Writing From Somewhere: Anglesey and Chornobyl

I’m a firm believer that writing comes from place. Stories arise from characters who are somewhere, stories involve events that occur somewhere, writers create a somewhere on the page into which the reader can step, explore, and experience the story unfold around them. This article examines the writing processes and creative actions undertaken when researching for and writing my recent novel The Half-life of Snails (Parthian, 2022). I discuss how writing develops from observation of place, people and emplaced behaviours, and how these were developed over time into the novel that exists today.