Introducing Clare Howdle

The book I read that made me want to write was Michael Morpurgo’s Why the Whales Came. I was seven years old. A lot has changed since then, but my appetite for stories (and obsession with the ocean) has stayed the same. I love finding them in the most unusual of places, teasing them out from between the cracks, and discovering the myriad ways words can connect with readers. From writing copy for Discovery Channel as a fresh new graduate; to launching independent surf lifestyle magazine Stranger; from founding a creative content agency that works with the likes of iTunes, Kodak, Made.com, National Trust, Dove, and Arm; to consulting on projects with vulnerable young people that use co-creation story design as a vehicle for change; putting my energy into well-crafted words has taken me all over. I’ve interviewed Hollywood directors, discovered what’s next in the world of brain computer interfacing, met the Bodmin Beast hunters, and covered literary prizes. But through it all, I always come back to the same thing. Find the story and tell it well. That’s what makes the world go around.

Away from the world of copy and content I’ve guest lectured on BA and MA courses at Falmouth University for the past seven years. I’ve set up a local reading night to showcase the best of Cornwall’s writing talent in performance and print. I’ve co-directed and edited digital literary journals which look at the publishing industry with a tilt, and brought acclaimed authors down to Cornwall to share insights around flickering flames. Between all that, I write short and long fiction too.

Being a professional writer – a writer who writes to be read and makes a living from their words – takes tenacity, flexibility and resilience, seeking out opportunities and forging ahead along multiple paths to create a portfolio career that adds up. A career that means you can write, every day. And get paid for it. That’s what I hope to share with the students of MA Professional Writing. An enthusiasm for writing in all its forms and some insights on how to make that your profession in today’s competitive creative landscape. Exciting times lie ahead.