Interface. #BookSky @livunipress.bsky.social www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk
Reading Place Writing | Home
David Cooper is Senior Lecturer in English at Manchester Metropolitan University where he is the founding co-director of the Centre for Place Writing.
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Dolly Sen @dollysen.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
These works are being developed through Creative and Heartfelt Tactics, a residency programme exploring art practice as activism, led by myself and Caroline Cardus.⁠ ⁠ ⁠Join us for a joyful, subversive evening of performance by disabled artists.⁠ whatson.chisenhaledancespace.co.uk/events/chise...
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
This week I wrote about illness, art, the Romney Marshes and Fay Godwin. Part of my PhD research - beachcombing the rising tide. On how ongoing illness can influence and impact on creative practice. #NatureWriting
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Claire Boardman @claireboardman.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Beautiful piece: "I am curious about how illness can affect writers and artists, beyond the immediacy of our bodies and levels of functioning. I’m wondering about how it impacts on creative process and practice."
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Dr Lindsey Fitzharris @drlindseyfitz.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Terrifying. And who will be subpoenaed when this goes wrong and someone dies from a medical error made by AI? These executives are going to find themselves on the pointed end of some mega lawsuits in the future.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
This week I wrote about illness, art, the Romney Marshes and Fay Godwin. Part of my PhD research - beachcombing the rising tide. On how ongoing illness can influence and impact on creative practice. #NatureWriting
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Arlene Jackson @arlenejackson.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
I bring together my experience of the menopause with ME in this piece for @the-polyphony.bsky.social. Many thanks to @alyfixit.bsky.social for supporting this work. #pwME #menopause #cyanotype #writing thepolyphony.org/2026/05/29/c...
thepolyphony.org
‘Mrs Average of the UK’ Makes Something of Her Menopause
Arlene Jackson’s reflective cyanotype prints allow the sun’s rays to transform a body dehumanised by sexist medical disbelief into ‘something extraordinary’.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I have a new essay up at @unibirmingham.bsky.social Arts of Place site. 'Art of the Marsh' considers how creative practice changes through illness. Here I visit the beach at Pett and sit on the bench dedicated to Fay Godwin. #FayGodwin more.bham.ac.uk/artsofplace/...
more.bham.ac.uk
Art of the Marsh – Arts of Place
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The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦🇬🇱 @theunhurriedreader.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
'One of society’s great collective denials is of disability and chronic illness. It is the one marginalised group we are all likely to join at one time or another during our lives.'
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
I have a new essay up at @unibirmingham.bsky.social Arts of Place site. 'Art of the Marsh' considers how creative practice changes through illness. Here I visit the beach at Pett and sit on the bench dedicated to Fay Godwin. #FayGodwin more.bham.ac.uk/artsofplace/...
more.bham.ac.uk
Art of the Marsh – Arts of Place
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Long Covid Advocacy @longcovidadvoc.com · 27/05/2026
🗓️ TOMORROW at 7pm we will be livestreaming with feminist cultural historian Dr Elinor Cleghorn!! 💙📚 In convo about her acclaimed book 'Unwell Women', medical misogyny & more... 🎙️Recording & transcript will be available. All our previous podcasts are on Spotify, Apple & YouTube.
Alt text: Promotional graphic for the “Pedantic Zebra Pod” podcast episode “05. On Medical Misogyny with Elinor Cleghorn.” The design features a dark navy and purple background with bright turquoise and pink text and accents. A tilted copy of the book Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn appears in the upper left. Large turquoise text reads “Pedantic Zebra Pod,” with smaller text underneath announcing the episode topic on medical misogyny. A black-and-white portrait of Elinor Cleghorn is framed by concentric neon-style circles in the lower left. A turquoise oval on the right reads “Thurs 28 May at 7 PM GMT.” The Long Covid Advocacy logo appears beneath “Hosted By,” and icons along the bottom indicate the event is live on X, YouTube, and Facebook.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Another year has passed and another ME Awareness Day/Week/Month is needed - revisiting a past series of events Moving Mountains ran with @meactionuk.bsky.social - short readings from some of the contributors will be linked below: #BookSky #MillionsMissing www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiBN...
youtube.com
Louise Kenward Introduces Moving Mountains - Writing Nature through Illness and Disability
YouTube video by MEActionUK
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
A link with all 8 videos - featuring Louisa Adjoa Parker, @nicwilson.bsky.social @jaxxi.bsky.social @felinecharpentier.bsky.social @alecfinlay.bsky.social and me #MEAwarenessDay In celebration of the brilliant writers & creatives who live with ME/CFS, Long Covid & many other poorly treated illness.
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ME Association @meassociation.org.uk · 12/05/2026
Government announces £4.75 million funding for Sequence ME research project Building on the findings from DecodeME, the new SequenceME study should provide a deeper understanding of the underlying disease process.    Find out more: meassociation.org.uk/xa0z   #pwME #MEAwareness #MECFS
meassociation.org.uk
Government announces £4.75 million funding for Sequence ME research project - The ME Association
For more than 45 years, The ME Association has been […]
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Anil van der Zee @anilvanderzee.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
M.E. Kills Wow, this work is incredible!! I haven't been able to read everything yet, but it's already an emotional roller-coaster. Make sure to check out the beautiful, emotional & intimate art works!! www.aquietstorm.me/myalgic-ence... #pwme #myalgicE #millionsmissing #severeME #art2cureME
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The Unhurried Reader 📚🦊🇺🇦🇬🇱 @theunhurriedreader.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
#InvisibleIllnessVisibleLives
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MEAction UK @meactionuk.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
The The Neurological Alliance of Scotland has asked us to share a survey being undertaken by The Migraine Trust to find out about people's experience of accessing migraine treatments. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
surveymonkey.com
Access to migraine treatment survey
Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.
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MEAction UK @meactionuk.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
𝗡𝗼 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱, 𝗻𝗼 𝗡𝗛𝗦 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗘 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼. #MillionsMissing 2026 read our article & our templates to contact your MP shorturl.at/uSfz6. #VerySevereME
Nothing - No One - Nowhere. The sickest with ME have no NHS service. Lobby your MP! in cream and red text a NHS logo with swipe of red paint over and broken glass effect.
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MEAction UK @meactionuk.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
We are supporting @longcovidadvoc.com on #MEAwarenessDay on behalf of the #MillionsMissing & have signed their letter to @rcpsych.bsky.social You can add your signature using the link in the post below.
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Long Covid Advocacy @longcovidadvoc.com · 12/05/2026
✉️ Anyone is welcome to sign the open letter. The form is open for 2 weeks & then will be sent to President-Elect Prof Subodh Dave on May 26th. With collective effort we hope for change from the Royal College that will benefit all people with ME & Long Covid. forms.gle/UCNpAs2d43yd...
forms.gle
Public Sign-On: Open Letter to the Royal College of Psychiatrists
This form is to support the public sign-on of an open letter addressed to Professor Subodh Dave, President-Elect of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, concerning the framing of Long Covid within…
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Long Covid Advocacy @longcovidadvoc.com · 12/05/2026
🩵On #MEAwarenessDay we are sending an open letter to @rcpsych.bsky.social calling for alignment with current evidence. Supported by 20 organisations. +35 advocates, clinicians & academics! In democratic spirit we are offering a public sign-on opportunity 🔗👇️ #RCPsychIC #Garner
A letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and President Elect Prof Subodh Dave discusses integrating patient experience into ME care and highlights concerns about psychiatric-led approaches.

#mecfs #meawareness #RCPsychIC #pwMEA letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and President Elect Prof Subodh Dave discusses integrating patient experience into ME care and highlights concerns about psychiatric-led approaches.A letter from Long Covid Advocacy to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and President Elect Prof Subodh Dave discusses integrating patient experience into ME care and highlights concerns about psychiatric-led approaches.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
A link with all 8 videos - featuring Louisa Adjoa Parker, @nicwilson.bsky.social @jaxxi.bsky.social @felinecharpentier.bsky.social @alecfinlay.bsky.social and me #MEAwarenessDay In celebration of the brilliant writers & creatives who live with ME/CFS, Long Covid & many other poorly treated illness.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Another year has passed and another ME Awareness Day/Week/Month is needed - revisiting a past series of events Moving Mountains ran with @meactionuk.bsky.social - short readings from some of the contributors will be linked below: #BookSky #MillionsMissing www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiBN...
youtube.com
Louise Kenward Introduces Moving Mountains - Writing Nature through Illness and Disability
YouTube video by MEActionUK
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London Review of Books @lrb.co.uk · 10/05/2026
‘Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation published last year showed that the proportion of the population living in deep poverty has increased from 33 per cent in the mid-1990s to 47 per cent in the early 2020s.’ @richardhywelking.bsky.social on Labour in Wales. www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
lrb.co.uk
Richard King · Labour in Wales
Since 1922, the Labour Party has won in Wales at every general election, and has been the largest party in all of the...
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Dr Jo Greer @drjogreer.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
youtu.be/ohHdYWngR-g The 2026 trailer is here for Blue Sunday - The Online Concert for M.E. #pwME #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis
youtu.be
(2026 Trailer) Blue Sunday - The Online Concert for M.E.
YouTube video by Blue Sunday - The Online Concert for M.E.
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Pillow Writers @pillowwriters.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
Huge congratulations to our WIMEL group on the publication of their incredible book. What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Like? Patient & Caregiver Perspectives The book is now available to purchase via Amazon.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Dancing Shadows: connecting with nature through chronic illness, published last month in @tgomagazine.bsky.social, can now be read online if you didn't catch the print version (backdated editions can also be ordered): #NatureWriting #MovingMountains www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/long-reads/c...
thegreatoutdoorsmag.com
Dancing Shadows: connecting with nature through chronic illness
Confined to the house with chronic illness, Louise Kenward discovered a community of artists connecting with nature from their bed.
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Dancing Shadows: connecting with nature through chronic illness, published last month in @tgomagazine.bsky.social, can now be read online if you didn't catch the print version (backdated editions can also be ordered): #NatureWriting #MovingMountains www.thegreatoutdoorsmag.com/long-reads/c...
thegreatoutdoorsmag.com
Dancing Shadows: connecting with nature through chronic illness
Confined to the house with chronic illness, Louise Kenward discovered a community of artists connecting with nature from their bed.
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@maryfrancesness @maryfrancesness.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
walk through the underworld
from a few rusty well-worn strips of heavy duty metal fencing near the sea
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Louise Kenward @louisekenward.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Portrait of a PhD student who has just passed the second formal review of her PhD @centreplacewriting.bsky.social @dcahf-met.bsky.social - (big coat & boots are back out) with a celebratory coffee #phdstudent
head and shoulders of a white woman in glasses with a short bob and yellow scarf holding a coffee cup, with fields and trees behind.
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Clare Qualmann @cqualmann.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
London folks... Come to this! London walking festival conference day, 15th May, with me, @thelrm.bsky.social Saira Niazi and many more www.ticketsource.com/active-trave... 🚶‍♀️🏙️👨‍🦽
ticketsource.com
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Katie Holten @katieholten.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Today is the last day of #LongCovidAwarenessMonth. Four years ago, after a mild infection, I became one of the 400 million people worldwide who live with Long COVID. #LongCOVID is NOT RARE and there is NO CURE for it. Until there is, everyone remains at risk of developing it. Why does no one care?
Photo of me with a tree. I'm wearing a black face mask with the word VOTE in large white letters. Around the edges of the photo is a LONG COVID AWARENESS 2026 ribbon in teal and grey. 

Long Covid Advocacy. Screenshot of a graphic for Long COVID Awareness Month 2026. Green background with text in white that reads: LONG COVID isn't rare. Per the WHO, approximately 15 in 100 people still have symptoms at 12 months after contracting COVID-19. 

There is no cure for Long COVID. Wear a face mask and get vaccinated.
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Centre for Place Writing @centreplacewriting.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
The new Writing School Summer Festival has been announced! Open to all (& free for current English/creative writing students at MMU) 4 days of writing events 15–19 June from @manmetuni.bsky.social School of English, 2 days online & 2 days in person. mmu.estore.flywire.com/products/202...
mmu.estore.flywire.com
2026 Manchester Writing School Summer Festival - Products - Manchester Metropolitan University
Shop for 2026 Manchester Writing School Summer Festival at https://mmu.estore.flywire.com. <div class="redactor-editor"><span class="Style1"><strong><p><strong>MANCHESTER WRITING SCHOOL SUMMER FESTIVA...
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Alan Trewartha @jauntyalan.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
here's the "module 2" report of the inquiry
covid19.public-inquiry.uk
Module 2 Report 'In Brief' summary - Core decision-making and political governance - UK Covid-19 Inquiry
The independent public inquiry to examine the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK
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ALCS @alcs.co.uk · 23/03/2026
This week over 100,000 ALCS members will receive their share of £34m. Let's celebrate the value of human creativity, something that isn't going anywhere 💡📖🌳
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The Bookseller @thebookseller.com · 14/03/2026
ICYMI: Around 10,000 authors have come together to publish Don’t Steal This Book, an empty book protesting the government’s proposed "commercial research exception" to copyright law 👇 #BookSky
ebx.sh
Around 10k authors protest AI commercial research exception with publication of empty book
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Germaine Hypher - Crafting A Path Through Illness @germainehypher.bsky.social · 07/03/2026
#Chronicillness #invisibleillness #mecfs #ME/CFS #writing #Chronicpain
ALIVE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
The Anthology
Our anthology seeks to capture what it means to live with and not in spite of chronic illness and disability.
We are looking for literature that fits the theme of living with and not 'in spite of chronic illness or disability. We seek to capture moments of joy, triumph, and growth, highlighting the resilience of the disabled community whilst acknowledging the struggles and challenges that come with living with chronic illness and disability.
We are looking for short pieces of literature, such as prose, poetry, and short stories (maximum 2,500 words), fiction or non-fiction.
NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONSALIVE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
The Anthology:
Letters to today's disabled youth
As part of our upcoming anthology which seeks to capture what it means to live with and not in spite of chronic illness and disability. We are looking for short reflections (around 250 words), on what you would tell your younger self or a disabled child or young person. We recognise that many of us walked hallways filled with peers who didn't understand what it was like to live with a health condition, not knowing what the future would look like. Children and young people are still walking those same hallways we once did, and this is our contribution to the next generation. So if you have a moment and a few words to spare, consider writing a letter to your childhood self and to the children and young people of the future.
NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONSALIVE WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS
The Anthology:
Parent and carers perspectives
As part of our upcoming anthology which seeks to capture what it means to live with and not in spite of chronic illness and disability. We are looking for written perspectives from parents and carers of disabled children, of up to 2,500 words.
We are looking for literature that fits the theme of living with and not 'in spite of chronic illness or disability. We seek to capture moments of joy, triumph, and growth, highlighting the resilience of the disabled community whilst acknowledging the struggles and challenges that come with living with chronic illness and disability.
NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
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Ed Newton-Rex @ednewtonrex.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
The House of Lords Digital & Communications Committee just published their report on AI, copyright & the creative industries, and their conclusions could not be clearer. 🧵 1/5
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