Clare Fisher is a British writer and lecturer specialising in short fiction and contemporary prose. She is best known for her debut novel, All the Good Things (2017), and her collection of short stories, How the Light Gets In (2018).
Born in Tooting, south London, in 1987, Clare Fisher grew up with a love of literature. After graduating with a BA in History from Oxford University, she did an MA in Creative and Life Writing at Goldsmiths, University of London. Fisher later completed a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Leeds, focusing on experimental prose, queer theory and themes of failure. She now lives in Leeds and describes her heart as "firmly torn" between Leeds and her native London.
Fisher's debut novel, All the Good Things (2017), was published by Viking and Penguin and won the Betty Trask Award. It has been translated into seven languages and cemented her reputation as a talented voice in contemporary fiction. Her second book, How the Light Gets In (2018), is a collection of very short stories published by Influx Press. It explores the spaces between light and dark, offering poignant and humorous insights into modern British life. The collection was longlisted for the Edgehill Short Story Award and the Dylan Thomas Prize.
Reflecting on her approach to writing, Fisher said: "Words can guide us through the dark, though not always in the way we expect. This philosophy inspired her interactive storytelling project of the same name, which was commissioned for Light Night Leeds in 2014.
Fisher's latest collection, The Moon is Trending (2023), published by Salt Publishing, further explores her interest in experimental storytelling. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and literary magazines, including Litro and Aesthetica.
Reflecting on her approach to writing, Fisher explained, "Words can guide us through the dark, though not always in the way we expect." This philosophy inspired her interactive storytelling project of the same name, commissioned for Light Night Leeds in 2014.
Fisher's latest collection, The Moon is Trending (2023), published by Salt Publishing, further explores her interest in experimental storytelling. Her short fiction has appeared in many anthologies and literary magazines, including Litro and Aesthetica.
In addition to writing, Fisher has taught creative writing at institutions such as the University of Leeds and Goldsmiths. She was a Royal Literary Fund Fellow from 2020 to 2022. Outside of academia, she has been involved in creative collaborations such as Leeds Creative Labs and participatory arts residencies.
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