In Writing with Hattie Crisell S3 Ep29: Wendy Erskine, short story writer
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Mar 19, 2021 Wendy Erskine, an award-winning short story writer and high school English teacher from Belfast, shares her journey to publishing her acclaimed collection, 'Sweet Home.' She discusses balancing family life while writing, using her 'imagination headphones' to focus amidst chaos. Wendy reflects on the iterative process of drafting and the importance of creating compelling characters. She also touches on the challenges of writing authentic narratives and how her teaching and writing experiences interconnect to inspire young writers.
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Kitchen Writing
- Wendy Erskine writes in her kitchen amidst the bustle of family life.
- She prefers this environment and avoids a dedicated writing space to prevent preciousness.
Drafting Process
- Let initial story ideas simmer mentally for several weeks before drafting.
- Write a first draft without restrictions, exploring various possibilities and narrative viewpoints.
Redrafting Technique
- Print out drafts and critically analyze them to identify the core focus.
- Start a fresh draft, retaining essential parts, and refine the narrative with each iteration.
