An Introduction to Page by Page: On Craft and Other Writerly Pursuits—and the Spark That Started It All

We have a brand-new interview series starting on Saturday, May 19th, at 7pm. Here’s host—and Malvernite—Julie Poole with more information:

A few weeks ago, I watched a BBC interview with Muriel Spark in which she explained her writing process step by step. The video starts with Spark, at her desk, shuffling stacks of her journals. “I begin at the beginning,” she states matter-of-factly with a detectable grin. She then proceeds to tell the interviewer how first she writes the title, her name, the words “Chapter One” at the top of the page, and then writes, revising when necessary, until the book is complete.

I loved Spark’s wry, utterly straightforward response. Of course it’s that simple! Do we ask dancers how they dance? No, it’s obvious; they put one foot in front of the other. Budding writers, however, often maintain hope that there’s some secret ingredient—a lucky rock or a desk position—that will cosmically bless a book with an effortless beginning and last until its final page. As Spark so comically observed, writing is simple; it’s all the other stuff that surrounds writing that’s a challenge.

As a fledgling writer myself, I appreciate learning about other writers’ strategies and techniques, since, on multiple occasions, I’ve received nuggets of wisdom that have saved me time, money, heartache, and most importantly kept me on the writerly path.

For Page by Page, a new interview series, I aim to sit down with individual writers—at all stages in their careers—to chat about topics such as, “the first book: tips on making it happen,” “strategies for submitting to journals and magazines,” and “how to use research to enliven works of poetry and fiction.”

It’s no secret that many of the lovely people who buy books and/or attend readings here at Malvern are also writers interested in discovering great books and also looking for ways to stay connected to their craft. I hope you will join me in exploring the world of writerly endeavors and all the extras that make up this wild and wonderful art.