Interviewing RLF Fellow, Daniel Ingram-Brown

Please could you talk about your role as a RLF fellow - what can students come to you for?

The Royal Literary Fund is an organisation that supports writers and a culture of writing. They place professional writers – RLF Fellows – in universities around the country to help students with the process of writing. As an author, theatre maker and educator, I write fantasy fiction for 9–12-year-olds, plays, scripts for workshops, and academic work, such as my recent PhD thesis in creative writing and education. As such, I offer advice as a writer – how to plan, overcome obstacles or improve flow. Students can book a 50-minute session to talk about an essay, dissertation, or other piece of writing, whether they are forming ideas, working on their final draft, or want to reflect on a piece of writing that’s already been submitted. So far, I’ve had sessions that focused on past and current essays, dissertations, journal articles and a personal statement for a master’s application. I’m hosted by the Department of English and Related Literature, but students (or staff) from any department can book an appointment to talk about their writing. The sort of things we might discuss are: What makes a good argument? How do you structure an essay? How can you edit to improve flow and style? What even is an essay, and why do we write them? What sort of reader should we keep in mind while writing? What do you want to say and why? And what critical theory are you viewing your work through?

What would you say to a student who wants help on an essay but is unsure whether you can help them, or worried about reaching out?

The sessions are relaxed, informal and conversational. As an RLF Fellow, I’m not employed by the university, and so the advice I give is confidential and independent. I can understand being nervous to share your work, especially in a one-to-one session. As a writer, I have to share my work with beta readers, editors and ultimately those who buy my books or see the plays I write. It’s always nerve-racking and it can feel vulnerable. The fact that we can chat as writers (rather than with a focus on content) means we can talk about things like that – about the challenges of writing itself. Often, we haven’t been taught how to write, or we question whether we’re doing it in the right way, and it can feel intimidating. In the sessions, we can be honest about those things. In terms of content, you will be the expert (I usually won’t have studied the specific content of the essay you bring) so there will be an equality to our conversation. You can think of me as the sort of reader you might be writing for – interested and involved in academia, but not necessarily versed in the details of the subject. This can be useful – I can talk about what I don’t understand, which can help improve clarity. Those who’ve attended have expressed finding the sessions useful – one student left saying, “Now I know how to write an essay”, another emailed to thank me for the advice given on a journal article they’d written. Students have talked about the sessions improving their confidence and freeing them from a pressure to “mimic academic style” - quite a few have returned for second or third sessions, and even suggested their housemates come along for a chat. If you’re not sure, come along and see – it’s just an informal conversation, and I have a range of herbal teas to choose from!

This is a difficult time of year for students - do you have any advice for how to stay level-headed during the essay writing process? Or any writing, for that matter?

I think a big thing is to try to stay active. It can be hard to write when you’re sat in front of a blank page or screen, and you’re stuck. At those times, I tend to go for a walk. I’m still thinking about the piece I’m working on – my mind is still active – but getting some air tends to shift things, and when I return, I often find my writing starts to flow again. Good writing comes from clear thinking. Sometimes, we need space for that. A walk, or some other physical activity, is often excellent thinking time. Writing is a physical act and sometimes we need to shake off the cobwebs and wake up. Take a step back, take a breath, and do something you enjoy.

On an unrelated and self-indulgent note (I love cats) - your website says you have a one-eyed cat. Please can we know his name? 

Ah, yes! We have a cat called Scrabble. He was a rescue cat and only has one eye. We’re not sure how he lost his other eye – it was while he was a kitten, before he came to us. We also have a bearded dragon called Spice – a rescue animal too. He likes to sit on the cat’s basket on the windowsill. One time, he jumped up and stretched out on the cat’s back. Scrabble looked at him, bemused, and then went back to sunbathing.

Spice and Scrabble