Friday, January 26, 2024

January's Writer Showcase

 Lily Lawson

So far in this series, I’ve showcased the writers Ruth Loten, Jane Langan, BeckCollett, Ron Hardwick, L.N.Hunter,   Katherine Blessan, Jill Saudek, Colin Johnson, Sue Davnall and Alain Li Wan Po. You can find all these showcases by scrolling back through the material on this blog.


Our first showcase of 2024 turns the spotlight onto Lily Lawson, poet, story-writer, non-fiction writer, and all-round Great Woman.


Lily Lawson


Biography

Lily Lawson hails from North Yorkshire and lives in the Northeast.

She writes poetry, kid’s books, short stories, and non-fiction. She has self- published four poetry collections and three children’s picture books.  In addition to her books she has been published in anthologies and online.

In her working life, Lily undertook various customer-facing roles in the retail and clerical sector before becoming her parents’ carer. In a voluntary capacity, she served on various committees, some as secretary. She also ran a kids' club and played a major role in other children’s activities.

Calling herself the eternal student, she completed a wide range of courses. She is now studying for a degree with the Open University.

She dabbles in singing, acting, and puppetry. Lily loves to dance and will try everything from sequence and ballroom to line dancing and hip hop. She was outnumbered in mock battle, failed twice at ice skating, and her pottery isn’t much better. She’s travelled a fair amount of the UK, taking in a number of theatres, historical sites, pleasure parks and football grounds. Lily loves music and concerts. She can’t play an instrument but she’s never far from being behind a camera. She has attempted drawing and painting and hasn’t ruled out more in the future. 

Her current projects include Sandcastles, her first short story collection and Rainbow’s Yellow Book of Poetry, the third book in her Rainbow series.






https://mybook.to/rainbowsorangebook

https://mybook.to/RainbowsRedPoetryBook

http://mybook.to/ATasteofWhatstoCome

https://mybook.to/MyFathersDaughter

https://mybook.to/SantasEarlyChristmas

https://mybook.to/IfIwereInvisible

https://mybook.to/PalmTreeSwingers

Everyone needs some Lily in their life!


 ******

 

Lily has chosen to showcase five of her wonderful poems, the first two from her first Rainbow Poetry Collection [Red] and the other three from her most recent Rainbow Poetry Collection [Orange]. 








Collective Creativity

 

We paint from the palette of life –

use brushes of all sizes, old and new.

Sometimes other people

will add colours to the canvas.

Each image, unique in interpretation

Every one, a masterpiece.

 

 

Hate vs Love

 

Hate leaks from lips,

its powerful punch poisoning all within its wake,

wasting weighty words on trivial pursuits.

 

Love flows from the heart,

its calming lotion pouring in caressing streams,

healing wounds, seeping into souls.

 

Hate’s afflicted admirers

keen to ingratiate themselves

bow and scrape at its feet.

When they hear the battle cry, they charge.

 

Love listens long.

Its gentle voice persuading, reaching out,

accepting all in its embrace.

 

Poetry is Alive

 

I am a poet

It’s what I do.

I convey

my words to you

in dancing fire,

in beating drum.

I’ve finished

before you’ve begun.

 

The novelist

of whom you’ve likely heard

may find

my brevity absurd.

There is space

for a weighty tome,

when you find yourself

at home.

 

Poetry dances

in the air,

it has the skill

of Fred Astaire.

It finds its way

through tiny nooks,

to people with no time

for books.

 

It lives and breathes

and can be found

even on the

underground,

graffitied

with a can of paint

or in collections

oh, how quaint.

 

 

It is recited oft

by heart

in entirety 

or part.

I must insist

we put to bed

the thought of

poetry being dead.

 

 

I See You in Your Absorption

 

Bring me your cold coffee,

your hunger pangs,

your dry throats,

your forgotten houseplants,

your neglected housework,

and I will say,

‘Hey writer!’

 

 

Take Time to Listen

 

Poetry spoke

the language of the long dead.

Its curious spelling and strange vocabulary

foreign on my tongue.


It called to me,

through intervening years,

a plea from those who penned the lines I read,

that they be understood and so live on

in books that many hands have held,

some with care, some without.

 

The language,

developed and moved on,

a living thing,

adapted in spoken and written form,

so that it may convey, the messages of our time,

to include or exclude.

 

I hope

generations yet to be

will listen to the words

of long forgotten use,

and hear the call

of poetry.

 



******


And finally we come to The Big

 Interview, in which Lily kindly answers 

writing-related questions and lets us 

into some of her writing secrets...

 

How old were you when you first knew you wanted to be a writer, and what set you off down that journey?

From the age of 11, I wrote on and off. I had poems published in my twenties, but it wasn’t until 2019 that I took it seriously. I never saw it as ‘I want to be a writer’ – I just wrote. I didn’t see it as something people like me could be. I didn’t know any writers. I stopped trying to get poetry published because I didn’t know what to do.

I started at the Open University in 2017, and I joined Twitter as part of a module then left my Twitter account dormant. I was encouraged by the OU to join a Facebook group where I made friends but left quickly. I wanted to stay in touch with one of the admins and I found her on Twitter. We became friends. She encouraged me to write for prompts.

There was a 50-word story competition, and I won it. Some OU people were following me, including The Write Club [the OU’s own writing group]. I decided to see what it was all about, little knowing my new friend was a member. I see now that her sharing my work probably got them to see it. Being involved with what they were doing inspired me. They also published some of my writing.  I got lots of advice from members and was encouraged to publish my own book. That was My Father’s Daughter.

 

Tell us about the books and writers that have shaped your life and your writing career.

I’ve read a ton of books across a wide range of genres. I love non-fiction, likely the eternal student in me! There’ve been a number of writing craft ones. It’s hard to pinpoint which ones influenced me. I love reading Indie writers – there is so much talent out there and such variety. Their work has had an impact on me.
            As far as writers go, the writers I know and connect with in various ways are the biggest influence on me. A lot of my favourite people are writers, mostly self-published or small press. They have taught me so much about writing, publishing, and marketing. They have also influenced my life. I have learned about who I am as a person from individual and group conversations which in turn helps my writing too. I am incredibly lucky and incredibly grateful.


Have your children, other family members, friends or teachers inspired any of your writing?

One of my secondary school English teachers helped me see that song lyrics are poetry by getting us to write new words about scrambled eggs to the tune of Yesterday by The Beatles and therefore I was a fan of living poets. I love music. I know a lot of song lyrics by heart, and it can be inspiring.

My parents have inspired some of my writing. ‘Till death us do part’ (Sandcastles) is based on my dad. ‘Sometimes’ (My Father’s Daughter) and the pieces I wrote for Footsteps and Echoes were about my mam. My friends and in some cases their writing has inspired me and continues to do so.

 





 

Does the place you live now, or any other places you’ve lived, have any impact on your writing?

My short stories are set in various locations that are well known to me and that I have tweaked quite a lot or taken parts of them and put them with other parts from another place entirely. I’d be surprised if people could recognize any of it. I sometimes do that with poetry too but that can be more obvious. I have written poems about my hometown where I have lived almost all of my life.

I think we are all inspired by our environment and if I lived somewhere else, I am sure that would be reflected in my writing.

 

How would you describe your own writing? Do you tend to write in a particular genre, style or form?

I am by default a poet, but I love to write stories too. I write what comes unless there is a reason to write in a certain way, for a prompt for example. My poetry is often free verse, but I have dabbled with form now and then.

 

Are there certain themes that draw you to them when you are writing?

The social scientist in me likes to explore how people feel, think and act in certain situations. I love people. I talk way too much and so do my characters.

 

Tell us about how you approach your writing. Are you a planner or a pantser?

I am definitely a pantser. I don’t plan very often. I have toyed with the idea of writing a novel and that was the only thing I planned at all and that was about 20k in when I realised it was necessary. I may try again at some point but likely a different story.

 

Do you have any advice for someone who might be thinking about starting to write creatively?

I would say write for you and try and do a little every day or at least regularly. I had this idea to write a sentence a day and it does work. Writers are always pushed for time and trying to write around their various commitments. I figured we could all write one sentence a day. Yes, it’s not much, but it adds up. It’s about getting into the habit of writing and not necessarily needing a lot of time to do it. Once you start writing, it can and does lead to writing more, finding other minutes, and thinking about what you actually need in order to write. I believe you only need the means to do it, pen and any kind of paper, or any kind of device. You can dictate to your phone now or send yourself emails. There are loads of prompts around, if you look, if that helps you get started. Ask fellow writers for prompts if you need to, we often have loads we can share. I have my favourites. Ask me on Twitter/X and I will happily share.
            Also find a group or community, don’t do it alone [see below].

 

Are you, or have you been in the past, a member of any writing groups, online or face-to-face? What do you think is the value of such groups?

I’m in The Open University’s Write Club, and a few others on social media. I am an admin for some of them, but they mostly run themselves really.
            Writing is solitary and that can be hard at times. Having people to connect with online and via Zoom has been amazing.
            I doubt anything I have published since 2019 would have been out there in the world were it not for my writing groups (pre 2019 that honour falls to my dad as he was the one that found the submission calls in the newspapers). Both my parents were supportive of my writing.
 

Have you studied creative writing on any sort of formal course? What do you think you have learned from such courses?

I have completed courses with Udemy, Futurelearn, OpenLearn, and Reedsy. I am studying for a degree with the Open University which includes two creative writing modules, one of which I have completed.  I think it’s important that, as writers, we keep learning formally or informally.

 

What do you think about getting feedback on your work from other writers and/or non-writers?

I find it very worthwhile. I have had a lot of feedback over the years, and I wouldn’t publish a book of any kind without someone seeing it first and giving me feedback.

For fiction, I do have experienced writing eyes that will look over it for me. I have had a lot of feedback from fellow poets in the past but these days my poetry betas are more likely to be readers or those who are better known for their fiction. I read the feedback I receive and see if I agree with it. If I agree, I implement it.

My Father’s Daughter had too many eyes and I can still be guilty of that, especially with a new project in a different direction. I would say, find people you trust and not too many of them. I like at least one new pair of eyes per book in addition to my trusted souls if possible. I’m growing as a writer and seeking to grow my readership, so finding a new person to read for me gives me a fresh perspective. I try and get kids to beta my kid’s books as they are honest and are nearer to the target readership in age.

 

Do you have experience of either traditional publication, hybrid publication or self-publication, and/or have you had shorter pieces or poetry published in magazines or anthologies?

I have self-published seven books to date, and I have plans for more. I have had poetry, short stories and non-fiction published online (most notably in Makarelle) and in anthologies.

            The challenge of self-publishing never goes away. Getting everything correct for Amazon is something I have yet to master completely. I am extremely lucky to have friends who have the skills to help me or teach me. Santa’s Early Christmas was the hardest challenge to get right, and I would never have managed it alone.

As far as being published away from my own books, Makarelle was the most nerve wracking and the one I felt the biggest sense of achievement from.

It’s hard work, particularly on the marketing side, but it’s worth it. Every time I see my name on a book cover, it fills me with a sense of pride. I did that. I would never have thought that kid who wrote poems in their jotter would be able to do that. I would have laughed if you had suggested that back then.


 



Do you enter writing competitions?

I have entered some but never got anywhere.  I can see that being placed in a competition or winning it is an ego boost, a validation of you as a writer. I know that some people strive to move up from the long list to the short list and hopefully to the winner’s podium. It can also be good publicity. If you do well in a prestigious competition, it might bring an author some attention. I am kind of on the fence because I can’t see me ever doing well at them, but I know they have their place in the writing calendar and are valued by many people.

 

Where do you get your ideas from?

Everywhere. Sometimes I write in response to prompts. Reading a book or a poem, music, things that have happened in my life, tv, film, the list goes on …






They say that successful writers need to be selfish. How far do you agree with this? 

I write every day, though how much varies. Sometimes I write one piece or do some editing, sometimes several pieces. I write wherever, whenever, mostly on my pc at my desk but it can be on my phone or on paper. A set schedule wouldn’t work for me. I have written at all hours of the day and night.

 

Would you describe yourself as a ‘cultured’ person?

I read regularly (66 books in 2023). I was once a frequent theatre and cinema goer and I love museums and art galleries. I have also been to a number of concerts. I can see me taking some of that up again one day. My tv habits have changed a lot. I have cut back in recent years, and I no longer watch ‘live’ tv. I binge a series or two at a time. I am very fond of American tv and that makes up the majority of my watchlist. The odd British series will sneak in, Australian and Canadian programmes are not unknown. I rarely watch films. I am becoming more restrictive about the media I consume. I no longer access news regularly.  I feel that the art world and the writing world can feed off each other but I don’t keep up to date.  I don’t read literary novels, but I do read widely so I wouldn’t rule it out. I have been told my poetry is all literary.

 

Are you interested in history, or current affairs, and if so, does it impact on your writing?

I enjoy visiting old buildings and places of interest. I wrote a poem about Bonfire Night. I think you need to know your subject and do adequate research to make sure you are as accurate as possible if using a historical setting or events within your work. Whatever you reference, if it’s not accurate there will always be someone to tell you and it is off-putting for readers.

 

How did the Covid pandemic affect you as a writer?

I published my first two books in 2020. I wrote a lot. I was my dad’s carer and an Open University Student. I started studying A215 Creative Writing in October 2020.

 

Where would you place your own stories, on a continuum with PURE FANTASY at one end and COMPLETE REALISM at the other?

My stories slide between the two, I would say. I read fantasy but not all of it is for me. Fantasy encompasses a lot.  I think there is value in all books and all genres.
            I read widely and I think write widely too.


You are someone who writes both fiction and non-fiction. Do you have a preference?

I enjoy both. They bring out different sides in me. 



 

  ******

Thank you very much, Lily, for a brilliant and fascinating showcase. 


 






In February, I will showcase 

a writer who combines philosophy, 

sociology, economics and psychology to produce impressive articles and essays: 

Philip Badger

Not to be missed!

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