Gary Mepsted: Measured Words

Writer, mentor, and creative writing teacher Gary Mepsted joins me for a conversation in his garden to talk about writing craft, storytelling, observation, and a life shaped by instinct rather than plan.

Expelled from school early on, Gary’s path into writing was anything but straightforward. Later gaining a Master’s in English, he has spent decades teaching others, though he avoids calling it a “career.” For Gary, life has been a series of unplanned turns, each one met with a willingness to respond rather than control.

We talk about writing beyond your own life, stepping into other worlds, and the influence of writers such as Graham Swift and Maggie O'Farrell, alongside a line he once heard on the radio that has stayed with him ever since:

“As a novelist, I see myself in a kind of ornithological role…I note down what they do, but I can in no way influence their behaviour.”

That idea, observing without interfering, runs quietly through everything Gary does.

We also talk about ego in the creative arts, the role of mentorship, and why he finds more satisfaction in helping others find their voice than chasing recognition himself.

And there are stories, including his Uncle George, a larger-than-life character moving between worlds: chauffeur, joke writer, psychic, and something of a prototype for a certain South London spirit. A man who, in Gary’s words, understood him more than anyone else.

This is a walk about patience, perspective, and the craft of paying attention.

Season Two of the story pilgrim walks with people, their philosophies, their turning points, and the quieter forces that shape them.

buen camino, and keep listening.