LIBRARY LIFE

Gladstone's Library, Hawarden

By Rhian Waller - Gladstone's Library PR and marketing

This month, Gladstone's Library will welcome Vanessa Gebbie. Vanessa is an experienced creative writing tutor, novelist (The Coward's Tale), poet (Memorandum: Poems for the Fallen) and short story writer (Words From A Glass Bubble), whose work has appeared in anthologies alongside authors like Jhumpa Lahiri and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Vanessa is coming to the Library to teach a creative writing course focusing on fiction.

The course itself, GLADFIC, is fully booked and there is a waiting list (if you are interested in coming, email rhian.waller@gladlib.org to be notified of any cancellations). But Vanessa agreed to share a little advice to creative writers ahead of her arrival.

Firstly, she said that finding a supportive tutor and community can help aspiring authors - but do not rely too much on other people's opinions of your developing work.

She said: "I do believe that it is useful to harness the power of being in a group. Getting discussions going, learning from disagreements - that's when it builds up into an interesting, inspiring experience.

"On the other hand, when I teach, I don't ask people to share their work. I work closely with Welsh writer Cynan Jones, who says that showing your work before it is finished is like letting the light into a photography studio while you're developing film - you will still get an effect but perhaps not the one you intended.

"So listen to your instincts. If you don't feel sharing with a group is right for you, then don't. And equally, if a useful group has stopped being useful - bow out gracefully..."

Secondly, find an environment that helps you work on your writing, whether it's somewhere to put pen to paper, or to take a break, find inspiration and re-energise.

Vanessa said: "At Gladstone's Library, there is enough space to find a quiet and private area to work alone and uninterrupted. On the other hand, a lot of work gets done on walks around the Hawarden countryside."

Finally, if you are new to writing, don't hold yourself up to other people's standards.

Vanessa said: "It's not about comparing yourself to other people. Over the years, I have worked with raw beginners and with people who have been writing for a long time and have come up against some kind of barrier, and it's wonderful to help them overcome that and see their work develop.

"I don't take any ownership of that at all - I'm only giving people permission to do what's in them anyway, but I'm so proud of them, and delighted to see when someone's confidence is boosted. If you are just a beginner, remember we've all had to begin somewhere."