Up Close With: Claire Blakemore
Meet the wonderful writers and patrons behind LWS.
Zadie Smith once described the habit of the “micro-writer”, and it resonated with this week’s featured member. Claire Blakemore writes early in the morning, and obsessively—she writes the same sentence over and over again, but finds that writing by hand helps her let go of perfectionism. She believes there is a spiritual push to her writing, and has always felt as though she experiences life in a way that needs to be written down. But, she cautions, this thing we do is meant to be hard.
Claire Blakemore
- Based in Essex
- Aged 38
- Writes fiction and short, lyrical “mini-essays”
What do you write, in general?
Fiction, short stories, and also short, lyrical ‘mini-essays’.
What are you working on right now?
My first novel and a couple of short stories.
Where and when do you write?
First thing in the morning.
How do you write?
By hand first, then eventually on computer. I am a micro writer (as explained by Zadie Smith in Changing My Mind essay)—I write the same sentence over and over again and am very obsessive. If I write by hand then I get more done and let go of perfectionism.
Why do you write?
I have always felt highly ‘aware and alert’ as though I’m experiencing life in a way that needs to be written down. I think there is a spiritual dimension to my need to write, and I do agree with Elizabeth Gilbert that it’s more about allowing things to come through me, rather than inventing something.
What inspires your creativity?
I love colour, travel, and the natural world. When I was studying my Masters in Creative Writing, I spent a lot of time at a desk and reading. I found my inspiration and creativity dried up. I had some time off and spent a lot of time in the sensory world, cooking, walking in nature, sewing and moving my body. If I don’t use my hands I find my writing gets stale. Also spending time with people as much as I can is important, writing is a solitary pursuit — we are social beings and we should not forget this.
What’s your favourite book?
Right now? I’ve just finished A Single Thread by Tracy Chevalier and loved it.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Natalie Goldberg: “We think writing gives us an excuse for being alive. We forget that being alive is unconditional and that life and writing are two seperate entities. Often we use writing as a way to receive notice, attention, love. ‘See what I wrote. I must be a good person’ We are good people before we ever write a word.”
What’s the one thing you would tell other/aspiring writers?
It’s meant to be hard. Don’t listen to anyone who says it isn’t. That’s the joy of it.
How can we discover more about you and your work?
I write a tiny personal response to a poem every week via tinyletter.com/poetryfriday, and sometimes ready poetry on YouTube.
