My Writing Life: John Siddique

1. What book should every writer read?

There are a handful of pages titled Autobiographical Notes at the beginning of James Baldwin’s essay collection Notes of a Native Son. Of course, the whole book — the whole of Baldwin — is essential, but these few pages are some of the most direct speech into the heart of the writer that I’ve ever come across. They are a compass a writer can navigate with through their entire creative life.

2. What is your typical writing day like?

I write my journal every single day, but when I’m writing-writing, the actual writing part looks deceptively short. I write a set amount each day — I got this way of doing things from Hemingway. Depending on the piece or book, I aim for around 700 words a day. I sit down at 9 a.m., and it takes me about an hour. The next day I read through the previous day’s words while nibbling toast, then write the next 700. I do this until the first draft is complete, without looking back. I also take weekends off properly.

3. Who has been an influential figure in your writing career?

My friend, the author, Peter Kalu, has perhaps been the most influential person across my writing life. About a year after I started writing, I went along to Commonword in Manchester, where Pete was running the writing groups in those days. My work was almost Cubist-level poetry back then, but Pete could see the heart of what I was doing and encouraged me to let the writing better meet the reader. I’ve had my revenge in recent years when I had the chance to be his editor for some pieces we commissioned from him at WritersMosaic — which has led him to a new path in his work.

4. What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you started your writing career?

Read everything, especially things you think a person like you is not “supposed” to read. If you’re a man, read women. If you’re straight, read LGBTQ+ writers. Read the financial papers. Read every genre and vice every versa. Learn storytelling from every literary form and deliberately knock off your own corners.

5. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received about writing?

That it’s vital to write so clearly that the reader feels they’ve lived it themselves.

6. What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

Since I published my non-fiction book Signposts, I’ve received occasional messages from people saying my writing helped them during a profound or difficult life moment. I don’t think there’s a better thing one could be told about their work.

7. What are you reading right now?

This is my honest, next-to-my-bed TBR pile:

• Let Me Tell You What I Mean – Joan Didion
• A Woman’s Story – Annie Ernaux
• The Spring Issue – The Paris Review
• Human Acts – Han Kang
• The Watkins Book of African Folklore – Edited by Helen Nde
• How I Take Photographs – Daido Moriyama

8. Are you a bookmarker or page-folder?

Dear God, page-folding is deserving of capital punishment. Bookmarks all the way down.

This article originally appeared on our Substack.

Photo by Lucy Cartwright.