Up Close With: Anna Ramberg
Meet the wonderful writers and patrons behind LWS.
Have you ever started a novel at 3am in the nightclub loo? This week’s featured member has. Londoner Anna Ramberg—who says she’s “old enough not to know better”—writes fiction with an edge of fairytale. She’s also been long listed for the Fish Poetry Prize and usually has multiple notebooks on the go dedicated to various endeavours. Anna says she’s “always lived in a story”, and it’s our pleasure to help shine a spotlight on her forest of dreams.
Anna Ramberg
- Based in London, UK
- Aged “old enough not to know better”
- Writes novels, poetry, and short stories
What do you write, in general?
Fiction — novels. But also poetry (been long listed for the Fish Poetry Prize which I know everyone on my MA would fall over laughing about as my poetry back then was anything but readable!) and short stories. I have been known to blog too, but time doesn’t allow everything.
What are you working on right now?
I’m working on the second draft of my third novel (the first two not published — YET!—and the second one is currently doing the rounds with agents), which is a return back into the forests and fairy tales of my childhood combined with the adult reality of childlessness, regrets and obsession. I am usually told my writing is dark and has fairy tale elements, and when a writer friend encouraged me to take the plunge and go all the way, I did. I’m loving every moment I spend in that forest with darkness, a glaring sun that never sets, and hearts in various need of mending.
Where and when do you write?
Everywhere, anywhere. I once started a novel on my phone in the ladies toilets at 3am in a nightclub having been inspired by the stickiness of the dance floor.
How do you write?
Mostly laptop when it comes to writing chapters/story. I always edit on paper (even though I know I shouldn’t…). And I have about seven notebooks on the go, each for different things: ideas, this novel, agent info, journalling about life, journalling about writing, etc.
Why do you write?
It is my best life; it’s who I am, not what I do.
I have always lived in a story. I was telling them before I knew what I was doing: first to try to change my life or me, then to understand where I was in life. Now I write to understand how we become who we are and how we can maybe change, or rather go back to that magical person we once were, before the outside seeped in and turned us into people our childhood selves wouldn’t recognise. I want to live my truth, and I want to reframe how I think about the world and life and how I live in this life. And writing gives me the space to explore this.
What inspires your creativity?
Words, light, darkness, feelings, curiosity — like how things might feel for someone else. I have been known to do a pretend striptease in a cafe while I was working on a story about a burlesque dancer, just so I could get the details of how her body would move and what it would feel like right.
What’s your favourite book?
Can’t possibly answer this! It would it be unfair to all the great books I don’t pick.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
I think what Joy Sullivan said just the other day will always stick with me: ‘Write what you wish you didn’t know’
What’s the one thing you would tell other/aspiring writers?
Show up.
How can we discover more about you and your work?
- You can find me and my bestest writing buddy on Instagram: @a.m.ramberg
- A (not very up-to-date) blog about my writing (with some poems): annamakesstuffup.blogspot.com
- About life (also not up-to-date): saintannabelle.wordpress.com
