Laura Wainwright in the Spotlight

Laura Wainwright, whose poem ‘Accretion’ is published in issue 6 of Lucent Dreaming, was born in Cardiff and grew up in Newport, South Wales where she still lives. She is author of a book of literary criticism, New Territories in Modernism: Anglophone Welsh Writing 1930-1949 (University of Wales Press, 2018). She was shortlisted in the Bridport Prize poetry competition in 2013. Her poetry has been published or is forthcoming in Black Bough Poetry, Burning House Press, Animal Heart Press, Wales Haiku Journal and Picaroon Poetry.

So, what inspired your piece ‘Accretion’? Can you tell us a little more about what it’s about?

Many of my poems come from images – visual moments that go on to inspire a complex of thoughts and emotions. ‘Accretion’ is one of these poems. I went into my garden one day and found a teeming sphere of minute baby spiders attached to a wall. I started to think about worlds, scales, affinities. Like a lonely, microcosmic planet, ‘Accretion’ was born.

What are some of your favourite books and art (including shows, videos, music) – of all time or more recently. Why are they favourites?

I can’t name my favourite books or art of all time because there are just too many and I find that different works resonate more at different times in life. I am inspired in my writing by the visual arts as much as literature, and I listen to an eclectic range of music. I am currently reading poetry by Jorie Graham and Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch; and creative non-fiction by Helen Macdonald. Last night, I listened to Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita and Four Tet…

What, if anything, are you looking forward to right now and what writing/creative projects are you currently working on?

I am still writing poetry. It is my dream to publish a pamphlet or collection one day, although I recognise this will be a long process of writing and learning. I am very grateful to Literature Wales, who awarded me a Writer’s Bursary this year to help me achieve my goal. I have also recently written a hybrid work of poetry and creative non-fiction about my hometown of Newport for Sustainable Wales; and reviews of Tristan Hughes’s Shattercone (Parthian) and Margiad Evans’s The Nightingale Silenced (Honno).

Can you tell us about how you got into writing and art? Is there anyone whose support or encouragement really inspired or motivated you?

I was interested in art, writing and music from an early age. My parents valued these things, and I was very lucky to have the opportunity to go to university, where I studied English Literature. University opened my mind to the power and possibilities of literature and art, and helped me to develop as a writer. I am very grateful to everyone who has supported my writing – from my earlier academic projects, to my more recent poetry and other creative work.

Where can people see more of you and your work?

A list of my published poetry can be found at https://linktr.ee/Wainwrightlj with links to some of the poems. I am thrilled to be one of twenty poets who will be published on iamb: poetry seen and heard in August. The site will feature three previously published poems with recordings: https://www.iambapoet.com/poets-wave-three
My book, New Territories in Modernism: Anglophone Welsh Writing 1930-49 was published by the University of Wales Press in 2018.

Lucent Dreaming is an independent creative writing magazine publishing beautiful, imaginative and surreal short stories, poetry and artwork from emerging authors and artists worldwide. Our aim is to encourage creativity and to help writers reach publication! Subscribe to Lucent Dreaming now, support us on Patreon and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.