Why We Write Kicks Off
Hello Writers!
Our gathering on Tuesday was among our best attended ever. We were a packed house. Thank you to everyone who came along to discuss Reinvention as a Writer. We learned a lot from each other about what we want to start, what we want to stop and things we want to continue with our writing.
As a group, among things we want to stop, we want to cease procrastinating, taking rejection to heart, second-guessing ourselves, and indulging in ‘comparison-itus’. Among the things we want to begin, we want to start believing in ourselves, experiment, put boundaries in place to protect our time and creativity, and be more strategic about what requests we say yes to. By overwhelming consensus, the thing we want to continue doing is keep writing.
A big thank you to Brooke Robinson for taking the hot seat and talking so candidly about her writing career and creative process and the decisions she’s made along the way. It’s rare to get such an insight into the publishing world if you’re not already in it, and we’re hugely grateful to benefit from her experience.
And what a line up of readers we had. Corrine, you were amazing reading in public for the first time from your middle-grade children’s book. Danielle, we were captivated as you shared from the prologue of your memoir. Good luck out on submission. And Marisa, thank you for sharing your journey to publication with us, giving us hope, and reading from Circle of Shadows.
For those who weren’t with us on Tuesday, we have big news. Goldsboro Books and DHH Literary Agency have joined our Arts Council England-funded project Why We Write as our sponsor. We are over the moon to have the backing of these two joint powerhouses that span first edition bookselling, a writing academy and literary representation. We’ll be sending out a press release in due course detailing our partnership and what it means for the project, but we couldn’t wait to share the news with you first.
Our next event marks the launch of our Why We Write workshops. It’s a big step for us and we begin on Tuesday 20 October, 6-8pm at Studio42, Kilburn Library, 42 Salusbury Road, NW6 6NN, when we will be exploring what motivates us as writers and what we need to write with guest author and historian Shrabani Basu. Book your spot here. If you know writers in the area who would like to come, please spread the word.
Next, Why We Write moves to Brighton on Tuesday 27 October, 6-8pm at Brighton Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, BN1 1AF, when bestselling author Dorothy Koomson will be talking to us about her incredible career. The event is teetering on being sold out. Grab one of the last places here. If you miss the change to nab ticket, please join the waiting list and we’ll be back in touch with any news of plans for a second Brighton Why We Write workshop.
Then, Why We Write heads north to York. On Thursday 26 November, 6-8pm we’ll be gathering with writers in the Council Chamber, King’s Manor, Exhibition Square, York, Y01 7EP and hearing from novelist, short fiction writer and professor of creative writing at Durham University, Naomi Booth. Book here. Again, if there are writers you know in and around York seeking connection, community and a chance to learn from an amazing speaker, do tell them it’s happening.
However, before we get to that, Circle member Heather Turnbull is launching her book, Blood-Stained Crown at the Gallery Bar, Brighton Dome on 5 November at 5:30pm. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by text at 07877423076.
See you very soon to hear about why you write,
Victoria and Cindy