The new home of the Writers’ Studio. Imagine a massive banner around the front. Photo: James Walker.

“Not sure how to check plagiarism? I use Grammarly because I can resist everything except temptation” 

I’ve been a bit silent on this blog for a while and that’s not because I haven’t got anything to say. My energies have been focused on two things that demand a lot of love and attention: The Nottingham Writers’ Studio and a graphic novel called Dawn of the Unread. If you want to know more about Dawn of the Unread then get over to the wordpress site and read up. If you want to download the actual book then head to the official site. We launch on National Libraries Day on 8 Feb.

I joined the Writers’ Studio about five years ago after a lot of persuasion from Aly Stoneman, who was the coordinator at the time. I didn’t want to join because I felt like an imposter and a fraud; that I didn’t deserve to belong to what felt like such a prestigious organisation. And then I met some of the other writers and discovered they were boringly normal, and very good drinkers.

Before I knew it I had somehow become a member of the Board and then, two years ago, became the Chair. This new role was exciting, but petrifying. I was now responsible for helping to develop a strategy for an organisation formed by one of my all time favourite authors, Jon McGregor. No pressure then.

Rob is the man in the hat. This floor will be converted into offices, a library of members work and break-out spaces. Photo James Walker.

All writers, at some point, have doubts as to whether they are worthy of the title of ‘writer’. That’s why the Studio was formed. To put them in contact with other pen monkeys. Changing this mindset is difficult and we aim to raise confidence and aspiration as well as alcohol intolerance. But one thing that has desperately needed to change is the location of the Writers’ Studio. At present it is situated in an ivory tower, three floors up in a district of Nottingham with a fancy post code. It is inaccessible, creates a sense of aloofness, and is far too high up for our Development Director Pippa Hennessy to throw down her hair and lure people in. So we’re moving on 1 March and have teamed up with the Rob Howie-Smith Project to take over the disused pram shop at 25 Hockley, NG1 1FP.

Close your eyes and imagine an underground jazz club.. Photo James Walker.

A word about Rob. He’s the kind of person the Writers’ Studio need to be working with because he has that rare trait: a social conscience. He specialises in taking over disused buildings and converting them into usable spaces for creative practioners at affordable prices. I can’t express how important it is to be working with someone with similar ethics and whose primary motivation is community rather than profit. We both want to see derelict spaces in Nottingham vanish and I’m proud that the Board has agreed to become one of the first businesses to invest in a community that is on the cusp of change.

One of the key areas of our recently successful Arts Council bid was to become a community of writers and I can’t think of a better way to do that than to move into a glass fronted street level building where writers can drop in at any point. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done but I’m confident we will create one of the most attractive and ambient performance spaces in Nottingham.

The building has an incredible basement with distressed bricks and once a few candles and mismatched tables are put in it will resemble a 1930s Parisian jazz club. That’s what we’re hoping. I think it will help build useful collaborations with other organisations in the arts sector as we have space to build offices. This also means that for the first time in our history we are on the path to becoming a sustainable business. That means freedom and freedom is very good for the imagination and the imagination is what enables writers to craft beautiful words.

Please come down and say hello to us and if you’re doubting whether you’re worthy of the title of ‘writer’, allow us to convince you otherwise.