Welcome back to A Writing Life, our series of monthly articles written by long-time 26 member and contributor Rob Self-Pierson.
Like many of us, Rob straddles the line between commercial and personal writing. Each month, we invite him to share stories from his writing life, reflecting on what it means to live as a writer today.
Rob Self-Pierson with John Simmons, Anushka Shah, and Olivia Sprinkel at Wordstock 2025
It’s October, and Rob has hosted ‘A Writing Life’, a live panel discussion at Wordstock. He passes on the wisdom shared by his three guests…
So, a writing life. What’s it all about really?
I’ve just explored the question live, in the warmth of the 26 community. How lucky, how thankful I feel for the experience.
Each autumn, as reddened leaves turn to mush around London’s streets and garden squares, members of 26 come together in the library at Conway Hall, Bloomsbury for Wordstock.
Among tall shelves of deliciously musty books, where portraits of writers and philosophers nod from walls, we gather to share, explore, learn, understand, to challenge and be challenged, to be inspired, to be motivated. Or for some, to simply be among kindred spirits.
At this year’s Wordstock, part of Bloomsbury Festival, I led a discussion around what it means to live as a writer today. After a hard year, it was a gentle lean back into the real world for me.
My guests were John Simmons, novelist, poet, co-founder of 26 and forever-champion of words. Olivia Sprinkel, the nature writer whose beautiful first memoir To Hear The Trees Speak was published in May. And Anushka Shah, award-winning poet, fashion writer and creator of Pantoscope. Three kind and generous writing souls.
‘The paths we tread’ was the festival’s theme. I made this connection in my introduction: that as writers each of our paths is different, and it’s these paths that lead us through our writing lives.
How I wish we’d had hours to wander those paths together. Alas, our short time vanished as my guests shared their stories, insights and encouragements. Our audience sat silent, transfixed.
We never reached my final question, the last stop on our journey through these writers’ writing lives.
It was going to be this:
If someone in our audience today is struggling with or starting out on a writing life, what advice might you offer to them?
I’ve realised something. Looking at the scribbles on my script, and at notes passed to me by 26’s Fiona Thompson and Julia Webb-Harvey (thank you, both), advice exists in everything my guests said.
I offer it to you now, whether you were in the audience or not. A gift from John, Olivia and Anushka, lightly wrapped by me.
So, a writing life. What’s it all about really?
Well, despite the image of the lonely writer sitting at their desk never seeing another soul, writers have plenty of opportunities to get together and spend time. A writing life needn’t be solitary.
Olivia introduced us to London Writers’ Salon. Anushka is also a member. They both enjoy LWS’s Writers’ Hour, time put aside each week (no matter your time zone, there’s an hour for you) to write in the presence of others. Olivia finds energy and focus there.
John smiled at a writing life as solitary, joking he’d only been allowed out of his room for the panel. He told us about writing communities he helped form, like 26. ‘Community’ kept coming up. Writing is community, if that’s what you seek. ‘Only connect,’ said John.
Olivia and I reminisced about how we’d met, connected, thanks to 26. And how a 26 project, 26 Treasures, came from that connection. ‘Something always emerges from conversation,’ John added.
Community, connection, conversation. The three C’s. And coffee. John likes to meet over coffee. Four C’s, the way to a good writing life.
A good writing life is a balance. Few are able to make a living from one form of writing, and my guests prefer the variety anyway. Olivia and Anushka spend much of their time in sustainability and environmental consultancy. Commercial work, really. Outside of that, they’re both prolific in their personal writing. Memoir. Poetry. Creative collaborations with groups like 26 and others.
Though Anushka likes to be fully immersed in whichever she’s doing. She can then fully immerse in the other later. It’s a form of discipline, we said. It keeps her focused, which makes her productive.
‘I think you have to make writing a priority to do it,’ Anushka shared.
It got us talking. Discipline is important to a writing life. You have to make the time for writing, not just find the time. The latter suggests it might not happen, oh well. The former makes sure it does.
Since university, John has dedicated Friday nights to writing (‘Friday night is writing night’) – often writing into the early hours. Anushka writes early mornings. Olivia is another Friday writer like John. ‘To write the book, I had to make a commitment to it,’ she shared.
A writing life is easy then. You simply make time to write, it flows out of you, you stick with it, then you’re a writer, and there’s your living. No, not quite. Like all good stories, a writing life brings challenges.
Now halfway through our time together, my guests shared perhaps their biggest challenge. Something they all totally agreed on, despite being at different points in their writing lives and careers.
Imposter syndrome.
Our audience gasped when John, now in his 70s, told us he didn’t confidently call himself a writer until 2015. It’s the year Leaves was published, the novel he started writing (on Post-its) in his 20s.
It’s similar for Olivia, who’s more comfortable now as ‘a writer’ with her book published. Anushka shared how when she was younger (she’s now in her 20s) she’d say, ‘I want to be a writer when I grow up.’ I asked if she felt grown up enough yet. She smiled, shrugged.
Perhaps that’s one of the hardest things about living a writing life. Saying/sharing/admitting (I’m not sure which verb to use) that you’re a writer. Knowing when you’re grown up enough.
Closing the discussion, I asked my guests what they enjoyed most about living a writing life.
For Olivia, it’s the impact you can have when your words reach others. She shared the story of somebody reading her book to their loved one close to the end of their life. For Anushka, it’s feeling understood through your words, connecting through writing.
‘I get lost in writing, and I’m not aware of time passing,’ said John after a pause. Then, with a look to our audience, he added, ‘Writing gives me joy. A writing life is a joyous life.’
Thank you, John. Thank you, Olivia and Anushka. Thank you for sharing so much of yourselves with us. It means a lot.
Together we go
Thank you if you came to Wordstock, and if you’ve read this far. As John pointed out, reading is crucial for writers too. For this writer, so is being read. I’m always deeply thankful to those who spend time with my writing, and those who get in touch to say hello.
A while ago, I promised you a Substack, another place to connect, converse and enjoy community. Whether you’re on the platform or not, tread a path to A Writing Life. I hope you enjoy what you find.
Onwards,
Rob
If you’d like to share in response, message Rob via Max at 26. Also, find out more about Rob’s studio or connect with him.