IOMV Guest Writer Reflections - Hillary McCollum

Hillary McCollum was a guest writer for Island of Many Voices , a joint project between Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and The Linen Hall (Belfast), facilitated by Fiona O’Rourke. Here she reflects on her experience of meeting with the participants.

What a wonderful way to spend an hour on a Saturday morning. It was good to recognise a few faces I already know, but also to see and hear from lots of writers I’ve never met. 

Fiona O’Rourke created a warm and welcoming space and I was able to quickly relax into the session. After the introduction, I read two short extracts from my soon to be published novel As a Lover. Neither extract had been read to an audience previously so it was great to share the material for the first time. Following the reading, we had a stimulating discussion, starting with questions from Fiona but soon expanding to include the whole group. Among the topics we discussed were the opportunities that historical fiction gives for representing the hidden LGBT past and for addressing women’s exclusion from much of recorded history. We talked about the dangers of letting the research take over and crowd out the writing, especially with historical novels.

I consider my writing to be a form of creative activism and we explored this theme, initially in relation to lesbian visibility but moving on to violence against women and girls. This included talking about my first book, Funny Peculiar, a memoir about child sexual abuse set during the Troubles. I explained the process of writing it and the reasons why it was published under a pseudonym. One of the things that I told the group was that we don’t always know the impact that our work has, but to write anyway in the hope that our words will resonate with someone who reads or hears them. 

I also shared a comment from a lecture I attended where a writer said not to waste time copying the stories of other writers. Instead, write the stories that only you can write. It’s advice that has stayed with me, a reminder that all of us have a unique perspective and something valuable to contribute.

There’s so much writing talent on this island. Island of Many Voices is a brilliant initiative to support emerging voices. I was delighted to have the chance to participate in this project as a guest author. Thanks to Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and the Linen Hall for making it possible, to Fiona for facilitating the session so beautifully, and the students for their insightful questions. It was a reminder to me of the energy and pleasure I get from engaging with other writers. Wishing all of the class the very best in their future work.