Interview with poet - Hilaire
Battersea Anthology aims to raise profiles of writers associated with the Battersea and Nine Elms area, and foster a strong artistic spirit and community. Learn more about Hilaire’s work and her literary pursuit in this interview.
Hilaire’s profile
Hilaire grew up in Melbourne and lives in Battersea. Her project found ~ flow ~ flux was commissioned by Wandsworth Council in 2022. The resulting booklet presents poems created by local residents from words and phrases found on walks around the Nine Elms area. She is co-author with Joolz Sparkes of the poetry collection London Undercurrents (Holland Park Press, 2019). Her poetry and fiction have been widely published, including in Best British Short Stories 2021 (Salt Publishing).
Her poem Practising Yoga in the Doddington and Rollo Community Roof Garden is included in Battersea Anthology’s 2023 edition.
Find her at: hilaireinlondon.co.uk
Photo: Naomi Woddis
That’s an impressive profile, can you share more about yourself?
I’m Hilaire. I’m a freelance creative writer and I also lead walks around Nine Elms/Battersea. I grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and moved to London in my early twenties. I’ve lived in Battersea for more than half my life, and have been a member of the Battersea Society’s Heritage Committee for several years. I write both poetry and fiction, but in the last few years it’s mostly been poetry.
Please tell us more about your creative process. Do you always have story/poetry ideas in your head?
No! But the urge to write, to create something new from words, is always there.
How did you decide to start writing this time around for Battersea Anthology?
As soon as I heard about the anthology, I knew I wanted to contribute a piece. I feel very attached to Battersea, it’s become part of my identity really, so how could I miss this opportunity to celebrate the area?
What was the experience of coming up with the idea and putting it down to paper like?
I struggled at first. I want to get back to writing fiction, and I thought perhaps I could write a story, drawing on some recent research I’d done. When I sat at my desk, though, and started jotting down some words and ideas prompted by the theme of ‘grow and flourish’, it was my local community garden that came to mind, and the yoga sessions that take place there in the warmer months.
How do you feel when the final word is completed?
A sense of satisfaction.
How did you find the editing process - both self-edit and working with an editor?
I started by reading the poem aloud, to pick up anything that jars, or where a line should break and so on. I also brought the poem to the monthly Stanza poetry workshop I attend, The Clapham Originals, and took on board their suggestion to cut the last line I had, which tied the poem up a bit too neatly. Then the main input from the anthology’s editor was to move the dedication to the end of the poem, which I could see made sense.
How do your friends and family feel about you taking on this challenge at your age and your stage of life?
Probably not surprised, as I’m usually up for a writing challenge!
Would you do it again? Has writing this piece activated your desire to write more?
Yes, as I’m not always brimming over with ideas for new writing, the challenge of responding to a theme or prompt is a good way for me to get started. Certainly not always successful, but the process keeps my writing brain alive.
Check out Hilaire’s work by purchasing your own copy of Battersea Anthology 2023’.
