Women's Writing
Booker Prize Winner Supports New Writing Initiative
Author of Wolf Hall Hilary Mantel (left) is lending her support to South Yorkshire Women Online's newest initiative.
We want to encourage all you writers out there to send in your work to the website. We'll feature it and invite other website users to comment through our chat page.
When she was in Sheffield the other day Hilary Mantel agreed to meet up with us to help encourage writers to come forward. Here is what she had to say:
"It's vital that if you have ambitions to be a writer, you live like a writer. Your commitment starts with your first wish to be a writer. A large part of teaching writing is instilling confidence because often people think 'there's nothing special about me' "
In her no-nonsense way, Ms Mantel offered her advice on 'How to live like a writer'
1.) Keep a journal
2.) Keep your mouth shut and listen more than you talk.
3.) Be curious about the world so that you don't shut down subject matter because you think it's not interesting. Almost everything is potentially interesting.
4.) Be hospitable to new ideas. Take them in, don't shut the door on them.
5.) Cultivate patience. Be willing to keep an idea in your boxfile and let it evolve in the dark.
6.) Don't throw things away. It's a long game, not a short-term business
7.) Once you get yourself into a writer's mindset you will never be bored again.
8.) If someone grabs you at the bus-stop and starts telling you their life story, listen.
Although she acknoledges not everyone will become a published writer, Ms Mantel is very clear that writing in itself is an enriching experience - and everyone can do it!
So what are you waiting for? Contact Kathryn at kathryn.sywdt@btconnect.com with your poems, short stories and other work and we'll put it on the website, practicalities permitting. Then readers can offer comment (constructive please!) on the work through our chat section.
If you are a member of a women's writing group or know of any other writing organisations, please contact us on the above email so we can share the details with our readers.
To comment on work, click here
