ABOUT MARK FLEMING
Mark Fleming is a citizen of Edinburgh, Scotland. He has been into creative writing since he was a teenager plastered in Buzzcocks and Chelsea badges (the band). His first attempts to express himself were feverishly scribbling lyrics and cobbling together fanzines while playing in Edinburgh punk band 4 Minute Warning.
His writing evolved into fiction when he discovered James Kelman via an NME book review in 1983. He has had numerous stories published in diverse outlets, including THE BIG ISSUE IN SCOTLAND, football fanzines, THE LEITHER MAGAZINE, laurahird.com, pulp.net, the PICADOR BOOK OF CONTEMPORARY SCOTTISH FICTION, SHORTS: THE MACALLAN/SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY COLLECTION, FRONT AND CENTRE (ISSUE 18), SCOTTISH CHILD MAGAZINE, and 404 INK.
He published a semi-autobiographical novel in 2009, entitled BrainBomb, on a limited print-run. This has since been completely as a memoir, entitled 1976.
As well as fiction he writes blogs, articles and reviews, examples of which are also on this site.
His writing evolved into fiction when he discovered James Kelman via an NME book review in 1983. He has had numerous stories published in diverse outlets, including THE BIG ISSUE IN SCOTLAND, football fanzines, THE LEITHER MAGAZINE, laurahird.com, pulp.net, the PICADOR BOOK OF CONTEMPORARY SCOTTISH FICTION, SHORTS: THE MACALLAN/SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY COLLECTION, FRONT AND CENTRE (ISSUE 18), SCOTTISH CHILD MAGAZINE, and 404 INK.
He published a semi-autobiographical novel in 2009, entitled BrainBomb, on a limited print-run. This has since been completely as a memoir, entitled 1976.
As well as fiction he writes blogs, articles and reviews, examples of which are also on this site.
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Bipolar disorder and writing about mental health issues
A key aspect of Fleming's writing came as a result of his diagnosis with bipolar disorder in the 1980s. After being sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 1987 he spent time in a closed ward in psychiatric hospital. He experienced another breakdown in 1990. In recovering from these serious episodes he rediscovered his love of creative writing. He became involved with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to promote mental health wellbeing. In collaboration with the Scottish Book Trust he has run creative writing workshops in community groups across Scotland, including homeless individuals and people in recovery from addiction or mental health issues.
He has tutored writing sessions in schools, and was Writer in Residence at Kirkcaldy High School in 2019 where he encountered pupils with infinitely more creative ideas than he ever did aged 13!
He has spoken about creative writing and mental health at HMP Saughton and HMP Barlinnie, and was interviewed on prison radio for the latter.
A key aspect of Fleming's writing came as a result of his diagnosis with bipolar disorder in the 1980s. After being sectioned under the Mental Health Act in 1987 he spent time in a closed ward in psychiatric hospital. He experienced another breakdown in 1990. In recovering from these serious episodes he rediscovered his love of creative writing. He became involved with the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) to promote mental health wellbeing. In collaboration with the Scottish Book Trust he has run creative writing workshops in community groups across Scotland, including homeless individuals and people in recovery from addiction or mental health issues.
He has tutored writing sessions in schools, and was Writer in Residence at Kirkcaldy High School in 2019 where he encountered pupils with infinitely more creative ideas than he ever did aged 13!
He has spoken about creative writing and mental health at HMP Saughton and HMP Barlinnie, and was interviewed on prison radio for the latter.
From PORTOBELLO REPORTER
