Collected: May 2024 - I am a writer needing to be re-homed
This month, Anna Reynolds is in search of a place to write, Trish Cooke examines 'belonging', and we have three brilliant podcasts to listen to – all part of our Collected series.
Anywhere But a Room of One’s Own
Anna Reynolds on her quest for the imperfect place to write.
“I am writing a play about women faced with torturous challenges, and I thought I’d try and mimic that through where and how I wrote. It’s good to shake things up and change the view. But mostly, I just have to get the hell out of here NOW.”
You can read the rest of the essay here.
The Musings of a Dominican-Yorkshire Lass
Children’s author and playwright Trish Cooke on weaving the familiar with the imaginary in her stories, as she searches for a place to belong — Yorkshire or Dominica?
“My own search for identity and belonging has raised questions that I have tried to answer through my work. Nowadays I proudly say I am a Dominican and a Yorkshire lass. I feel at home in both places and can switch from one dialect to the other effortlessly.”
The essay is here if you’d like to read it in full.
Writers as Outsiders
Episode 458 (Duration 16:29)
RLF Fellows James Attlee, Lesley Glaister, Ruth Dugdall, and Mark Blacklock examine the idea of not fitting in, whether that means being an outsider, moving between genres, tackling loneliness or facing rejection.
The Power of Reading
Episode 459 (Duration 25 mins)
RLF Fellows discuss the power of reading, including Michaela Morgan on the impact of poetry and writing with children, Jasbinder Bilan reimagining her childhood favourite The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and Tom Lee’s letter to his readers.
Marnie Riches
Episode 460 (Duration 28 mins)
Marnie Riches speaks with Doug Johnstone about the discipline required to write two books a year, her experience of moving publishers and the creative benefits of new environments, and branching out from crime writing into historical fiction.
You can listen and subscribe to RLF Collected wherever you get your podcasts.