As someone afraid of the unknown, I was apprehensive before opening the doors to the literary salon, that last Tuesday of the month at 6.30pm. Scouring their website with difficulty in an attempt to prepare for what was to come, I failed to uncover anything more than a small description of what was to be discussed. Pushing my nerves into my back pocket I briskly neared the ally in which the Salon was about to commence. Stepping over the last few cobbles under my feet, I entered.
“writers and business owners are all-round friendly people with a story to share“
As if by magic, between the twinkling lights and cosy interior my nerves fled out the door I had just closed behind me. Surprised at the queue for the bar, ‘was this not a formal event?’ whirled through my head as I joined the queue. After a swig of liquid courage, I scaled the winding staircase.
In the small loft sat in a crowded room, nerves quickly began to pass as the buzz of creativity and welcoming faces filled the room. Divided in two, the left side was filled with experienced and novice creatives. From what I would gather merely an hour later, writers and business owners are all-round friendly people with a story to share. The right side with eager students ready to soak up the next few hours.
Jamie Sutherland took to the stage. The co-organiser at the Salon ran through how events like this one had an overarching goal of bringing likeminded people together and creating a community that would keep the arts alive. He spoke on a visit to an East Lothian bookshop, nestled in a quiet community which was open much later than he anticipated, his calm yet comical demeanour had the room captivated. He soon opened the stage to a couple of speakers discussing upcoming book festivals. They sold them all with their own sheer excitement, enough to clear your schedule for the upcoming months! With a closing promotion from Lighthouse bookshop’s Mairi Oliver regarding their upcoming Radical Book Festival, the speakers segment drew to riveting close.
The floor was open, as conversations began to erupt in the room, I prepared to take the bull by the horns and mingle. I realised it is one of those occasions you will get out exactly what you put into it. By speaking to many people from all walks of life, all brought together from a passion that they share, I quickly realised that I do fit in and it wasn’t a case of hierarchy, it was a place to learn, share and have a laugh with peers you would never have crossed paths with.
As networking goes the Literary Salon was a very welcoming space for a student to get acquainted with people in the industry, diminishing that idea that ‘there is nothing to talk about’, bringing creative people together. It is an event I would recommend to everyone.
For any more information regarding the Edinburgh Literary Salon, please see link below:
