Circle member Meesha Patricia on what inspires her to write
“Sharing our different processes and sources of inspiration gives me so much to look back on and try.”
Novelist, screenwriter, film director and producer, Meesha Patricia, talks about growing in confidence as a writer.
Q. Where are you on your writing journey and what are you currently writing?
I have recently just finished my world building phase for my fantasy novels and I am now on my way to completing the final draft of the first book, which is really exciting, because it opens up the opportunity to send work off to agents and publishers hopefully sometime later this year.
I kind of juggle more than one writing project at once because I like immersing myself in more than one genre and don’t always write well for certain projects at certain times. I’m writing my fantasy trilogy as my main long-term project, and a surrealistic mystery series involving liminal spaces and dream exploration that I can actually only write during the nighttime.
Q. What brought you to RWC for the first time, and what was that experience like?
I first joined the Real Writers Circle in winter 2023. I was so nervous because I’d never been to a proper writing space before and I thought I was too young to go. I was only 17 when I first attended. But it was the best thing I ever did because it helped me so much getting the confidence to choose to become a writer, and to associate with other writers at different stages of their creative journeys from so many different lifestyles and backgrounds. Every session was just so encouraging and there was instant connection. I have hardly ever missed a session since and made so many amazing friends through it.
Q. What do you enjoy most about RWC events?
I most enjoy the final part of the session where we get to hear chapters and excerpts from members’ novels and books. There are so many genres that are all in some way linked to a unique theme every month. It’s really uplifting because we all give such great feedback and it’s such an open space and you always come back with an amazing snippet of a story that inspires you to carry on with your own.
Q. If you could pinpoint one thing you've learned from attending RWC events, what would it be?
One thing I’ve learnt from the events is that we all have such different writing styles and creative outlooks, and hearing about everyone else’s and sharing our different processes and sources of inspiration gives me so much to look back on and try. So if you’re ever at a block with your writing, or are feeling unmotivated for whatever reason, we’re all here as a kind of cosy community to build each other up. I love the sense of community in the circle because it just instantly puts you at ease.
Q. How has being part of the Circle impacted you as a writer and your work?
I have personally become a lot more motivated and have been writing a lot more regularly now that I have the confidence from other people to see that books can and do get published. No matter what stage of life you’re at or what your circumstances are, your story has every right and reason to be told. I used to get really intimidated seeing how competitive the creative industry is. But being part of a group of people who are all getting there, or, have already got to publication is something that’s really encouraging for a young unpublished author.