I’ve always been preoccupied by the notion of copying. I can’t blame being a middle child for all my flaws, but here we are. And it’s not unrelated. Can’t be. If you are the third of four girls - and because of the gaps, the truest middle, then certain personality traits are beyond your control (for proof it goes: Gemma: 1983, Beth: 1989, Me: 1991 and Kate 1994.) Proof. Not to mention being a double cancer (read: we are comfy with envy, claws and possession.)
I used to wear shorts over tights constantly. Weirdly I actually looked in my wardrobe literally yesterday and pondered on the look for a moment - dare I couple those high waist Levi’s shorts with some tights? I thought better.
And I also had a best friend and peer and rival. We used to make up dances. We got really drunk one night on peach archers and she punched her dad in the head 🤣🤣 I would say her defining characteristic as my friend was that she stole all of my boyfriends. I loved her regardless. Now she organises weddings, has the same haircut as her mum and dresses like she is 50 and have nothing in common other than the ex-boyfriends 🤣
I had so many Substack ideas first. But I never take action, so I can’t complain. Except if these people are thought snatchers. Now there’s an idea…of how to get committed…to a closed off ward.
Hi! Me again! Smiley face. (Sorry… it was too irresistible not to).
Okay so obviously I love this. But I have a question about your witty colloquial style and if it’s influenced by who’s reading your work.
So I noticed in your Guardian piece that the writing was less ‘you’, which of course could be down to editing, or the brief being very clear about style or etc etc. (To be clear I loved the piece, though I love your writing here more). It feels more you, which I’m aware is bonkers to say given I’ve never met you.
Here are my thoughts and worries: when I started blogging in 2010 I did some of my best writing, but it was also when I had the least readers. Then post bake off my writing went to the dogs. I was scared of People and their views. I felt watched and judged. Then as the dust settled my writing quality improved. Cut to post divorce and feeling HE was reading everything and judging me, it’s gone again. The gaze is too much.
What do you think? Is it the sad truth that the best writing is seen by the least people? Or is this the process of being A Writer; being able to write as your true self regardless of the volume of readers? Because that feels exceptionally scary and exposing though alluring too. Jesus.
Also I am pretty sure I liked The Strokes first. STOP COPYING ME.
I used to wear shorts over tights constantly. Weirdly I actually looked in my wardrobe literally yesterday and pondered on the look for a moment - dare I couple those high waist Levi’s shorts with some tights? I thought better.
And I also had a best friend and peer and rival. We used to make up dances. We got really drunk one night on peach archers and she punched her dad in the head 🤣🤣 I would say her defining characteristic as my friend was that she stole all of my boyfriends. I loved her regardless. Now she organises weddings, has the same haircut as her mum and dresses like she is 50 and have nothing in common other than the ex-boyfriends 🤣
That is all x
I had so many Substack ideas first. But I never take action, so I can’t complain. Except if these people are thought snatchers. Now there’s an idea…of how to get committed…to a closed off ward.
Hi! Me again! Smiley face. (Sorry… it was too irresistible not to).
Okay so obviously I love this. But I have a question about your witty colloquial style and if it’s influenced by who’s reading your work.
So I noticed in your Guardian piece that the writing was less ‘you’, which of course could be down to editing, or the brief being very clear about style or etc etc. (To be clear I loved the piece, though I love your writing here more). It feels more you, which I’m aware is bonkers to say given I’ve never met you.
Here are my thoughts and worries: when I started blogging in 2010 I did some of my best writing, but it was also when I had the least readers. Then post bake off my writing went to the dogs. I was scared of People and their views. I felt watched and judged. Then as the dust settled my writing quality improved. Cut to post divorce and feeling HE was reading everything and judging me, it’s gone again. The gaze is too much.
What do you think? Is it the sad truth that the best writing is seen by the least people? Or is this the process of being A Writer; being able to write as your true self regardless of the volume of readers? Because that feels exceptionally scary and exposing though alluring too. Jesus.
Also I am pretty sure I liked The Strokes first. STOP COPYING ME.