In advance of the publication of Into Being, about the transformative power of memoir, I am sharing the interviews that I did as part of my research ... this is the fourth
An inspiring interview that resonated with me in terms of how Julia felt poetry expressed her childhood memories and feelings better than prose. I don't write poetry but find writing scenes that are true to the feel of the season/moment to be powerful in conveying a sense of place and emotion. I also love that Ted Hughes quote. So true.
Hymnal sound like a must-read for me. My family wasn’t evangelical, far from it, but we were church-going and the words and music of the Presbyterian hymnal in Northern Ireland, the disciplines and attitudes of the church, shaped me in a way that I can’t shake off, 60+ years later and despite living for 30 years in London where you can be whoever you like.
Thanks, Lily & Julia, this was fascinating. I wrote my first memoir-poem last week, and have won a place to read it on stage in London which is super exciting, because it was sort of an accident that the piece I wrote even decided it wanted to be in that particular genre. I’m not even sure I was aware such a genre existed before then to be honest, so it’s serendipitous that I then read your interview today. Thank you for sharing this, I can’t wait to read both books!
An inspiring interview that resonated with me in terms of how Julia felt poetry expressed her childhood memories and feelings better than prose. I don't write poetry but find writing scenes that are true to the feel of the season/moment to be powerful in conveying a sense of place and emotion. I also love that Ted Hughes quote. So true.
Hymnal sound like a must-read for me. My family wasn’t evangelical, far from it, but we were church-going and the words and music of the Presbyterian hymnal in Northern Ireland, the disciplines and attitudes of the church, shaped me in a way that I can’t shake off, 60+ years later and despite living for 30 years in London where you can be whoever you like.
Thanks, Lily & Julia, this was fascinating. I wrote my first memoir-poem last week, and have won a place to read it on stage in London which is super exciting, because it was sort of an accident that the piece I wrote even decided it wanted to be in that particular genre. I’m not even sure I was aware such a genre existed before then to be honest, so it’s serendipitous that I then read your interview today. Thank you for sharing this, I can’t wait to read both books!
Wonderful interview, thanks for sharing. Really helpful in rethinking the possibilities for poetry. Look forward to reading Hymnal. And Into Being.