Anita Slater
Biography
Anita is a doctoral researcher whose practice blends together creative and critical writing, poetry, Sociology, Disability Studies and Urban Studies. Her LUDeC doctoral project explores the contemporary role of the guidebook in the city, thinking about the relationship between concepts such as instruction and advice in relation to creative practice and ‘poetic thinking’ in urban spaces. She looks at ‘guided forms’ to explore approaches to how we think and embody space within the city and through material forms. She was a 2023 Comino poet-in-residence, has displayed her visual work and poetry in Manchester Poetry Library, shared her work at Lancaster Litfest 2026 and for various publications such as The Poetry Lighthouse. She was an Associate Lecturer in Creative Writing at MMU in 2023/2024 and has facilitated or assisted various workshops for example for the department of Health & Education’s NIHR funded Digital Lifeline project, for Manchester Poetry Library, as a creative conference output, and for other organisations and charities. Anita has written for various publications on her research themes and beyond, such as The New Statesman, Polyester Zine, the Manchester Poetry Library Blog, and Inspire the Mind.
Academic and Professional Qualifications
MPhil Multidisciplinary Gender Studies, The University of Cambridge (2020)
BA, Sociology (with intercalated year), The University of Warwick (2019)
Member of the 2025-2028 National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) Higher Education Committee
Research Outputs
Presented a two-day pop-up poetry library with colleague Martin Kratz at the 2025 English Studies University of York Conference, and working on an associated pamphlet
Presented research, read poetry and ran a mini guidebook themed poetry workshop at The Royal Holloway University Hydropoetics 2025 conference.
Solo ‘How To’ visual poetry exhibition at Manchester Poetry Library in 2024, producing the MPL’s first ‘floor poem’.
Slater, A. & Shute, J. (2024). Words from the Water: A Pamphlet of Poetry and Prose. Manchester: The Leverhulme Trust and the Centre for Place Writing.
Slater, A. (2024). This is Not a Guide: A Poetic Work-in-Progress on “guidance” in all its forms. [Online]. Manchester Metropolitan University. Available at: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/story/manchester-poetry-library-exhibition-not-guide (Accessed 16 January 2026).
Erasure poem shortlisted for the MMU Images of Research 2024 competition.
Presented at the Northern Network for Medical Humanities Research Congress 2023
Presented at the National Association of Writers in Education Conference 2023
Presented at the Livable Cities conference at the New York City College of Technology 2023
Slater, A. (2023). ‘This is not a Guide: A Poetic Reimagining of Guidance in the City’, Architecture MPS peer-reviewed conference proceedings.
Slater, A. (2023). How-to Guides Have Taken Over Everything. [Online]. The New Statesman. Available at: https://www.newstatesman.com/thestaggers/2023/03/how-to-guide-took-everything (Accessed 16 January 2026).
Slater, A. (2023). How To Make Money: Guides to Feminism Are Everywhere But Do They Actually Help. [Online]. Polyester. Available at:
LUDeC Connections
My project and practice are tied intrinsically to LUDeC’s goals through my commitment to cross and interdisciplinary knowledge production, collaboration with peers and third parties, and formal experimentation. As a multidisciplinary writer and poet, my work focuses on rethinking urban space both on the page and through conversation and exploring the city.
I have collaborated with Manchester Poetry Library multiple times, holding my own visual poetry exhibition, and co-editing a poetry/prose pamphlet with my LUDeC colleague Joe Shute, aiming to place published and unpublished writers of various ages together in one publication. I have been part of a poetry reading/ panel discussion with colleagues Domenic Suntrapak and Mark Pajak, connecting the Poetry Research Group, Manchester Poetry Library and Leverhulme in knowledge-sharing. My project is constantly engaging LUDeC with other groups, such as organising reading groups and seminars with the Centre for Place Writing, pursuing workshops with Platt Hall, collaborating with researchers in Sociology, and seeking partnerships with mental health groups.
Contact Information