Awesome Prose: My Name is Why

One of the squad's 3 Awesome Reading groups - designed to think about how we can read as writers.

If you want to join us, then here's what you need to know:

We will be reading My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay. The text can be bought here.

NB: Because of the different types of documents included in the book, there have been problems reported with the legibility of the Kindle version, so buying/borrowing a paper version is strongly recommended.

At the age of seventeen, after a childhood in a foster family followed by six years in care homes, Norman Greenwood was given his birth certificate. He learned that his real name was not Norman. It was Lemn Sissay. He was British and Ethiopian. And he learned that his mother had been pleading for his safe return to her since his birth.

This is Lemn's story: a story of neglect and determination, misfortune and hope, cruelty and triumph.

Sissay reflects on his childhood, self-expression and Britishness, and in doing so explores the institutional care system, race, family and the meaning of home. Written with all the lyricism and power you would expect from one of the nation's best-loved poets, this moving, frank and timely memoir is the result of a life spent asking questions, and a celebration of the redemptive power of creativity.

How will it work?

The club Zoom is relaxed. We'll just talk about what we think of the work - did it work for us, and why (or why not)?. We’ll ask ourselves: What’s the author doing here? What are the skills and techniques being used, and what’s their effect? We hope that you’ll leave the session with a sharpened idea of some of the tools available to us as writers, and how you might play with them.

It won’t be like a university tutorial (not formal or academic), nor will it be like a book club (we’ll be coming from the perspective of writers, not just readers), nor will it be like a writing workshop (no writing exercises). We'll think about stuff like structure, characters, pace, imagery; we’ll bounce around our responses to each text, and consider what we can learn from it as writers.

Will Steve D buy me the book?

No, sorry. Squad funds don't stretch that far, so you'll need to source each text yourself. But you’ll have plenty of time to track down a copy (remember that your local library may well have it, including as an e-book). You could consider organising to get one copy between a few of you, to bring expenses down. And we’ll always choose texts that are widely available in paperback.

If I sign up for this awesome club, will I have to come to every Awesome Club meeting?

Never fear! You can come to as many or as few Zoom meets as you like.

What if I'm a poet or script writer, can I still come?

Yes you can. This is a club aimed at prose, but all Squad members, whatever your area of interest, are welcome. We'd love to get loads of different perspectives.

Note: This workshop is only open to members of the Writing Squad. It is not open to the general public