Ester Spiller
Ester Spiller - Current student on MA Creative Practice
What is your current endeavour, and can you tell us a bit about it?
My current endeavour is a collection of illustrated short stories, the working title is: A Banquet of Delicious Disturbances.
What impact do you want to have by bringing your endeavour alive and into the world?
I want to re-create the experience we have as children with our favourite illustrated stories, in an adult format. Short stories are bit like a chocolate to the full three course meal of the novel. You can’t live on chocolate alone, but who doesn’t like a little treat before bed? The mere idea of illustrated short stories for adults seem like something too decadent to discuss in polite society. The wonderful thing about A Banquet of Delicious Disturbances is, if you want a little treat, there are very short stories, and if you want something bigger, say, a big wedge of cake, there are longer stories. A whole banquet of them!.
Which Make_Happen distinction do you use the most or has impacted you the most?
Just try it, if it doesn’t work, try something else.How has being a part of Make_Happen influenced your creative process?
I’ve started taking myself more seriously as a writer.
Are there specific artists or creators who inspire your work, and if so, how do they influence you?
The list is so long! A quick sample of it would be: Margaret Atwood, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Kazuo Ishiguro, Ansa Clancey, Nathaniël and many more. Their creativity inspires me, the fact that for decades they keep creating, that the well of their inspiration doesn't run dry, because they keep working at it, it's just so impressive!
Can you share a memorable challenge you faced while working on your endeavour and how you overcame it?
At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it's all been a challenge! But if it was a breeze, what am I doing here? No one spends a year of their life and thousands of pounds to not be challenged and to learn nothing. At the first residential I volunteered for a task, a choice between two party hats, I don't want to give away the game, but suffice it to say, it was agonising to be the one doing it, and probably for everyone watching, but in that moment, I realised something about myself that only that task could have taught me. Another challenge has been the concept of being seen in the world, I don’t think that I’m alone in wanting to be known for my work instead of myself, but I’ve come to realise that the who I am influences my work, and my work influences who I am. I can’t share the one without the other.
What advice would you give to aspiring Make_Happeners who are just starting their creative journeys?
Just keep going, you're going to be ok. The big deal, the million followers, the front pages, none of it comes overnight. Enjoy the making of, because in the end, that's all there is.
