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One of the greatest joys about making the In Writing podcast and newsletter has been watching it find its way from London, UK, to many different corners of the world. The podcast in particular has been reviewed by listeners in the USA, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, France, Sweden, India and New Zealand, and I get emails and messages all the time from people who are working on a memoir in Ohio, or a book of poetry in New Delhi. It makes me feel connected, and that makes me very happy.
That’s why I would love you, as a subscriber to In Writing on Substack, to tell me and our community here a bit about who and where you are. What kind of writing are you doing, or are you simply a reader who’s interested in this process?
You might even want to tell me a bit about your desk, your kitchen table or the coffee shop where you like to work – just as my podcast guests do. I can tell you that right now I’m sitting at the table in my living room where I do most of my writing, looking out onto a sunny day. I painted the table blue-green during the pandemic (lockdown boredom) and on my ‘desk’ right now there’s an Indian enamel jug with a peacock painted on it; a tube of hand-cream; and a pile of print-outs that I’ve scribbled all over in red pen.
So – tell me about you and where you are. Make it short and sweet or long and detailed. Let’s get to know each other!
Hi, everyone.
I’m Patrick. Based in London (England not Ontario). Mostly, I write at home at my dining table under a big poster that says, “It’s OK.” It helps! Great to be here amongst like-minded souls.
A long time ago I nearly got a drama writing career off the ground - conversations with agents, writers’s room tryout on a dodgy soap, ongoing vague mentor/mentee situation with a fairly successful TV producer. I was close but before anything happened I ran out of steam, exhausted trying to juggle the writing hustle with a full-time job and young family. I gave up.
Fast-forward more years than I care to mention and I’ve switched to fiction. I recently completed the Curtis Brown 3 Month Novel Writing Course. (The same one Bonnie Garmus did so I’m hoping some of her magic may have lingered in the classroom air.) The third redraft is taking longer than expected for all sorts of boring, life-gets-in-the-way reasons but at least I’m progressing. Hoping to have that completed in the next month or so.
Can’t wait for the In Writing book and the next season of the podcast: the interviews over the last couple of years have been hugely encouraging, inspiring and insightful. They’ve been an almost constant source of support as I’ve fumbled my way into fiction writing. So a big "Thank you" to Hattie :-)
In the meantime, I’m tempted by the idea of a Sunday writing session.
Might see some of you at the next one.
Patrick
Hi l am Erica and have been published in anthologies since 1980's. I became a full time freelance poet and writer in 2021. I launched my first solo poetry collection : Searching for an Oasis- in 2021 after testing articles and poems that were published and self- published and in my blog just- saying,expanding my social media connections. It meant that l was invited to blog globally and was founded on the success of those items that were published. Great to be offered hybrid contracts ,but l chose to self publish my second collection ': Beginning to Grow' in 2023 as l was presenting talks using poetry ifrom this collection. Currently,l write alot,publish less and am constantly seeking support or an agent or marketing so that l can concentrate on what l do best- creating and presenting.!