The power of a great teacher
Brian McCabe recalls the early influences that inspired him to become a writer and remembers the unconventional teacher who encouraged his first outing as a poet.
Menna van Praag reflects on how her desire to please others suppressed her authenticity both on and off the page and how an essay by the poet Mary Oliver finally inspired her to stop.
Rhiannon Tise considers the dramatic potential in the traditional Christmas meal, how different playwrights have used Christmas food as a device, and how the festive season has influenced her own scriptwriting.