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My Writing Life: Fraser Harrison

Fraser Harrison is a writer and journalist, who has published twelve books, including non-fiction, poetry, memoir and novels. He is also an RLF beneficiary.

1. What book should every writer read?

I think everyone should read Homer, Shakespeare and Tolstoy. And I think everyone should read anything by Christopher Hitchens. That would set you up to be a playwright, a novelist, a poet or an essayist.

2. What is the one thing you wish someone had told you before you started your writing career?

I wish someone had told me before I started my writing career how gruelling rejections are.

3. What is the best advice you’ve ever received about your writing?

I was under-advised if I can put it that way. And I was bad at asking for advice. That’s a great mistake. You should ask for advice. For a while, I worked for a very well-known literary agent called John Wolfers. I brought him a short story I’d written. He immediately put it on the bar and read it. And I was so pleased: it boosted my self-esteem enormously.

4. What is the most underestimated challenge about being a professional writer?

If you’re looking to make a living, which I was, stamina is really important. And if you haven’t got it, then you’re going to starve.

5. What was the proudest moment of your writing career?

I published a diary about my children. It’s called A Father’s Diary. We did a signing in the local book shop, and a hundred people came. This was in Bury St Edmunds, which is a small town. I’m always looking for a copy that’s been signed by the three of us, although I’ve never come across one. That was a proud moment.

6. What is your typical writing day like?

A typical writing day for me begins in the bath. In the bath, I’m very, very creative – probably a genius. But when I get out of the bath, it all seems to drop away. I still hope my magnum opus is around the corner. And in the bath, there it is, just gleaming, like steam coming off the water.

This article originally appeared on our Substack channel.

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