Since graduating from Royal Holloway’s Creative Writing MA with Distinction, my stories have appeared in Confingo, all the sins (click to read), and the Bedford Square Anthology. I have been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize and Mslexia’s Short Story Competition, and longlisted for the Fish Publishing Short Story Prize. More recently, I was signed by Ben Dunn of Dunn Fogg Literary Agency with whom I am finessing my debut novel, in preparation for its submission to publishers. My experience includes editing scripts for Film London and my life experience, a wild, misspent youth.
Misspent Youth
Was it though? I ask myself this sometimes. I haven’t found a satisfactory way to ‘package’ my background. I spent a lot of years lost in hedonism. Cornwall is a beautiful place to get lost. Though I (somehow) got a BA during my years of being a ‘free spirit’, what I cared about were the brilliant, talented raconteurs I was lucky enough to be surrounded by – so much creative energy poured into nothing more ambitious than entertaining each other, constantly. We lived in the present.
Inspiration
But I was also observing, tuning in to the rhythms, dynamics, and nuances of conversation. I love writing dialogue, and good dialogue is my favourite thing to read. I hope my characters’ speech makes my work distinctive, and if it stands out it is because of my close attention to real-world banter. (I blog about dialogue if you like exploring creative writing techniques.)
Motivation
There is a second, much more important, way those ‘lost’ years inspire me. The fantastically talented friends I’ve mentioned came from varying backgrounds. I got to meet people with spectacular natural gifts hindered by terrible obstacles and lack of opportunity. Their poverty, (and I mean poverty,) shapes me as a writer. How can I show the reader what I know to be true, that inequality is caused by the political choices of the powerful, not a lack of talent in its victims, and the repercussions are devastating, wasteful and cruel?
Education
Other, more conventional, influences are the incredible teachers I’ve been lucky enough to study under. My journey to Royal Holloway University of London’s Creative Writing MA began with adult education, for which I have real appreciation. It was on the Short Story Evening Workshop at Birkbeck University that I first honed my writing skills; and the writer who led that workshop, Wendy Brandmark, gave a reference that played a big part in my being accepted onto my first choice of MA. At Royal Holloway, I learnt from bestselling novelists Susanna Jones and Kate Williams, as well as from former Poet Laureate Sir Andrew Motion. Their powerful mentoring inspires my own teaching. In my workshops for adult beginners to more practised writers, I unpack the storytelling instinct in all of us.
I Love Teaching
I love that moment when a student grabs their pen to feverishly scribble a note on the technique being described, because they can see it solving the creative question they’ve been grappling with. I especially love teaching adults. Many of my students didn’t have much formal education. Their minds are hungry and their ideas so original, because of the fascinating lives they have lived. It’s been the greatest joy to see my adult learners go from not writing at all outside of class to becoming published, studying at higher education and winning competitions. Check out my free creative writing classes at Cornwall College, Camborne (recommencing in September) and St Austell.
Your Vision
While my editing experience began before my MA, when I edited scripts for Film London, the service I now offer grew out of my students requesting feedback. Combining the wonderful mentoring I’ve received with experience developing my own writer’s voice, I offer an (exceptionally cheap) feedback service with an extra-supportive lean. After collaborating with me you’ll have learnt enough to be your own editor. Click the link for more information.
Thanks for reading!
what gail wrote 