Author and creative writing teacher

I’m an author and creative writing teacher because I absolutely love to read and write, and I learn so much from teaching others too. I write literary fiction and have had two novels published, along with short stories and poems. I also teach creative writing.

My daily routine alternates between long periods of writing at home, and busy public events. Each publication comes with book launches, book tours, talks and interviews.

I’m moderately to severely deaf and wear hearing aids. My deafness is not a barrier to getting published, but it does affect the other aspects of my job. Dealing with the hearing public can be difficult sometimes. I’ve started putting my access requirements in my contract for events I’m asked to attend, so that I get the support I need. In the literary world, I’d like to see more competitions, publishers and festivals open to literature that has been composed and presented in sign language.

I’m really proud to have won The Barbellion Prize for my second novel ‘What Willow Says’, published by Epoque press in 2021. For any deaf young people who want to become authors, my advice is to keep on writing. And keep going if your writing is rejected – everything you write is good practice.

Lynn Buckle

Autumn 2022 Families magazine