Claire Christian is a storyteller: a writer, theatre-maker and facilitator. She has had four plays published by Playlab, including Lysa and the Freeborn Dames, which debuted at La Boite in 2018. She also directed Michelle Law’s smash-hit comedy Single Asian Female. Claire co-hosts the podcast My Mate Reckons. Claire’s debut novel, Beautiful Mess, won the Text Prize in 2016. It’s Been a Pleasure, Noni Blake is her first novel for adults.
Kate and Claire (joyfully) discuss:
- why Claire loves working with (and writing for) teenagers
- the differences between playwriting and writing a novel
- finding a box of Dolly fiction in an op shop and falling in love with romance
- being profoundly influenced by reading the book Come Together by Emlyn Rees and Josie Lloyd
- listening to Elizabeth Gilbert talk about ‘paying attention to the conversations that keep coming up’
- why it’s important to see yourself and people like you – in books, on social media
- what women said about what pleasure looks like in their lives in the survey Claire conducted
- writing humour
- writing good sex (hint: it’s all about logistics) a topic we also cover with Krissy Kneen
- balancing collaborative projects in theatre with the solo work of writing a novel
- why Claire’s Instagram is so excellent (and full of joy)
- what Claire learnt about vision boards and intention setting from The Desire Map by Danielle LaPorte
- (PSA: for a number of reasons I have not included a list of ethical porn sites, but check out this recent list)
Advice to writers:
- ‘You can’t teach boxing unless you are prepared to get in the ring’: Be vulnerable and be prepared to go where your character needs you to go
- Write the thing that you WANT to write
- You are a writer if you are sitting in the f**ing chair and you are doing the writing
Claire recommends:
In at the Deep End by Kate Davies
You MUST follow Claire on instagram and check out her website for latest happenings and to get in touch.
The First Time podcast 