GILL BALFOUR

Words, Words & More Words

Words are my life, not just my business.  Writing creatively, commercially or just for fun is what I'm about.  Other people's words inspire and excite me.  Places and the lives of the people who have lived in them are often the catalyst for my creative writing with Brighton and Barcelona providing daily ideas for creative work.  I've lived and worked in both and am inspired by their vibrancy, beauty and history. I live in Brighton and am awed by the diversity of the people who live here.  If you want to visit the places that inspire me take a look at my Tours page.

My background in teaching has evolved into a career with words.  I'm a freelance writer, copy editor and proof reader working in the travel, education and creative worlds.  Completing my Master's in Creative Writing at the University of Brighton has further developed my writing.  My dissertation is a passionate appeal to end the use of the term 'chick lit' with a screenplay as the creative element.  As part of my Master's I was Writer in Residence at Fabrica Gallery in Brighton.  I facilitated Creative Writing Workshops for Fabrica's volunteer programme, the results of which were published in their online magazine Response 23. My teaching experience and my belief that everyone is creative are my motivation for running workshops for anyone who wants to unleash their creativity. 

I've published one non-fiction Ebook Quite Literally Barcelona and am working on my first novel.  In 2015 my Short Story Horizons was 'highly regarded' by The Brighton Prize and is published in the Rattle Tales 4 anthology.  The Master's has spurred me on and other projects are simmering away waiting to be brought to fruition.