'When the writing is going well, my sense of self melts away; all those everyday concerns, that internal tiresome dialogue, abates.'

I recognised the wonderful sensation the skydivers were describing. When the writing is going well, my sense of self melts away; all those everyday concerns, that internal tiresome dialogue, abates. I lose the sense of time passing.

The post Lizzie Collingham appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I was a greedy reader but then I found that reading alone wasn't enough to fuel my writing, so I became something of a spy.'

I was a greedy reader but then I found that reading alone wasn't enough to fuel my writing, so I became something of a spy in the house of those I loved, and would keep an incriminating journal.

The post Roopa Farooki appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I immediately understood how I could write a similar story, and I promised myself when I returned to England I would do just that.'

I immediately understood how I could write a similar story, and I promised myself when I returned to England I would do just that. It took me a while to recover but later that year I made good on my promise.

The post Brian Keaney appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Call me crazy but after that first novel was out I avoided libraries. Books became alien; standing in a bookshop one afternoon I felt physically sick.'

Call me crazy but after that first novel was out I avoided libraries. Books became alien; standing in a bookshop one afternoon I felt physically sick, so strong was my aversion.

The post Elanor Dymott appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Distractions are endless; from family, friends, bureaucrats, banks, social, and anti-social media. To write, I need to shut all that out.'

Distractions are endless; from family, friends, bureaucrats, banks, social, and anti-social media. To write, I need to shut all that out for several hours.

The post Alex Martin appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'You've started writing your diary in Spanish since discovering that your mother reads it sometimes, but now she's started learning Spanish too.'

You've started writing your diary in Spanish since discovering that your mother reads it sometimes, but now she's started learning Spanish too. Don't worry, I'm here to tell you that she won't get very far with it.

The post Miranda France appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'At school I used to swallow a book in the lunch hour, and now I can do two in that same time. It doesn't feel good. '

At school I used to swallow a book in the lunch hour, and now I can do two in that same time. It doesn't feel good. I race through them, unable to slow my reading speed down.

The post Anna Reynolds appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Writers in my two groups have have won prizes and published extensively, but what is infinitely engaging is leaning in to listen to someone reading.'

Between them, the writers in my two groups have have won prizes and published extensively, but what is infinitely engaging is leaning in to listen to someone reading a new poem.

The post Jackie Wills appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'I love the power that story has to change the world; the inspirational memoir of someone more courageous than I could ever be, or a fictional tale.'

I love the power that story has to change the world; whether it's the inspirational memoir or biography of someone more determined, more courageous, than I could ever be, or a fictional tale.

The post Yvonne Coppard appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.

'Don't be too grateful to anyone for giving you work. You have the talent they need.'

Don't be too grateful to anyone for giving you work. You have the talent they need, so by working for them you are doing as much for them as they are for you.

The post Lucinda Hawksley appeared first on The Royal Literary Fund.