We love this self-deprecation, woh-oh, woh-oh-oh

(To the tune of 'Fascination' by Alphabeat)

Dec 06, 2020

Today I’d like to talk about self-deprecation. Perhaps you’ve seen a journalist on your timeline say “Hey, so, um, I wrote a thing!!” as they throw an article they worked tirelessly on out into the ether. Chances are, they are probably female and they are using understated language to downplay their accomplishment in case nobody reads their “thing” (the “thing” in question being a 2,500-word feature that involved extensive work).

It’s scary putting your work out into the world. I live in fear of posting an article I’ve written to my feed, only for one of the many, many reply guys who live in my mentions to tell me that I’ve spelt someone’s name wrong in my introduction. I cringe every time I see a typo that’s snuck past my editor. But I still think it’s important to share your work on social media and celebrate each thing you write regardless of whether anyone actually reads it, or points out all your mistakes to you.

I had an interesting interaction with a follower recently, who told me off for being self-deprecating. I posted an interview I did four years ago with James and Oliver Phelps (the Weasley twins) to my timeline and said it was “the silliest thing I’d ever done” because I refused to talk to them about Harry Potter. Yep, literally the only thing they are famous for. You can read the piece which I called “the worst profile in the world” here.

Dominic Stevenson 🇪🇺 @HatScarfShirt

@BettyKirkers This goes on my pile of 'don't be apologetic for your art' tweets...! It's a cool profile, and nice to have a bit of original content and not going over the same ground

Dominic Stevenson 🇪🇺 @HatScarfShirt

@BettyKirkers Riddle me this...have you ever seen a white cis man tweet their own work and talk it down...🤷🏻‍♂️

This stranger made me sit back and take stock of the way that I talk about my own achievements on social media; I’m now more consciously proud about everything I post relating to my work.

Women are especially guilty of downplaying their achievements, as the replies to the imposter syndrome thread that I shared in last week’s newsletter showed. But a lack of self-confidence can affect everyone, and so this week I’d like to challenge you all to post some work that you are really proud of.

Here’s my brag to get the ball rolling: I laid a 68-page magazine by myself and she’s bloody gorgeous. I have no MA in magazine journalism to speak of – I taught myself how to use Adobe Creative Suite – but I’m really impressed with how the finished product turned out. It’s in a different league to our first ever print edition, which we published in May. I am so incredibly proud of myself for making this beautiful object (shoutout to the amazing editors at The Indiependent who helped make the content so fab to begin with), especially considering I laid the mag about a week after ending my long-term relationship. She’s bloody beautiful, and you can get your copy here.

My week

… in editing

It’s now December which means that I recently had the joy of choosing The Indiependent’s Writer of the Month for November. Nominated by five editors, Ed Brown (@edjcb96) won for his piece ‘The glorious gladiatorial arena of labour factions’. Orla McAndrew (@OrlaMMcAndrew2) bagged the highest performing article of November 2020 with her piece ‘‘Derry Girls’ teaches us more about Ireland than school did’. It’s such a privilege to work with such great upcoming journalists so please do read their work!

… in writing

Pitches: 2

One got an out of office, which means I may as well just yeet myself into the sea.

I also got a rejection for two pitches I sent about three months ago 🤷‍♀️

Commissions: 1 (unpaid – for the site I run - The Indiependent)

Articles written: 5

Articles published: 4

I wrote three short pieces for The Indiependent, one review of the new Yungblud song ‘mars’, one about the Paul Mescal/Phoebe Bridgers collab, and another about Bombay Bicycle Club’s new live album. Oh, and I interviewed Ed Nash from the band. No big deal (very big deal). You can read the Bombay Bicycle Club interview here. I also wrote an opinion piece, but I’ll share that next week when it’s published.

… in listening/watching

I went to a BAFTA event called ‘Guru Live: BBC Writersroom at Twenty’ on Monday. The speakers included writer Peter Bowker (The A Word, World on Fire, Marvellous); actor/writer Isis Davis (Killing Eve); Head of BBC Writersroom Anne Edyvean; Senior Commissioning Editor for BBC Drama Manda Levin, and writer Vinay Patel (Murdered by My Father, Doctor Who).

On 2 December I went to a lunchtime lecture with Anna Kessel from Telegraph Women’s Sport. Then the brilliant, brilliant Laura Snapes (one of my favourite journalists) did a great masterclass with Terri White on Thursday evening. I particularly loved the advice to put your work in size 16 pink Comic Sans font when you’re ready to do a final edit.

… in reading

El Hunt’s interview with King Princess for NME is great - I will now be adopting ‘gak’ into my vocabulary as “the personification of the sound that queer people make out of excitement, joy or fabulousness”
I loved Annie Lord’s recent pieces ‘Why women don’t say ‘friendzoned’’ and ‘Is it ever a good idea to sleep with a friend?’ for Vogue
I thought ‘I can’t stop ghosting men’, Sarah Harris’ piece for Cosmopolitan, was a really frank, honest read
I included it last week, but again, Rhys Thomas’ men’s advice column for VICE ‘Hey Man’ is well worth a read
Dana Schwartz’s piece for BUSTLE about ‘Princess Diana, Taylor Swift & Our Obsession with Vulnerable Women’ was fascinating, especially the bit: “Superstars like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have mastered the art of withholding information, and revealing themselves only with full control and meticulousness.” That’s basically the issue I had with the new folklore documentary on Disney+ (read my review for The Indiependent here)

Upcoming events

I’ve been invited on a podcast, so I’m recording that next week – watch this space!
I’m going to a members-only event from Jericho Writers called ‘Slushpile Live’ on 9 December with Laura Williams from Greene & Heaton.
It’s a way off yet, but I registered for this talk with Alex Marshall on 19 January ‘How to get to the New York Times: a slightly ramshackle 16-year journey’

Opportunities

Not a job as such, but The Student Publication Association Mentorship Scheme will run from mid-late January to the end of the academic year (1st July), and mentors will be able to help you with CVs, cover letters, pitching ideas and more. Mentorship pairings in the past have led to work experience placements and paid writing commissions, so you never know where these opportunities might lead you!

In order to apply, applicants need to be a 2020 graduate from a UK or Ireland university and/or a current student at a UK or Ireland university. Applicants are welcome to apply for (free) SPA Individual Membership simultaneous to submitting their Mentorship Scheme application (they don't have to wait for their membership application to be approved before applying for the scheme) if they are not already associated with a member publication.

Applications are open NOW and will close on 1st January 2021. To apply, please visit this form: https://forms.gle/cfvciipWAUgHnthz5

PS) I went to Record Collector in Sheffield yesterday and bagged myself a limited edition press of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, a copy of Frank Turner’s Be More Kind and Entreat Plus, a live album by The Cure. If you’re a music fan, please buy from your local independent businesses, especially this Christmas!

The Peak District

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