Last year, Julie Cross and two others set up a poetry group at TLC Community Church in Two Locks.
She said: “This is a safe, relaxed space; where others can share their work, their favourite poet’s work and also learn how to start writing poetry.”
This is part of a regular feature on Cwmbran Life to ask writers about their work and to share tips to encourage others to pick up a pen 🙂
1. What first sparked your love of writing and how did you get started?
“I remember listening to stories as far back as junior school or perhaps earlier. Stories such as the Faraway Tree and the Chronicles of Narnia. As a child, my imagination would run away into these far-off lands.
“I also remember writing a humorous short story, about a train journey, when I was in high school.
“However, life got in the way, I studied, started work and forgot about writing.
“It was only when, from 2004-2008, I did a degree in nursing, that through necessity, I started writing academically. My worst subject in school was English, I was more of a logical thinker. So, writing academically suited me.
“What I wasn’t prepared for, is that nursing requires a lot of reflection, qualitative research and self-development. It didn’t come naturally at first, but with practice, it’s now part of my personal and professional life.
“In 2017, I came back to the Christian faith. I needed connection with Christian people and went back to church, to Victory Church, Cwmbran. That year, they were doing a leadership course, graded academically, like a degree. I had many questions, as I had missed many years in my Christian walk. So, I enrolled and was accepted. There were three mediums: academic writing, a creative piece (art, poetry) and a micro sermon. This was over 12 months.
“I decided to try all of them. The academic writing came naturally. The micro sermon was difficult, it just isn’t me.
“Art was difficult too (my husband is the artist, not me). However, what seemed to keep coming to mind, was poetry. I would be walking my dog and words just kept forming in my mind.
I was nervous at first, when I recited the poems, but this improved over time. Then for some reason, I’m not sure why, I stopped writing poetry.
“Victory Church is a fantastic place, but I realised that the place is so big. I felt a little lost in a big crowd.
“In January 2020, I joined TLC Community Choir, then it was lockdown. In November 2021, the choir started back, after a few lockdowns.
“It was at TLC Community Church, Cwmbran, that I was made to feel so welcome. I started attending in January 2022.
“Soon after, my friend and fellow poet, Les Foster starting coming too (we didn’t know about the poetry then). He also joined the choir.
“At Easter 2023, I had a personal crisis. I had overwhelming anxiety. It nearly consumed and destroyed me. I was singing a duet with a close friend. I had little confidence, but somehow got through it. My choir leader said ‘look at the words’. I think this must have sparked something within me…
“I wrote my first poem in May 2023, a crying out to God. I thought that this was a one off. Then, in June 2023, I wrote another, called Beloved Child.
“On the first Monday of July 2023, I was at choir rehearsal. In passing, I mentioned the Beloved Child poem to my friend Andrea. I discovered that she is also a poet. I thought that no one would be interested in anything I had to say.
“But she listened, she was really interested, we also started discussing this with her sister, my choir leader.
“I had no idea that this was the start of writing many poems.
“There was an annual Christian women’s conference in September 2023. I sent the poem to my choir leader. She was blown away. I wasn’t expecting such a positive response.
“This was recorded (I was quite nervous) and shown at the conference. I was taken aback by the positive response of the women who attended.
“I have been writing ever since. I also discovered that Les Foster had been writing poetry for years. We often share them and encourage each other.
“So, for me, the journey to writing started in my teens, but has been a long one, to finally writing poetry later in life. It’s never to late to start.
2. What are you working on now?
“In May 2025, we started a poetry/spoken word group. This is led jointly by myself, Les Foster and Maurice Chambers, at TLC Community Church, Cwmbran.
“Through this group, we share our poems, use techniques and tools to help give the group ideas and words to create a written piece.
“Also, through contact with Maurice Chambers, in November 2025, The Jacob Abraham Foundation chose our church to do a collaborative poem, by the community for the community of Torfaen. This project is funded by the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund.
“This charity helps families affected by suicide and also helps to prevent this.
“Patrick Jones, a local poet will use our words to create a poem, about hope and resilience. They will be returning on 3rd January 2026.
“It is such a privilege that they have partnered with us.
3. Who is your favourite author and why?
“C.S. Lewis, without a doubt. The Chronicles of Narnia from my childhood. The sense of adventure and wonder in my young mind and later, knowing the deeper meaning behind the stories.
“And later again, from 2017-2018, when on the Christian leadership course; I discovered that C.S. Lewis also delved much deeper and wrote adult books, such as The Four Loves.
“I realise that he wasn’t a poet, but nonetheless, his written works sparked my imagination and creativity, so early on.
4. What does your writing routine look like? Where do you write? What tools do you use?
“I don’t really use the computer much to write. Words seem to form in my thinking spontaneously, so I wouldn’t necessarily have the computer to hand, in the moment. I could be out walking, lying in bed and the words just come, usually when I am not trying too hard to make them come.
“I type them on my phone, in my documents, then transfer this via messenger.
“I then copy and paste this onto Microsoft Word. Unfortunately, I’m not particularly computer or technology-savvy.
“I also have some of them recorded, in spoken form on YouTube videos, kindly recorded and edited by a good friend.”
5. What advice would you give to someone who wants to start writing but doesn’t know where to begin?
“It’s never too late to start. I didn’t officially start writing until May 2023, at the age of 54.
“There are plenty of writing tools on the internet.
“However, speaking with people who love writing is the best place for inspiration.
“We hold a local poetry group, at TLC Community Church, Cwmbran, on the first Saturday of the month. A poetry/ written word group is a good place to start, because you will meet others who write, or want to start writing. People will also share works of their favourite author, so this gives you ideas about whose work you may like to read.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be just a faith-based written piece; it can be anything.
“Find somewhere local. Meeting other writers will inspire you to write.”
6. Where can people find your work or follow your progress?
“I have a few YouTube videos and my own Facebook page (Julie Cross – Spoken Word). All of my videos are on the Facebook page.
“We also have an online poetry group, called TLC Community Church Poetry Group on Facebook (we are currently considering changing this to Poetry/Writing Group). This allows other poets share their work.”