Last spring I was very lucky to take part in one of Gemma’s gorgeous Write & Shine seasonal workshops. If you missed it, I wrote a bit about my experience here. And today, we’re delighted to bring you an interview with Gemma about her practice and her thoughtful, nature-inspired offerings at Write & Shine.
1. In what ways is your writing practice affected by the seasons?
That’s a lovely question! Tuning into the seasons in my writing is about the practice of paying close, careful attention to the external world—how a springtime flower follows the sun, how light on an office block window in winter shifts and flows like water. I’m a bit of a daydreamer and noticing changes in my environment helps me to balance the dreamy, imaginative part of myself, with feeling grounded in reality.
Seasonal writing also connects me more deeply with what’s felt inside my body and mind. How the taste of cherries lifts me from the present straight back to my grandparent’s kitchen table and my tiny, sticky fingers. The late summer moment when I feel a cold hint in the air, touching my cheeks, and I know autumn is on its way.
I love Khadijah Queen’s ideas on creating a seasonal writing practice (here!), how different seasons offer us different ways into ideas and ensures our writing goals remain gentle and flexible. She suggests thematic prompts for each season—write about lightness and travel in summer, focus on renewal in spring, delve into darkness and comfort in winter, and spotlight transformation and beauty in autumn. That really appeals to me. Writing alongside the seasons can lead to more unexpected ideas, a feeling of possibility.
More vulnerability and connection, both on the page and in our relationships. That’s what I’m reaching towards in both my writing and the workshops.
2. Could you tell us about your writing routine? What supports or interferes with it?
We live on the top floor of an old building and I have a lovely bureau desk in the corner of my living room which has a great view of treetops and rooftops and up towards the sky. That’s where I write.
I wake early, make tea, and move straight to my desk. Usually I open the window and listen to the birds for a while, then I will meditate and swiftly write my morning pages. I like to dispatch with those quickly, clearing space for other writing and ideas. I’ll go to an exercise class or for a long walk or see a friend, then, later in the day, I might head to a cafe to read or work on Write & Shine tasks: crafting workshops, writing newsletters, drafting social media posts, liaising with partners. Or I might go to the London Library, which is a beautiful place for writers in central London, to read or work on a writing project. I try to define spaces in this way: one for writing, one for Write & Shine work.
Finding time for everything at Write & Shine and in my writing can be challenging. I’ve always balanced writing with a busy work life, having supported artists at Arts Council England and Kickstarter before running Write & Shine full-time. I work on my writing projects and Write & Shine daily, but I manage the programme in distinct seasons. After closing one programme, I return a few weeks later with a new one, with a beautiful, specially-commissioned illustration to accompany the season. I now collaborate with a brilliant freelance producer and programmer who is endlessly helpful and inspiring. I also take a few writing breaks each year—spending a week away to focus solely on writing.
3. Are there any materials you love that reliably get you into the writing zone?
I love bringing the seasons into my writing space. In winter, that means I try not to fight the dark and the cold, letting myself rest and think. I write in the quiet early mornings, lighting candles, wrapping a blanket around my shoulders, and drinking plenty of tea! I have dried flowers, like nice purple thistles and bright yellow craspedia in a little vase to lift my mood. In summer, I throw open the window to let the warmth into the room or I might go for long walks before I write, responding to warmth on my skin and the energy from the day.
My desk is a little chaotic, if I’m honest, with cards from friends propped up, photos, postcards, quotes from poems I’ve fallen in love with, books I’m reading, lots of journals and notebooks, my writing goals written in a firm hand, my own books, and plenty of pens. Maybe I should tidy, but I like being surrounded by lots of good, encouraging objects. If it was bare, I fear I’d lose my way, lose confidence in what I’m working towards.
Does walking count here? Much of my writing is grounded in real locations and I walk a great deal, looking and listening and thinking. My last book was Ways of Living, a collection of short stories, and each story was drafted while walking in London, and influenced by the experience of navigating the city on foot. They weave in overheard conversations, memories and inspiration from articles and books read at the time.
4. How does your own writing practice inform your writing workshop design, and vice versa?
As Write& Shine celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, I’ve been reflecting on its beginnings and the journey w’ve had. I founded Write & Shine to help others deepen their relationship with creativity and provide space to think and write. I love mornings and wanted to offer this special time of day for others to enjoy in their busy lives. Designing and hosting writing workshops only made sense if I was also committed to becoming a better writer myself. Those values still stand.
I love incorporating what I’m reading or learning into the workshops. Often, the programmes I craft align with ideas I’m exploring in my writing. For example, a character in my novel is obsessed with cooking, so we made an entire summer season about food and creativity. I attend many workshops and events, visit galleries, watch films, and meet interesting people. I’m always eager to deepen my creative knowledge and integrate the most useful and inspiring ideas into Write & Shine!
I also learn a great deal from the Write & Shine community, many of whom have been attending our workshops for years. Their thoughtful ideas, energy, and generosity make them wonderful companions on the writing path.
If you’d like to learn more about Gemma or her wonderful workshops at Write & Shine. Here’s some more info:
Gemma Seltzer is the author of ‘Ways of Living’ a collection of short stories published by Influx Press which was a Foyles bookshop bestseller. She enjoys experimenting beyond the page, including writing ‘Songbird’, an award-winning virtual reality film for the Guardian and is one of the writers in residence at the Museum of London, writing texts for its new permanent gallery, opening in 2026. Gemma founded Write & Shine, a programme of early morning writing workshops. She lives in London.
The new Write & Shine winter programme has just begun! The season explores the role of comfort, rest and reflection in our writing practice. We’ll consider the things that make us feel steady and hopeful — the pleasure of reading, joy in pop culture and our favourite songs. All events are virtual, via Zoom, so you can join wherever you’re based. Look here for all the details!
You can also sign up to ‘Writing with the Seasons,’ Gemma’s series on Substack, which offers seasonal writing ideas and prompts.
