Jocelyn Watson, London Independent Story Prize 3rd Round 2024 Poetry Finalist, 'Sister, I need You'

London Independent Story Prize 3rd Round 2024 Poetry Finalist, 'Sister, I need You', Jocelyn Watson

Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?

Each day whether its looking out across at the park opposite where I live with my pen and notebook in hand or in the British Library with my laptop, I imagine and begin or continue to write new short stories, flash fiction, poetry or edit chapters from my novel or previous work that needs a critical input.

When and how did you get into writing?

The Asian Women’s Writers’ Collective (AWWC) was my first writing home in 1984 when I was studying law. The AWWC provided a supportive creative writing space for Asian women, which I welcomed. Practising as a human rights lawyer, I began to appreciate where the law failed, literature and poetry can play a crucial role in connecting people to humanity; to look with compassion and insight. In 2011 inspired by Doris Lessing –‘ whatever you’re meant to do, do it now,’ I gave up work as a human rights lawyer, living simply so as to have more time.  Focussing on my writing, I went on to win the Asian Writer, Freedom from Torture, and other writing prizes. My short stories have been published in various anthologies and I have written for magazines including Wasafiri, Red Pepper and The Survivor. In 2017 I was one of the 200 British writers of colour celebrated in Breaking Ground.   

How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

Unless I am unwell or busy engaged in some form of activism or support, I will endeavour to write every day.  My inspiration can come from looking out the window at the flora, fauna, trees and wildlife, or reading or hearing about the disturbing news across the world, or the moments of human kindness and compassion that give me hope, and an insight into how civilisation can heal.  

How does it feel to have your work recognised?

I welcome having my work published and out there in the public domain because I think literature unites us and opens our minds to all kinds of possibilities for humanity. It can touch our hearts and minds and enable us to look into the experiences, sufferings, and happiness of others and appreciate how precious our lives and the environment we live in is, and can help us to focus on the tiniest detail that we otherwise simply take for granted

What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Poetry? 

For me writing a story or a poem means giving myself support and encouragement to keep going, to believe in the possibility of what I might be able to conceive and produce and to never give up hope.  In those moments when it doesn’t seem to come together, to recognise I may have to edit or simply rewrite or reconceive what I had initially imagined, but that the most important thing is, to keep going, to bring it to life, and sustain it in whatever way I can, and that it’s all up to me.

How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected poem? Is there a story behind your poem? And, how long have you been working on it?

The poem Sister I Need You came to life as I reflected upon the causes and consequences of discrimination against women and girls, not only in this country, but across the globe.  As I considered issues such as: Afghanistan where girls and women can’t access education, or even leave their homes; the murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran for not wearing her hijab according to government regulations; the rape and murder of women here in England, I wanted to reflex my concern, solidarity and appreciation to sisters everywhere, in a poem.  It is the twenty-first century and yet women still face the most horrendous abuse and violence, but the knowledge that women are supporting and campaigning for each other all over the world needs to be valued and appreciated if we are to move towards a more equitable future.  It took me months of reflecting, editing, rewriting, reimagining and reconceiving before I felt completely satisfied with what I wanted to submit.

Can you please give us a few tips about writing Poetry? 

Explore an idea in your mind and let it live with you but each day write something even if it is just a few lines or a page. Carry a notebook with you wherever you go so that if an idea pops up you can scribble it down and use it later and it isn’t lost somewhere in your archives.

What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions? 

What I find invaluable about competitions is that they give me a deadline to work towards.  Sometimes there is a theme or a word limit, which can help with editing, and tightening my work. Ultimately they encourage me to believe in the possibility that my story or poem has something to say that can be shared with others.

Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISP?

Because I find submitting to LISP so helpful, I recommend it to all my friends and writing colleagues.