Something strange has been happening to me over the past few weeks – I’ve started to fixate on feature ideas, think about people I could interview for this story or that, come up with opening paragraphs for articles about art and Ozempic and the Met Gala.
It’s almost as though I miss journalism.
The thing is, I never really intended to quit journalism. It just kind of happened when I took a hiatus from the internet.
In the throes of a near-breakdown brought on by burnout and mining my entire life for content and obsessively reading comments about myself on sites that shall not be named, I turned my back on the whole “scene”: social media, online media, print media, and retrained as a personal trainer.
It’s a long story – one I might go into, in more depth, on a future date. (Maybe let me know if you’d like that; a large portion of you have, I’m sure, heard it before, via the podcast or my old Patreon or the Instagram account I pepper with vignettes from my day-to-day.)
When I re-emerged on to the scene, so to speak, it was to write here, for myself (and for you); I have written the odd freelance piece, some for commercial clients, others for online publications; I have never quite gone back to journalism in the true sense of the word: interviewing people, compiling facts and figures, using evidence to back up information.
Now, though, I feel as though I might want to. Maybe I’m finally allowing myself to believe, once more, that I have something of value to say. Maybe I’m just sick of writing exclusively about myself. (Can’t it be both?!)
With that (all) in mind, I’d love to know what you’ve read, lately, that’s landed with you in a way that is unexpected or significant or resonant, or all of the above. For me, it’s not something I read but something I listened to: a new podcast called We Can’t Print This, specifically an episode with author and activist Renée Watson:
Now that I think about it, though, this piece by Amy Odell, on the Met Gala, is also worth a read.
Anyway, I guess: tell me what’s impressed you lately. Let me know if you want to hear the story of how I went from journalist to social influencer to personal trainer to web editor back to… influencer? Ish? Kind of?
Would you read Real Journalism™ on Anchor Baby, such as interviews with people who aren’t me? (Would you prefer if that’s what Anchor Baby was?!)
Do you have a favourite newsletter – and what is it that you like about it?! (I’ll be in the comments, too, arguing with you about why this should, in fact, be your favourite.) Thank you, in advance, for your replies.
I would love to read the interviews and as previous poster said I know some of the backstory with regards your change in direction and would love to hear about it if you want to share.
Would love to read interviews on here. Or opinion pieces. Or anything! And I know some of the story but would love to read about it all if you want to share
Okay, the similairites between our life paths are getting freaky now. I am in the middle of writing my first piece of freelance journalism in years. If you feel like, go for it! Thank you for the recommendations. Mine are books as opposed to articles. Laura Dockrill's 'What Have I Done?' is powerful stuff and I listened to the audio book of 'Strong Female Character' by Fern Bradey recently and it blew me away. It's all about her experience going undiagnosed as autistic until she was in her 30s. She reads it herself and doesn't shy away from the ugly stuff. It's excellent, I think you'd really like it.
I’d be happy to read any Real Journalism™️ from you here! I always enjoyed your interviews on HTBS and your think pieces (am I using that right?) are always insightful and thought provoking. I think written articles/interviews would be a great way for you take the space to blend the two...
I would love to read the interviews and as previous poster said I know some of the backstory with regards your change in direction and would love to hear about it if you want to share.
Would love to read interviews on here. Or opinion pieces. Or anything! And I know some of the story but would love to read about it all if you want to share
I would love to read all kinds of interviews. I'm open to any type of content.
Okay, the similairites between our life paths are getting freaky now. I am in the middle of writing my first piece of freelance journalism in years. If you feel like, go for it! Thank you for the recommendations. Mine are books as opposed to articles. Laura Dockrill's 'What Have I Done?' is powerful stuff and I listened to the audio book of 'Strong Female Character' by Fern Bradey recently and it blew me away. It's all about her experience going undiagnosed as autistic until she was in her 30s. She reads it herself and doesn't shy away from the ugly stuff. It's excellent, I think you'd really like it.
I’d be happy to read any Real Journalism™️ from you here! I always enjoyed your interviews on HTBS and your think pieces (am I using that right?) are always insightful and thought provoking. I think written articles/interviews would be a great way for you take the space to blend the two...