“I often went for a walk straight after my writing and editing time, to blow cobwebs away and to reconnect to the here and now, to smell roses and rosemary and lilac and jasmine in the beautiful gardens of East Orange.”

“The life of a writer is precarious so its diversify or watch your career go down the gurgler.”

‘I think in order to write a compelling memoir, you need to leave your ego at the door and be vulnerable. That’s the most important element. I couldn’t have written Hip Hop & Hymns if I was too worried about what other people would think of me.’

‘I really believe there’s a lot of ancestral knowledge that pertains to the power of storytelling. It’s not only a way to bridge cultural gaps but also a way to teach, critique systems, and build community.’

‘Writing fiction means imagining yourself into the shoes of your characters. In those deep places you find very personal stuff, confronting and meaningful and enlightening.’

‘I can see that the book helped me to lay strong and sure foundations for the 30 books I’ve created since, which is why—out of the countless writers I’ve read and been inspired by—Goldberg is the writer who’s had the biggest effect on my writing.’

We chatted to writer and critic Anwen Crawford about what inspires her writing, and what makes creative non-fiction unique.

We spoke with experienced writer and teacher Barbara Brooks about the craft of writing memoir.

‘Particularly with science fiction set in the far future where you can’t rely on contemporary political, technological or even environmental elements that are familiar, how do you create a whole universe with everything from power generation and mass transit systems right down to what people eat for breakfast?’