SIC’s Career Spotlights: Julia Key

Julia Key is a writer, children’s author and a poet. She has been successful in many poetry competitions over the course of her career and has recently entered into a publishing deal for a children’s picture book. She also works part-time in a university.

What motivated you to start writing?

I can’t say there was anything specific, a ‘trigger moment’. I’ve just always had a passion for words, and would read avidly as a child (and great readers often make great writers, of course). Words have always been part of my life, in one way or another - from the lengthy stories I would make up about my school teachers to my later work as a translator, interpreter and freelance editor. I began to write poetry in my late twenties; it seemed a natural response to the challenging times in my life, as well as a way to express and celebrate something of the wonder and beauty of nature, which I think has always been my main source of inspiration. 

How do you think being disabled has changed your approach to writing?

I wouldn’t say my condition has changed my approach to writing so much as it’s changed my approach to life itself. When I became very ill, in my mid-twenties, I found my perspective on the world subtly shifted; I’d always been a thoughtful and reflective person, but my appreciation of the things that really matter—my closest relationships, the natural world and simple, everyday pleasures - was heightened considerably. I sought and found happiness and fulfilment in the places most often overlooked, or at least taken for granted. “In order to write about life first you must live it”, says Ernest Hemingway. I certainly became (to quote him again) “strong at the broken places”, and I think it’s that richness and intensity of personal experience—both good and bad—that makes for better writing. 

What is your career advice for those who aspire to write children’s content?

I don’t really feel that I’m in a position to be giving career advice to aspiring writers, since in many respects I’m still one myself. I’m by no means a ‘professional’ writer, as I have a paid part-time job and my writing is still something that’s very much squeezed into the odd evenings or random hours when I can escape into the study. Children’s publishing is a competitive field, and difficult to break into. It’s certainly not an ‘easy option’, and no less challenging than writing for adults. I think that regardless of the audience, it’s important to find your voice, a distinctive style or means of connecting with the reader that sets you apart. For me, spending time with children is also really helpful - the more you are able to see the world through a child’s eyes, the better you understand what captures their imagination, what makes them laugh, what engages their interest. Quite apart from that, I find children offer a refreshing perspective on life and their sense of fun is a great tonic for someone living with chronic pain. In a nutshell though, and for what it’s worth, my career advice would be ‘never give up’!

Did you experience any setbacks when you started writing due to your disability? How did you overcome them?

I think the main setbacks and challenges I’ve faced as an aspiring writer have been—and continue to be—down to the limits imposed by my own physical condition rather than any external factor. I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which means I’m more often than not plagued by some combination of exhaustion and pain, with varying degrees of severity. As those who have EDS and similar long-term conditions will know, life is a constant balancing act, and in my case, time for self-care and the desire for creative fulfilment often take a back seat to the demands of family life and paid employment. This juggling of priorities is by far the biggest obstacle to a successful writing life for me. There are no easy answers, of course, but setting aside some time for writing each week—even if it’s only half an hour—is always going to be better than letting it fall by the wayside completely. The key is consistency. Do as much as you can within the bounds of your condition. Always celebrate what you can—not what you can’t—achieve.

Are there any specific pieces or publications you are particularly proud of?

Certainly the poems that have been successful in various competitions I’ve entered over the years; that’s always great affirmation! Signing my first publishing contract last year (for a children’s picture book) was a great feeling too, and has motivated me to keep on writing when things are tough or I’m not feeling particularly inspired. I’ve also recently heard that one of my poems is to be included in an edited collection focusing on the experiences of disabled people in higher education (I work part-time in a university). The piece aims to express something of how it feels to live with a chronic health condition, particularly in everyday conversation when the inevitable, “How are you?” arises. I’m delighted that this collection is shining a light on the experiences of, and challenges faced by, the disabled and chronically ill in the workplace.

Which other disabled advocates inspire you? 

Gosh, there are so many! And in a sense, of course, each and every disabled person is a ‘hero’ in his or her own right—I know it’s a platitude but sometimes we need reminding of that. Someone who stands out for me though, as a Christian myself, is Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a quadriplegic at the age of 17 yet went on to become an artist, singer, bestselling author and disability rights advocate. A true inspiration.