My Life as a writer
When did you first realise you wanted to write for a living?
Very early on, I wrote a play at school and rehearsed my friends in it during our lunch hour. I then did a lot of acting and instantly learned that every character has to have a purpose and whatever you put on paper has to be worth an actor getting out of bed to perform… I carried on acting when I first started work (I was a journalist, still writing you see…) until the day came when I couldn’t balance both, so I combined them by writing my first play. At the first read through at the Finborough, I met Mike Leigh in the bar who had a show on in the theatre upstairs – he was very generous with his time and advice – and that sealed the deal for me!
Which writer, past or present, do you most admire?
Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Fleabag and Killing Eve from the same writer, fantastic! If her name’s on it I’ll be watching it…
What was your first published (or performed) credit as a writer?
Mind the Gap – a one-act play at the Finborough Theatre.
Which piece of writing work are you most proud of?
The one I’m currently working on.
Who or what inspires you to write?
All the people who still believe in me and want to produce my work.
How do you switch off when you’re not writing?
Watch films and television, run with my dogs, sleep…
Which one piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Keep going, no matter how much of an uphill struggle it seems and never assume you’ve made it, even when you have some success…
Why are you a member of WGGB?
The WGGB is an excellent resource for writers at all stages of their careers – it’s a place to come to for advice, reassurance and networking.
Simon Warne is an award-winning writer for stage, radio, TV and film. You can find more about him here.
Photo: Tim J Baker
