Creative Thursday: Kate Tough

This week's Creative Thursday interview is with writer Kate Tough.

SSH: Where in the Southside do you call home?

KT: I live ‘deep south’ where the edge of Clarkston becomes countryside. Out in all weathers cycling, walking and running on farm roads equates to a lot of poems about cows and horses.

SSH: Tell us a bit about your Creative Practice.

KT: I write long fiction, short fiction, poetry and lyrics. Long fiction is where you learn what you’re made of. Short pieces are where you have all the fun (a ridiculous generalisation! Sorry). There are two main ways I work with language. One is to reach for and represent the absolute truth of a thing (a moment, an interaction, a character’s experience); the other is to collect and arrange ‘found’ bits of writing, offering them as meaningful. (You can read Kate's writing at katetough.com)

SSH: What's your favourite piece of work?

KT: At the moment, I’m using a printers’ manual from 1825 as a source of ‘found’ material. Its original owner cut out newspaper articles and tucked them between the pages too, so the book is a trove and a joy.

In 2011, I worked with a group of fiery, fragile young women (from the Ayrshire care system) who were unaware they had any talent. We teased it out over two months. I appreciate that they were brave enough to have a go; arriving at a slightly better relationship with themselves and the world.

SSH: What's next?

KT: Norwich became a UNESCO City of Literature last year and I’m part of a literary collaboration to celebrate its status. In May, I’ll be running new-writer activities at the MarginsFestival in Banchory.

SSH: Where do you go for inspiration?
KT: Few things are reliably, flawlessly perfect but many things have a streak of it if you catch them at the right moment, like Sunny Govan Radio (turn it up Govan!). Beautifully non-BBC, non-commercial, with a spectrum of voices and sounds. I prefer creativity I can’t predict (format is wearyingly dominant in cultural output). A recent, unexpected arts encounter was the rapper Ar Droops on theGlad stage. He takes Scottish rap in a new direction with prism-ic intelligence, terrific wit and a charming routine where he runs out of breath while reciting.

SSH: What advice do you wish you'd known?

KT: For me, the point is… not to know something before you’re ready to know it. Nor to beat yourself up for not having known it. The point is to appreciate and embrace the opportunities to learn when they come along. Take the learning that’s on offer, do it with grace, and respect others’ learning journeys (a.k.a. lives).

SSH: What's you top pick for Southside hangout?

KT: Has to be the Glad Café dunnit? Where the Shawlands renaissance coheres into a physical space, responsive to / riffing with its clientele. It’s a gorgeous entity – I think God runs it (or is a silent partner). The southside takes the torch from the West End, which had a good run but needs a few years to return from the wilderness and rediscover its soul.

A close second is the back bar of the IvoryHotel – draw the curtain, light the candles, bring in a few poets and sink into the leather for the most relaxed, sublime poetry night in Glasgow 

SSH: Who's your favourite Southsider Creative?

KT: Spoiled for choice on this... I’ll pick Alison Irvine, who commemorated the Red Road flats in her stunningly accomplished debut novel This Road is Red.

SSH: If money was no object what would you change about the Southside?

KT: Surely we could resurrect a bus route that crosses from Kilmarnock Road through to Clarkston Road? That would be a life-changer.