Shout it Loud from The Writers’ Block

We would like to Shout it Loud for writer and illustrator Felicity Tattersall. Felicity first attended workshops at The Writers’ Block a few years ago, and now is a regular reader at our Speakeasy. Her smiling face and rich, imaginative words always brighten up The Writers’ Block. Here, she speaks about her experience working with us:

‘The Writer’s Block is an amazing resource for writers in Cornwall, I feel really lucky that it exists. I first attended some excellent workshops three years ago. I then attended the speakeasy, (where writer’s share their work). I started writing short stories and was continuing to write (and illustrate) stories for children. I was incredibly nervous about sharing my work in public when I first attended, but decided to sign myself up. So I shared my work at the next Speakeasy, (nearly running away with nerves just before it was my slot), but I can honestly say it was the best thing I’ve ever done, as suddenly it gave my work a real place in the world, outside of my head. It made it suddenly seem real, instead of something I worked on privately and kept to myself. The support and encouragement from other writers was incredible too. Next (through the Writer’s Block) I was invited to share my work at the Great Estate Festival. Again I was abjectly terrified, to stand on a stage and read my own words, there was going to be nowhere to hide! But again, staff from the Writer’s Block gave me some public speaking coaching, (which helped enormously, as my biggest problem was reading so fast that I didn’t leave time to breathe, and nearly fainted!) Reading at the festival presented a major turning point for me, providing that platform gave me the chance to believe that writing (and illustrating) could actually be my professional job rather than a hobby. During lockdown I’ve done a fabulous play writing course run through the Writer’s Block, which I absolutely loved. Doing that course has really changed the way I plan and develop my writing, as I think a lot more about structure, speech patterns and the importance of editing. I would say The Writers’ Block has impacted upon my illustration work too, as many of the exercises we have worked on in the Write Club (a creative writing group for writers organised by WB) have had a visual element, and I think a lot more about narrative storytelling when I create an illustration now, as well interactive word and image storytelling within children’s books. Most recently I did a workshop organised by the WB led by Anna Wilson, which was absolutely fantastic, and also really helped me to realise that I want to concentrate on nature based children’s books. The feedback and comments from that workshop have really helped me to shape and develop a new children’s book idea that I’m working on. The WB has made an enormous difference to me as a writer, I now consider myself to be a writer (which helps!), and have been shown the tools to develop my craft, as well as the confidence. Writing is not always an easy journey and there are no free tickets to success, but with fantastic peer support, amazing workshop leaders and opportunities to share your work offered through the WB, these things make a huge difference.’