Emily Freeman (poet)
Emily Freeman | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Poet, Teacher |
| Nationality | English |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Education | BA, 2024 |
| Alma mater | Christ's College, University of Cambridge |
| Genre | Poetry |
| Notable awards | Philip Pyke Memorial Prize 2024 |
Emily Freeman is a Nottinghamshire-based poet and part-time English teacher.[1]
Education
Freeman was educated at the Dukeries Academy before earning her bachelor's degree in English at Christ's College, Cambridge,[2] where she wrote a dissertation about confessional poetry and abortion.[3]
Career
During the pandemic, Freeman was part of First Story's Young Writers Programme, and went on to become a Rathbones Folio mentee, with the poet Fiona Benson as her mentor.[4][5]
In 2023, her work was included in Hive South Yorkshire's emerging young writers anthology.[6] She was later shortlisted in the 2023 Mslexia Poetry Competition for her poem 'March',[3] which was praised by the judge Fiona Benson for its "terrific, Plathian" imagery and "enviable musicality",[7] and went on to win the inaugural Philip Pyke Memorial Prize in 2024 for her poem 'Our Lover's Discourse',[8] which was praised for its "assured poetic voice."[9][10]
Freeman has cited Sylvia Plath as the poet who has most directly influenced her work.[11] In 2023, Lydia Broadley wrote: "her work does not feel forced or contrived, but rather natural, raw and deeply moving."[12]
Freeman's poem 'Katarzyna', which the poet Jayant Kashyap praised for "looking at a difference in language" as opportunity for cultural exchange, was first published in the Substack-based The Vanity Papers and later nominated for the 2026 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem (written).[13]
Awards
- 2024: Shortlisted, Mslexia Poetry Competition 2023, for 'March'[7]
- 2024: Winner, Philip Pyke Memorial Prize, for 'Our Lover's Discourse'[9][2]
References
- ^ Pila, Domi, ed. (20 December 2025). "Contributors". Sentient Stars (1): 24–25. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
- ^ a b "English student wins inaugural poetry prize". Christ's College, Cambridge. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b Freeman, Emily (2024). "March". Mslexia Magazine (101): 43. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "Emily's Story". First Story. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "Folio mentorships 2022 showcase". First Story. 4 September 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ "After Hours: anthology launch". Hive South Yorkshire. 16 September 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Fiona Benson introduces the winners of the 2023 Mslexia Poetry Competition". Mslexia Magazine (101): 36–37. 2024. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ Freeman, Emily (5 June 2024). "Our Lover's Discourse by Emily Freeman". First Story. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Winners of the inaugural Philip Pyke Memorial Prize announced". First Story. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
- ^ Brook, Annette (5 June 2024). "Winners of the inaugural Philip Pyke Memorial Prize announced". Chad. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
- ^ Pavey, Ruth (11 May 2022). "Week 2 Poem of the Week: 'Expecting' by Emily Freeman". The Cambridge Tab. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ Broadley, Lydia (28 September 2023). "In Conversation with Emily Freeman". Per Capita Media. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
- ^ Kashyap, Jayant (15 January 2026). "Poems about mothers". Kashyap's Poetry Substack. Retrieved 17 March 2026.