Why it's never too late to start writing & meet inspiring author Julie Fearn
Opportunities: Media jobs at Wimbledon, Creative Future Writers Award 2024, JILeaders Forum on News Leadership & join me for International Women's Day with Pink Link
My dear wordsmiths,
It was during my recent postgraduate course (Journalism Leadership & Innovation in case you are wondering) which I completed part time as a (ahem) mature student, that I learned something important. When staring down the barrel of my first academic assignment in many decades, my colleague shared the wise words ‘Just write the bloody thing’ (other swear words are available) and a catchphrase was born.
It applies to everything in life really as nobody gets it right first time and you just have to get on with it. It’s something I tell myself all the time because there will never be a right time, a comfortable time, a time when you are not tired, hungry, pissed off or constantly disturbed/have time. The muse will never land if you wait so you just have to do it anyway - if you really want to. How do you write? Get over yourself and just do it. Yep. it’s hard - but yep, it’s always possible and it is NEVER too late. Just ask today’s guest - author Julie Fearn - who started writing in her 50s and is now going from strength to strength. She didn’t even start school until age eight and had every disadvantage, yet she still ploughed on.
“I kept it secret for a long time as I was unsure of my abilities. I scribbled in private and, in my early fifties, joined a creative writing course.” Julie Fearn
I’ve been given the gift of time this week. I mean, not really, as I still work full time and more with an inexorable skill of saying yes and putting even more in my diary. But my current inability to drive or go to the gym due to my injury (see disastrous ski accident in last week’s newsletter) means evenings and even early mornings are a little freer than usual and I intend to take advantage - even if that means lying in a bit and staying up later.
My own novel, provisionally titled The daughter she never had, WAS finished - but I am completing substantial rewrites at the moment - which is nobody’s fave job. Wish me luck because after that I’ll be out on query again and I shall share that journey with you.
But today I’d like you to meet Julie Fearn, whose novel The Suitcase of Secrets tells the story of Roman, who inherits a suitcase when his mother dies in which he finds documents shedding light on what happened to his family in the war.
Meet author Julie Fearn
“My family lived on a council estate where aspirations were low for girls”
Julie Fearn
Tell us about you
I was born in Bradford to a Polish father and Irish mother. My first job, aged fifteen (well, 15 years and five weeks, a mere child), was a filing clerk for Grattan’s Catalogue. It didn’t last long. My family lived on a council estate where aspirations were low for girls, but I managed to escape. When I began my novel, I wanted to write about the estate and people I grew up with, but it transmuted into being about my parents’ generation and their struggles in post-war England. There’s a women’s fiction thriller on the way now.
How did you first develop an interest in writing?
I love writing but came to it late. I missed lots of schooling because of a childhood illness and didn’t go to school until I was eight. There, me and other kids, who had all been banged up in hospital, learnt to read, write and count. However, I managed to go to university as a mature student and discovered my love of writing as well as reading. I kept it secret for a long time as I was unsure of my abilities. I scribbled in private and, in my early fifties, joined a creative writing course. The tutor was amazing and encouraged us to take ourselves seriously. I began to learn the craft of writing. Then early retirement came along a blessing for sure. I think it’s communicating what it is to be alive that has me hooked.
What do you consider your biggest achievement?
Publishing my novel, The Suitcase of Secrets, aged 68. And learning to drive aged 41, was no mean feat, as I had zilch road sense having not ever ridden a bicycle. An achievement should be something that means a lot to you – when readers contact me to say how much they enjoyed reading my novel, it’s extraordinary and makes all the hard work worth it.
4. Who is your writing hero?
It has to be two people because I’m a bit of a rule breaker: Elizabeth Strout, a contemporary American novelist who writes about the small emotions of life, all the tiny adjustments, shifts and accommodations we make relating to one another. I love her novels; they’re beautiful observations. And the other hero is Robert Louise Stephenson whose life was as adventurous as his novels.
What gives you the most joy?
I love reading, being taken away into another world and living there for the duration of the story. And in the physical world, being invited to speak about my novel. Recently, I spoke at a Holocaust Memorial Day about displacement. A lady in the audience was born in the same Polish Resettlement Camp where my father started his English life; it was amazing, living history. I buzzed for days afterwards.
What would be your dream career high
Making it onto the Richard and Judy book list! Indie authors have untold hurdles to surmount to break into the mainstream market. Or marrying an influencer to rocket me to stardom; the problem would be I already have a partner, and we’re very happy.
Top tips & advice for fellow writers
Writing is lonely; spending most of the time in your head with your characters, make sure you’re a member of at least one writing group, whatever stage you are at, and read every book to learn something from the writer, good or bad.
Suitcase of Secrets is currently an indie publication available from Amazon as a Kindle book for £3.99 and paperback for £9.99 - and in-store at Kemps General Store, Malton.
Thanks Julie! You can look up her website HERE
News, event and opportunities in writing and journalism
Creative Future Writers Awards (£23,000 prize fund): Submissions are now open for the Creative Future Writers Awards for under-represented writers. Judges have been announced as poet, writer and essayist, Nina Mingya Powles and poet and editor, Wayne Holloway-Smith.
Entries are invited on the theme of Reveal in three categories - fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry. This year there will be five winners in each category. An increased prize fund of £23,000 worth of cash and top writing development prizes supplied by prominent publishers, authors and development agencies will be shared by the 2024 winners to help develop their writing careers. The winning submissions, alongside work by the 2024 Award judges, will be published in an anthology, and prize winners will take part in a showcase event at Southbank Centre’s London Literature Festival in October.
Media roles at Wimbledon: The tennis championships is looking to recruit a variety of people into the media teams including broadcast, interview and photography. Contracts vary in length and for all positions you must be available for all 14 days of The Championships (1 July – 14 July 2024). You will be required to attend an induction on site on or prior to your start date. Training dates will depend on the role.
JILeaders Forum: Finding Clarity in Chaos: News Leadership in a Disruptive Age: Emerging leaders, seasoned journalists and visionary pioneers are invited to join a robust discussion asking: How do news leaders find clarity in a chaotic world?
Taking place on Tuesday 27th February, the afternoon event is organised by the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme, supported by Google News Initiative (GNI), FT Strategies, International Media Support, Chrysalis Transformations and Media Lab, Jordan.will feature speakers from a range of diverse backgrounds and locations ranging from Amman, Jordan to Cape Town, South Africa, and from London to Glasgow and, of course, Preston. FREE - online or in person (but you need to register).
Celebrate International Women’s Day with Pink Link (and me): I’ll be speaking in the media room at this amazing IWD event, hosted by the lovely team at Pink Link Ladies (it’s a national female business network). The day promises an immersive experience with workshops and activities created to enhance your personal and professional growth. Lots of highly inspiring and also useful speakers on the day at Leighton Hall, in Carnforth, Lancashire, UK.
See you next week! Don’t forget to encourage your fellow writers and journalists to hit subscribe - it’s free. And I’m always looking for writers and journalists to feature in the Q&A - format as above. Just reply to this email. Happy writing Nx