London Writers' Salon #171: Salena Godden — Spoken Word, Poetry, Memoir, and Novels: Turning Pain into Courage on the Page and Getting Published
Dec 7, 2025
Salena Godden, an award-winning poet and novelist of Jamaican–Irish heritage, shares her journey from the shadows of self-publishing to celebrated author. She discusses the importance of writing authentically and her 'rule of three' for balancing creativity and income. Salena reveals techniques for drafting poetry and prose from fleeting thoughts and the emotional challenges of memoir writing. She emphasizes self-care rituals after intense writing and the necessity of archiving one's work, all while holding onto hope and resilience.
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Twenty Years In The Wilderness
- Salena spent around 20 years self-publishing, gigging, and making zines before a poetry book release.
- She crowdfunded her memoir with Unbound and personally promoted physical copies to local bookshops.
Ditch The Starving-Artist Myth
- Do not romanticize suffering as a requirement for great art; care for your health while creating.
- Salena Godden says loving yourself and being healthy can improve your work and longevity.
Keep A Rule-Of-Three Balance
- Balance creative work across three purposes: charity, favours, and paid work.
- Salena recommends keeping those three kinds of projects in check to protect income and generosity.
