Simmone Howell

Author

Simmone Howell is an award-winning internationally published writer. She has written books, plays, screenplays, poetry, comic scripts, advertorials, speeches, shopping lists, blurbs, glossaries and legends. In addition to writing she teaches creative writing, mapping and journaling workshops for young people and adults. Her YA novels are: Notes from the Teenage Underground, Everything Beautiful, Girl Defective and Take Three Girls (September 2017 with Cath Crowley and Fiona Wood).

What are your writing workshops like?

In my writing workshops, and in my own writing practice I use different creative prompts such as objects, photographs, maps and collage to generate stories. I encourage students to write from their own experience, and to value the strange in the ordinary.

What other jobs have you had?

Teacher, researcher, book/record shop person, script-girl, comics writer.

What are you passionate about?

Discovering new/old artists, books, and movements, creative people and their processes. I love being in nature, watching movies and dreaming about travel.

What themes are recurring in your work?

I write about outsiders, social heirarchies, art, memory and agency.

What have been the highlights of your career?

I love all the surprise connections that come with a writing career. It’s taken me to far-flung places, allowed me to meet inspiring people, and to dive deep into things I’m curious about. Co-writing Take Three Girls with Fiona Wood and Cath Crowley was such a fun experience and has made me keen for more collaborative work. Seeing young people get into writing makes me happy. As long as there are people, there will be stories.

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