Creative Writing students at Bridgwater College welcomed local author, Clare Donaghue, to Bridgwater College recently to give a talk on her journey as a writer. Both groups of AS Creative Writing students assembled in the lecture theatre, bringing their own questions and enthusiasm.

Clare shared her unique story of how she came to be a writer. An avid reader of crime fiction, she stayed up all night to finish reading a novel and wondered how it would feel to have written something so compelling. So she began to write. Clare’s platform into the serious writing world was when she enrolled on her MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University.

She encouraged students to workshop their writing frequently, a tool she found invaluable on her course. Donaghue shared tips on how to get into the business, including the importance of an agent and how to get one and the writing and drafting process. She led the students in a synopsis writing activity for what she called an “elevator pitch”, designed to make agents and publishers want to buy their novel.

The students enjoyed Clare’s entertaining account and took the opportunity to ask her about her novels and future projects. She has three published crime novels:  Never Look Back, No Place to Die and Trust No One, and explained that most publishers contract authors for two to three books, so to be ready to make a start on the next novel. When asked about new projects, Clare said that she is currently working on her first dip into another genre, that of children’s fiction. Her baby daughter, Grace, even joined the students in the workshop and threatened to steal the show.

Clare Donaghue is holding a workshop on how to write your first novel on Saturday 21 May at the Tacchi Morris Centre in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton, so for anyone interested in beginning their writing journey, this could be the start.

If you would like more information about studying Creative Writing at Bridgwater College please contact our Information and Guidance team on 01278 441234.