Episode 70 – Guest Interview JC Niala – Creating a Poetry Collection
We are back in the writers’ room and we have a guest in our hot seat this week JC Niala.
JC Niala is a writer, poet, and playwright, and a keen grower. She is specifically interested in how our imaginations of nature affect how we treat it.
Her artists' journal of poems Portal: 1918 Allotment (Fig, 2022) uses poetry, prose, and art to document her recreation of an English allotment in the style of the year 1918. In 2022, she received the Social History Society’s Public history prize 2022 for this project.
JC’s nature writing debut, 'A Loveliness of Ladybirds, was shortlisted for the Nan Shepherd Prize for Nature Writing in 2019 and will Little Toller will publish this in 2023.
'Never throw anything away!' You never know when your words will become useful.
Laura and Peter ask JC:
Tell us about yourself and your journey. How did you get started with writing?
As an experienced researcher, what advice do you have for a writer who wants to experiment with research, and use this in their work or as an inspiration for their work?
Can you provide three tips or techniques to help our listener use history/past events for creative inspiration?
Last year, you attended our poetry collection course. Can you talk about this experience and what this has led to?
What challenges have you faced working as a writer? How have you overcome these?
Congratulations on the upcoming publication of your work. Can you tell us more about your book ‘A Loveliness of Ladybirds?
You’ve got lots of exciting projects on the go. Please, can you tell us more? What’s next for you?
Links to work:
Online Exhibition of 1918 Allotment
The Root of the Matter podcast with Wellcome Collections
Listen to JC Niala reading some of her poetry.
For details of the showcase in London and Birmingham please see JC’s website.
You can find JC Niala at:
Website: www.jcniala.com
Twitter: @jcniala
Instagram: @jcnialaWe want to hear from you! info@derbyshirewritingschool.com
Thanks for listening!
Our Creating Your Poetry Collection course is perfect for those looking to take their poetry to the next level, with expert tuition, feedback on your work, and advice from an independent publishing house – this online course will help you learn how to curate your own poetry collection.
This is an online course delivered live via Zoom.
