Reflecting on Aberystwyth’s Marginalised Writer’s Day

I was recently given the opportunity to speak at Aberystwyth’s inaugural Marginalised Writers’ Day on behalf of Inclusive Journalism Cymru. I was excited about the day from the moment I heard about it, but I had no idea just how special it would be.

Housed in the University’s modern Visualisation Centre, surrounded by trees and with the sea shining in the distance, the event was a warm and inviting day of talks, workshops and panels. The forum was aimed at those marginalised by factors including race, sexual or gender identity, income, and disability, and intended to provide a platform for writers to build confidence, connections, and learn more about the publishing industry in Wales. I believe it is really important to have opportunities like this to help marginalised writers access an industry which is so often set up against us. Studies show that around 79% of people in publishing are white, 96% are able-bodied and 99% are cisgender. These statistics demonstrate why an event like this is needed. I also think it’s encouraging to have the forum in mid-Wales, since so many literary events are usually based in Cardiff or London. 

I arrived at lunch-time and was instantly greeted by the intimate atmosphere as groups huddled around tables and lounged on sofas, eating pizza and talking all things writing. I found a few familiar faces as well as a lot of news ones. I studied Creative Writing at Aberystwyth University a few years back, so it really was a full circle moment for me to be speaking here. 

As we sat down to do a workshop, I started to feel my panic setting in. Because I have an anxiety disorder, I can sometimes struggle with speaking in public, and I always find that the lead up is the worst part for me. However, I had a wonderful distraction as we received a great talk from fellow Inclusive Journalism Cymru member, Grace Quantock, about writing joy. I have long admired Grace’s work and it was wonderful to learn from her wisdom and experience as a disabled writer. I could see that everyone around me was equally engaged. 

Before long it was my turn to go up and speak. After the normal fumbling that comes with set-up, I got to give two presentations. The first one was about advocating disability in the publishing industry. The second was about making money as a freelance writer. Both talks were informed by my own experiences and I tried to include a mixture of helpful tips and tricks along with industry knowledge.

The audience was so lovely and made me feel comfortable. I received a lot of questions which I took as a huge compliment! I also had people approaching me afterwards saying that they found the talks useful and learned something new. This made me so happy. A lot of the points I covered in my talks are things I didn’t know about a few years ago. In some cases I had to learn them the hard way, like how to chase invoices, do your taxes, or make an access rider. So to be able to share this knowledge with others was really rewarding.

The talk about disability was especially close to my heart and was in part inspired by the article I had written for Inclusive Journalism Cymru. It can be hard sometimes to access the publishing industry as a disabled person, and I am grateful to be given a platform to talk about these issues along with ways around them. 

I was impressed by how much work Jo and Sairah did to make the day inclusive. The event was hybrid, with a camera following audience reactions, the speakers and presentations. There were quiet spaces for people to retreat to or pray, and food and drink was provided. They also shared a comprehensive itinerary beforehand along with details on how to access the building. I think it would be wonderful if more events took inspiration from this. As a Network Weaver for Inclusive Journalism Cymru I will definitely be keeping these examples in mind for events I’ll be organising… but more on that soon!

I ended the day exhausted and content, watching the sunset on Aberystwyth’s south beach. As I dragged my hands through the smooth, cool rocks and watched the waves gently lapping nearby me, I couldn’t help feeling both proud and grateful. Here I was, years after studying in Aber, giving a talk about the writing industry. It had been an exciting and scary prospect, but I am so glad to have been given the opportunity to do it. I thought that the Marginalised Writers’ day was a great event, and I hope to see more like it. Thank you Jo, Sairah and Inclusive Journalism Cymru for giving me the chance to share my experiences of being a marginalised writer in a safe and welcoming environment. It meant more to me than you know. 

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