Simon Whaley’s Business of Writing: October 2023 - What's Your Experience?

Don't Get Stuck, Get Reminiscing.

The River Severn at Coalport, Shropshire © Simon Whaley

Welcome to my October 2023 newsletter, and hello to new subscribers.

Here in the UK, we’re currently mopping up from the wake of Storm Babet. Thankfully, I live on a hill and some seven hundred feet above sea level, so if ever flooding affects me, it won’t be through rising flood water (or if it is, then, boy, does the world have a problem). But we do occasionally experience damage caused by water on its downhill journey, although this time it’s only damage to the garden. My heart goes out to all those whose homes have been inundated with water.

On Saturday, I lunched with friends after my writers’ group meeting at a pub on the banks of the River Severn. The Woodbridge Inn at Coalbrookdale (which does great gluten-free food, by the way) has been around since 1745, so it is used to living on the edge and, as you can see from the photo, the river level was high. It peaked on Monday, and unlike many other properties in Ironbridge, was not affected by floodwater.

Had Storm Babet arrived a couple of weeks earlier, then I may not have got down to Tewkesbury to deliver a two-hour workshop on Creative Non-Fiction. Tewkesbury also floods quite regularly, sitting close to where the River Avon meets the River Severn.

Writers in Tewkesbury busy writing! © Simon Whaley

I had a great group of writers for the workshop, who all threw themselves enthusiastically into the writing exercises. In some ways, I hate setting writing exercises during workshops. Firstly, I feel like I’m forcing people to be creative on the spot, and The Muse doesn’t always work like that. (Some people find the pressure makes The Muse eager to start, others find it dashes off somewhere quick to hide.) But I always say to people that there’s no pressure to read anything out, because it’s all first-draft sloppy-copy stuff, which hasn’t been edited.

On this occasion, everyone was soon busy scribbling, which in some ways was lovely, but in other ways awful. Awful, because I always feel guilty for making writers stop writing because I need to move on with the workshop. I know that when the writing is flowing, I like to keep it going!

But if ever you find The Muse is avoiding you, then try sitting down and writing about a life experience that meant something to you. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic experience. It could simply be a view that took your breath away or an observation on the bus.

An experience is our interpretation of a moment in our lives. And because we’re all individuals, we put our own interpretation of it. So even if several people witness the same experience and write about it, everyone’s experience will be different.

Looking back now, I realise this is what many famous writers told me when I wrote to them at the age of 14, asking what advice they would give to a budding writer. John Sullivan, the writer of the hit BBC television comedy series Only Fools and Horses, said,

”At the age of fourteen, my only advice is” Don’t panic! As you get older, your experience and worldliness will grow and you will find you have a lot more to write about.”

John Sullivan’s advice Photo © Simon Whaley

Similarly, David Croft, one of the writers behind my favourite sitcom, ’Allo, ‘Allo! said:

”In reply to your question as to how long it takes to write an episode of ‘Allo, ‘Allo!, I think the answer is three days and about forty years of experience!”

David Croft’s writing advice Photo © Simon Whaley

At many writers’ workshops, I’m often asked by writers whether they should write their memoirs, or share their experience, even when so many other people have written on a topic. And I always say, “Yes,” because nobody else has had your experience. Somebody, somewhere, will learn from your experience, which will influence their experience, perhaps giving them something new to share on the subject.

Essentially, that’s all the business of writing is—it’s sharing our experience. Even when it comes to writing novels, the tales we tell are influenced by our experience and view of the world.

So, if ever you get stuck, and The Muse doesn’t want to play today, just sit down and write about an experience you’ve had. You never know, what you write could turn into an article, the basis of a short story, or even a novel or non-fiction book.

I wrote to several writers when I was fourteen, and you can read about them all here, on this Medium article (as newsletter subscribers you can use this free link). Even though it’s nearly thirty years since I was fourteen (gulp!) the exercise of writing to those writers and receiving their replies gave me an experience to write about.

Sadly, across the UK, there are many people who are now experiencing flooding issues they wished they hadn’t had to endure. Not all experiences are welcomed or pleasant. But they do give us a story to tell.

I can recommend The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. Raynor and her husband Moth endured two horrendous experiences within days: Moth is told he has a terminal illness, and then they’re made homeless. With nowhere to go, they set off and walked the 630-mile South West Coast path. Their experience became a bestseller, and Raynor has now written three books.

Experience, good or bad, gives us something to write about. Don’t let The Muse make you think otherwise. 

Until next month, keeeeeeeeeep writing!

Best wishes,

Simon