September Artist of the Month –Graham Scott

Our September ‘Artist of the Month’ is author Graham Scott

About Graham Scott

This month’s artist is Graham Scott, who’s been a professional writer for over 40 years. That spans starting as a journalist using a manual typewriter, to creating social media posts on his phone or Macbook Air. That’s taught him flexibility in a world where his entire magazine publishing industry was destroyed by the internet, and so now he sees AI as just another pivot point.

He writes, and has written for major publications, and he also talks. About writing and about communication. When we interviewed him, he’d just got back from a week in Saudi Arabia, delivering a workshop on communication to executives there. He’s now preparing for a school author talk in England, and a return to the Middle East.

In between he loves connecting with nature, walking his beloved hills of the South Downs. That gives him time to think and a time when nobody can ask him a question! Other interests include reading, good red wine, bench pressing and throwing axes. He hasn’t found a way to combine all of them yet.

What a visit from Graham entails

Graham offers both talks and writing workshops.

Talks have an emphasis on engaging students – particularly boys – to read and write more and to have the confidence to explore. This is illustrated with examples from around the world – often in remote places! – that highlight life lessons and valuable stories.

The majority of talks are to KS3 but Graham is also experienced at engaging with both KS2 and KS4.

Normally the talk is about 50mins with a Q&A (which is always lively) but this can be adjusted to suit.

Creative writing workshops are usually a one-hour primer on how the professionals write. Everything from how to write for a magazine or website, through to the focus of the workshop – how to write a novel.

This is an interactive workshop, which can go in magical directions. But the main route-map is that we explore plot and character, the narrative arc, the hero’s journey and much more.

A major part of the workshop is how to create and control the characters. During the session we will create a character from scratch and flesh them out into a three-dimensional person, which is always a hugely popular exercise in creative imagination.

You can see details on his visits here

Testimonials from previous visits.

"Students really enjoyed the visit and were inspired by Graham's stories.”

St Gregory’s Catholic Science College

“Thank you for recommending Graham as our visiting author.

The talk he gave in our morning assembly about his motorcycle journey through Africa and how it led to his writing career was incredibly inspiring, my students were captivated. Furthermore our head of lower school felt that everything that Graham spoke of chimed into the ethos of our school and reminded our boys that they would be expected to step out of their comfort zone in the following few weeks with their upcoming school trips and stepping into manhood dinner.

Our English teachers loved the story telling workshops Graham held as he was able to draw upon their creativity by getting the pupils to create fascinating characters with intricate histories.”

St James Senior School

“His talks went very well and I felt they really hit some points that our students needed to hear, namely - you need to go out there and work yourself, the world won't just hand you what you want. He had several students come and see him in the library afterwards and all his books are currently out on loan.”

Oxford Spires Academy

Interview with Graham Scott

You have had an interesting career, what made you interested in writing for young people?

After decades of writing professionally – as a journalist on motorbike, car, food, rough travel publications – I discovered writing fiction. The catalyst was my son, who read books but then got to about 10 or so and just stopped. I couldn’t find him enough that he would read so I thought – well why don’t I write some fiction? So I did! It’s been the most exciting and fulfilling writing of my career. So far!

For all the young people starting a new school year, what piece of life advice would you give?

‘Follow your passion’ is truly unhelpful. Apart from anything else that changes. My son had a passion for rugby then football. But he realised that, at 14, he was way too old to make it professionally. Passion only takes you so far. Find what you’re good at. Really good at. Then focus on it. Get better at it – and you will because you’re enjoying it and you’re good at it. Get really good at it. One skill above the others. For me obviously it was writing. I was rubbish at maths, sciences, everything else.

You have a passion for nature. What started your love for the natural world and why should everyone care about the planet?

I went to journalism college in London but had to take a break year before I could start. I got a fill-in job as a Forest Ranger at what was then Queen Elizabeth Forest in the South Downs, near where I lived. I loved that job far more than I expected. I got to know individual trees, got to know where a particular adder liked to warm himself up in the sun, got to know where a distinct deer would be at a time of day and it would let me get very close. But it was the trees that really got to my soul, and it’s why in my Treelogy series everyone has their own spirit tree. Mine’s an old oak in that forest. I visit it still.

It's a reminder that we’re all part of a bigger whole, all connected together. We forget that at our peril and certainly at our loss.

You have visited over 50 countries. Which ones have been particularly memorable?

I think Outer Mongolia really stands out. It’s a land of such stark beauty and it’s just so, so tough to live there. Certainly got the people to match! Second would be the Amazon in Brazil. I spent three weeks in the jungle and it’s just a world in itself. Having said that, a couple of days and one night in a gold mining town there made me very keen to get out of that world!

Are there any places you have not yet visited that are on your to see list?

There are over 300 countries I haven’t visited, and the world is still the same size as it ever was. I think Vietnam would be on there, and maybe more in the Baltics/Central Europe.

What has been your favourite moment from a school visit so far?

There was one boy at a school last year. The teachers clearly viewed him as a potentially dangerous criminal. When he entered the hall he came up smiling, fist-bumped, asked me good questions. He had to sit right at the back with two teachers literally watching his every move. And he never moved. He was leaning forward, involved, engaged, the whole time. I could feel his attention the whole talk. Wish I could have talked with him afterwards.

What would you suggest to those trying to inspire reluctant readers to pick up a book?

The classic line every writer has to learn: Show, don’t tell. Don’t tell your child to pick up a book if you’re hanging on your phone or watching Netflix. Pick up a book and they’ll copy you.

No matter what their aspirations, why is reading such a valuable skill to have for all people?

The greatest minds this world has ever known are all dead. But their thoughts, insights and wisdom live on in books. All we have to do is read them to gain all that knowledge. And it forces us to slow, to look away from the screens, think differently. Read a print book not an ebook – and physical book sales are going up, notably with Gen Z.

Your latest book involves a lot of local history, how did you first find out about those events that inspired the book?

It was a matter of realising I knew ‘stuff’ that I’d simply absorbed over many decades of being in the area – although I’ve lived elsewhere, including South Africa and France. But the South Downs have a pull on me. I put things together, read more, visited the ground in question – Bosham, Kingley Vale, Chichester among them – and then started thinking it out. I realised I hadn’t met anyone who knew much, even including local rangers, vicars and historians.

How much research is involved in writing a historical novel? Is it more than other genres of fiction?

In this case I needed to mix local history with my knowledge of military history since I’d worked in military history book publishing when I was younger. Combining the two provided me with sensible theories as to what happened where and when. Plus I read extensively, using other people’s research.

How much of a story do you plan out in advance and how much do you go where the words are taking you that day?

I have a general direction when I start a chapter, knowing where I want to go and how the strands are going to intertwine. But that still leaves room for a random thought, an insight or a good gag I can use. And sometimes the characters just tell me different and I listen to them.

Are you excited about the development of AI or worried about its impact on jobs within the creative industry?

I watched the internet destroy my industry, the magazine industry. Absolutely wrecked it. AI is like the next wave of creative destruction. Yes, jobs will be lost and jobs will be created in ways we can’t see yet. And AI can be a really useful tool for a writer. Or it can replace the writer. The choice is ours.

Self-publishing now means almost anyone can have a book published. Is it a great opportunity to hear new voices, or a worry that genuine talent is hard to find amongst so many new books being released?

It’s the classic signal to noise ratio. With the barrier to entry to publishing a book effectively gone, anyone can do it and many do. So to stand out you have to have something really good and unique to say and to have the ability to market yourself, your personal brand. It’s tough but there are more opportunities than there were, just as traditional publishing is becoming timid, risk-averse and scared of everything.

There are so many options in an ever-changing world for young people today. For those uncertain about what they want to do, what would you advise?

Don’t chase the money. After a surprisingly low income point it doesn’t make you any happier if you get richer. Wealth is experiences, relationships, self-knowledge. If you think a Lamborghini is going to make you truly happy then you don’t understand yourself yet – I speak as someone who’s driven several, and owning them is a nightmare. Invest in yourself, education, podcasts, books – that’s a lifetime investment that goes with you wherever you go. Be the best version of you.

Virtual sessions have their uses but why do you think it is still important to host in person school visits where a viable option?

I teach communication workshops in the Middle East, in person. And I remind the delegates that communication is 7% the words you use, 38% how you say those words and 55% non-verbal communication like body language, gestures, eye contact etc. Much of that percentage is lost when staring at a small screen. We’re social creatures, tuned to the subtlest nuance, and you only get that in person to person sessions.

Are there any stories you are happy to re-read or are you always on the hunt for a new book?

I’m someone who lurks in the Young Adult section of Waterstones! I like to see what’s happening, what covers look like, see how young people interact when they’re browsing. I read a lot, just about anything. I’m currently reading a book on spiritual growth, a book about Turkish life through the ages, and another on personal branding.

I do have favourites. I’ve been known to go into a bookshop just to read some paragraphs by John Fowles in like ‘The Ebony Tower’ or ‘Daniel Martin’ because they’re such incredible sentences and paragraphs. And I’ve reread the Uhtred of Bebbanburg series by Bernard Cornwell several times to get the atmosphere for my battles. He’s so brilliant. But generally I look forward not back since that’s the direction of travel.

How do you discover new books/authors.

A lot come from friends suggesting books and authors. I have three big bookshelves completely full. It still amazes my son that I’ve read every single book at least once.

What are you currently working on?

The second volume of the Leaving Valhalla trilogy. And, to be honest, it’s going hard. I wrote 15,000 words but couldn’t progress it. Left it. Went back. Deleted everything except the first 300 words. Now back to 15,000. Still not happy. Work in progress.