18.3 Elizabeth Strout, Writer

How can you overcome stage fright? Viv Groskop talks to award-winning writer and nominee for this year’s Booker Prize, Elizabeth Strout, ahead of the ceremony. She reveals an intervention that enabled her to handle public events that would previously have sent her spinning into panic. Elizabeth tells Viv how the spaces that allow her to write are the ones in which she’s not needed by anyone. Riding the subway is good, but even better is her studio in Maine. Despite Elizabeth’s success now seeming to come easily, she tells Viv that it has been hard won and how the intuition that penetrates her work has sometimes been painful to live with. She also shares some top tips on handling criticism or ungenerous remarks. Find out more about Elizabeth Strout’s Booker Prize-shortlisted novel, Oh William! A new updated edition of Viv's book, How to Own the Room is out now. @vivgroskop