Why Class Matters
“Despite being a voracious reader and keen writer of stories, I never envisaged being a writer – whether as a hobby or anything more. It was a niche and unobtainable pursuit like being an astronaut or a Hollywood actor.”
Dialect mentee Audrey Healy blogs about coming from a working class family and what that has meant for her journey into writing.
Image credit: Eli Francis
The saying ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’ is often used in discussions about diversity in the boardroom but it applies to writing as well. Diversity also includes social class.
A child of Irish immigrants seeking social freedom and economic opportunity, I grew up in suburban London. Forced to leave school early to support their large families, my parents had no qualifications but did have resilience in spades, wide work portfolios and a fierce work ethic. Dad had his own building and property maintenance business while Mum juggled three part time jobs. It was normal. Our social network was our wider family and friends, all of whom were just like us.
Despite being a voracious reader and keen writer of stories, I never envisaged being a writer – whether as a hobby or anything more. It was a niche and unobtainable pursuit like being an astronaut or a Hollywood actor. My teachers told me to keep writing, but I couldn’t see the point. Being a writer was too precarious, too time consuming, getting published was so mysterious, writing couldn’t offer a secure income. And besides – growing up I just didn’t have the time, headspace or energy between juggling Saturday, temping and holiday jobs with my studies. I found few stories about or by, people like me. Even in adulthood, I knew few people who pursued a career in the arts, or who just created art for its own sake.
It’s a relief to have finally given myself permission to give writing a proper go. And it is its own reward. I wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for libraries. They are a vehicle for much needed social mobility. I owe them so much. My local library was a haven, a treasure trove, a universe of possibilities. It was quiet and peaceful. It felt safe. Without libraries I wouldn’t have been the first person in my family to go to university. I wouldn’t be writing this. I wouldn’t be writing, full stop.
Audrey Healy is being mentored by best-selling novelist Melanie Golding on our Arts Council supported scheme.
