William Letford

Writer and poet William Letford is one of the 2008 Scottish Book Trust New Writers, and a Glasgow Creative Writing Masters undergraduate. He was recently awarded an Edwin Morgan travel bursary to allow him to travel to Italy to help restore a medieval village and write poetry.

Who are you and what do you do?
My Name is William Letford. I write short stories and poetry.

Why did you decide to become a writer?
I asked myself what I wanted to do. Not necessarily for money, but what I wanted to fill my time with. Writing gives me an excuse to take time out and look at what’s happening around me. The closer you look at things the more interesting they become.

What do you do when you’re not writing?
I work as a roofer. People often comment on how different writing is from roofing, and they’re right, but what’s wrong with that? I get to work outside, watch streets and towns from different angles and glimpse people’s lives through their back gardens. Plus, most of the time the only thing above me is the sky.

What is the best thing about being a writer?
I love reading. I can’t imagine someone beginning to write that hasn’t first been stunned by something they’ve read. Now when I open a book, fiction or non-fiction, I know I’m not just passing time. It is important, and part of what I want to achieve.

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
I was eleven years old and my primary teacher asked the class to write a poem. She liked mine and sent it to Roger McGough. He wrote back. At the bottom the letter, in capitals with an exclamation mark at the end, were the words, ‘keep writing.’

What piece of wisdom would you like to share with aspiring writers?
KEEP WRITING! When you compare your work to that of an established writer, it’s easy to become downhearted, or impatient. The first story you write, no matter how bad, is just as important as the last one, no matter how good that may be. Both are part of the same process. Enjoy each step.

What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote and Straw Dogs by John Gray.

What are your ideal reading conditions?
Anywhere I feel comfortable that isn’t too noisy.

Which would you prefer to have – unlimited money or unlimited intelligence?
Hmm, is this a trick question? One answer will make me seem greedy and shallow, the other a bit too poncy and self-important. Gimme the money baby, I’m intelligent enough.

Links:

Waterfall by William Letford (featured in the Days Like This book)

Back to Writers and Publishers main page