Read on for news and updates, links to examples of my work, thoughts on writing and fundraising, book reviews and other musings.
No more Instagram or Twitter
In the last week I have deleted both my Twitter and Instagram accounts. As I haven’t had a Facebook account for years, this means the only social media network you can follow me on is LinkedIn.
My reasons for withdrawing from social media are a little hard for me to define, but essentially come down to me not enjoying them.
Yes, I found out about a few things (gigs, jobs, etc.) that I might not have spotted otherwise, but I’d rather not have to wade through the rubbish to try and find the cold. Also, I tend to find it hard not to get sucked in and waste time scrolling and scrolling.
This is just my personal decision, and I don’t want this to read as an implied value judgement on your social media use, dear reader. If you’re enjoying Twitter and Instagram, then crack on and enjoy them. However, you won’t be able to engage with me there.
It also means my handles (jonathansbean) are probably coming available soon. So if you share a name with me, keep an eye out for those!
Words about Words - June 2021
Hi all,
Normal service resumes this month.
After sharing advice that might help you save a life in May’s edition, June’s Words about Words is back to sharing some things that I’ve found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month - all loosely related to writing, fundraising, or other stuff.
Here goes…
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Radio for working from home
Most of the time I work from home, but occasionally I work in cafés. I’d do it more often, but my coffee bill would get out of hand. I find I work well when out and about, possibly because of the background hubbub. This is difficult to recreate at home, so the challenge is finding a radio station that strikes just the right balance between “background noise” and “engaging.” If it’s capable of giving me a boost on a Friday afternoon, then even better. Here are my current favourites…
NTS - with two channels, there’s usually something to listen to that’s “just right”. Failing that, their infinite mixtapes, based on different themes, are worth a go.
Worldwide FM - a similar vibe to NTS, with a broad range of hosts and shows.
Monocle 24 - turn it down low enough and the chat isn’t distracting, while the music is often central European pop that is perfectly inoffensive. I realise that’s hardly the most exciting review, but I don’t always want exciting music when I’m working.
26 direct mail ideas you can steal from one pack
I don’t do much in the way of direct mail fundraising, but there are still crossovers with trusts fundraising (which I do a lot of). The Agents of Good site is a useful resource, looking at examples of good and bad fundraising practice. A recent post on ideas you can use in your own work is worth a read. Here’s the link.
The grantmaking practices we need
Cassie Robinson shares her thoughts on how grantmaking can be improved. As someone who raises money from grantmakers, I often find myself pondering how I would go about things (unrestricted, long term, and with an as-yet-undecided alternative to the flawed burden of ‘self-assessment’ monitoring and evaluation). Cassie goes one level further, beyond the specifics of the grantmaking process, to the ideals that should drive the design of grantmaking processes. Here’s the link.
Climbing Desolation Peak
I’ve linked to Paris Review articles before, and I’ll almost certainly do it again as they’re almost always so good. I especially liked the extract from Alison Bechdel’s new graphic memoir. Here’s the link.
Dueling disciplines
Tracksmith make fancy looking running kit. I don’t own any of their stuff (and I probably won’t buy any as the benefit/problem of already having loads of kit, predominantly made from petrochemicals, is that it lasts for a very, very, very long time), but I do subscribe to their Meter newsletter. I like it as Tracksmith understand that the best way to create a long term relationship with your potential customer is to give them stuff they want - not just ask them to buy stuff. In this case, what I want is interesting articles to read. For a recent newsletter, they asked long-jumper/sprinter, Tianna Bartoletta and long-distance runner, Carrie Verdon, to interview each other. I’ve not seen this approach to athlete interviews before, and I reckon it worked. I’ll certainly be reading the rest of the series. And one day I may even buy some Tracksmith kit. Here’s the link.
Dear England
There’s some football happening at the moment, and a lot of conversations about abuse of players on social media and at matches. The England team’s manager, Gareth Southgate, who I reckon would make for a good headmaster, has a sensible take on all this, that I found myself nodding in agreement with. Here’s the link.
Guy’s News
We get a Riverford veg box at home, and I always read the little newsletter that’s included in it. Guy Singh-Watson (aka the Riverford main man) speaks a lot of sense. Guy for Minister of Food, I say!
I haven’t got a link to it, as it appears in a little leaflet with our veg, but you’ll have to take my word for it!
My stuff
I’m still doing a lot of charity fundraising work at the moment, which I can’t really share here. But the Lonely Goat blog is where you can read things I’ve written or edited. You can find it at this link.
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That’s it for this month. Thanks for reading.
Keep an eye out for July’s edition which should land in subscribers’ inboxes on the last Thursday of the month, and here on the Friday. However, I’ll be on holiday and will have to schedule it beforehand - so hopefully I’ll be able to do that without any problems!
Stay safe and have fun,
Jonathan
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Words about Words - May 2021
This newsletter is usually a place where I share things that I've found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month, in the hope that you, dear reader, may also find them interesting, entertaining or useful. I imagine they'll be most resonant with people who also write or work for charities, but it's by no means a readership criteria. I also include a bit of my own work, because if I don't take the opportunity to promote myself, I'm not sure anyone else will.
A change from the norm
This month, I'm taking a different approach, and sharing information that might just help you save a life.
The reason for this departure from the norm is that I helped rescue a woman who was drowning earlier this month. It wasn't just me, but Derek (my mother-in-law's partner) and two strangers, who responded to a desperate situation and ended up saving a life.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this since, as it's the kind of unexpected, dramatic event that can put your head in a spin, even if the outcome is a positive one.
Reflecting on what happened
One of the thoughts I keep returning to is the idea that a different combination of people might have resulted in one or more people (as rescuers often get into difficulties themselves) drowning. Of course, there's the possibility that others may have responded in an even better way, but in the event, this woman survived because there were a) people who were willing to effect a rescue, and b) those people knew how to do it.
Which brings me to the point of this life-saving themed, 'special edition' of Words about Words…
You never know when you might need to know how to save a life.
Expect the unexpected
Fortunately, I grew up spending a lot of time in or on the sea and have an understanding of how the open water works and the risks it presents. I also spent a lot of my childhood having swimming lessons, including a 'rookie lifeguard' course that taught me skills I ended up having to use unexpectedly twenty years later.
You might not think you'll ever need to know how to rescue someone from drowning. I didn't. After all, the last thing we expected when we decided to go out for burritos was that we'd end up pulling a woman out of the sea.
Whether you're a surfer who spends so much time in the sea you're practically a seal, a parent who heads to the beach with their kids once a year, or a dog walker who strolls along the towpath, the unexpected can happen to you.
Don’t wait until it happens to find out what to do
I am most definitely not an expert, so I’m not going to tell you what to need to know. Instead, allow me to point you in the direction of those who can. Please, please take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the resources below.
Safety along canals and inland waterways
The Canal and River Trust have a useful website for anyone who spends time on or next to inland waterways, including:
Water safety FAQs
Water safety for kids
Water safety for anglers
Water safety for boaters
Safety on the towpath.
Visit their website at this link: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/safety-on-our-waterways
Safety at the beach or on the sea
The RNLI are the people to go to for safety at or on the open sea. Their website contains information on:
Common risk factors to be familiar with
Safety advice for different activities
Beach safety
Multi-lingual resources
Swim safe courses for children
Visit their website at this link: https://rnli.org/safety
How to help someone at risk of hypothermia
If someone has been in the water, they are at a greater risk of getting hypothermia. The NHS has advice on what to do.
Visit their website at this link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypothermia/
How to perform CPR
If you’ve helped get someone out of the water and they’re not breathing, you’ll need to know how to perform CPR. The NHS has all the information you need to know.
Visit their website at this link: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/first-aid/cpr/
Other environments
Please note, these are water-themed as this is the environment I'm most familiar with. I'll admit that I only have a very basic understanding of what to do in different environments, such as on snow and ice, or in the mountains or deep forest - so I don't feel comfortable recommending resources. If anyone is able to point me towards some, I'd appreciate it.
In an ideal world, we'd all receive some kind of training (perhaps it should be added to the school curriculum) and while it would be wonderful if everyone who read this signed up to a course and became an expert, I realise that's impractical. However, even a little bit of basic information can be the difference between a happy rescue or a tragic ending.
Fight your instinct, not the water
At the very least, remember the following (from the RNLI):
If you find yourself unexpectedly in the water, float to increase your chances of survival.
If you see someone else in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
Until next month
Normal Words about Words service will resume next month. It'll arrive in subscribers' inboxes on the last Thursday of June, and be published on my website the following day.
Stay safe everyone, and enjoy yourselves.
Thanks for reading.
Words about Words - April 2021
Hello all,
Welcome to April’s edition of ‘Words about Words’, featuring - as always - things I’ve found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month, and a bit of my own work.
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Interesting, entertaining, or useful
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Freshwater
In 2010 (on my wedding day, coincidentally), the first of the ‘Freshwater Five’ were arrested. They were subsequently found guilty of smuggling a shitload of cocaine and sentenced to a combined 104 years in prison. However, some people believe the wrong men have been convicted.
This podcast from The Guardian’s ‘Today in Focus’ team explores whether there is a possibility that the Freshwater Five are innocent. It’s well worth a listen (and I’m not just saying that because it takes place on the Isle of Wight, where I grew up)… LINK
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The art of Fiction 119: Maya Angelou
From The Paris Review’s archives comes George Plimpton’s 1990 interview with Maya Angelou. It’s a fascinating insight for the Angelou fan, and offers detail on her writing practice that will be of interest to writers… LINK
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Why you should (probably) delete your first paragraph
This article by Ross McCammon talks about something I learned a while back when writing fundraising applications. The first paragraph is often unnecessary, introductory waffle, but the second is where you introduce the exciting concept or project you want to promote. Scrap the first paragraph (or move down), and bump up the second one to get the reader’s attention from the start… LINK
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'This was our music and our conscience’
I went through a big French hip-hop phase when I was younger: MC Solaar and Saian Supa Crew, in particular. This was reinforced by watching the film, La Haine.
But, it was always foreign to me. I can barely claim it offered an insight into a different culture (as with English-language hip-hop from other countries) as I don’t understand enough French to know what they were rapping about. Instead, it was about the melody and rhythm of the lyrics, rather than the content.
Now, 20 years later, I’ve got a bit more understanding of the content thanks to Jesse McCarthy’s article… LINK
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We don’t live in the shadows
I love running. And I like poetry. I can’t yet say I love poetry, because I struggle to write it.
There’s a few running poets (Charlie Dark and Knox Robinson are probably the most prominent, but Southampton’s Matt West (of Artful Scribe) is an example local to me), which doesn’t surprise me: Running offers time to see, experience and think about the world. This seems useful for a poet.
Running brand, Tracksmith, have a pretty good newsletter, and recently shone a light on Mexican poet and runner, Alejandro Jimenez. Even if you’re neither a poet or a runner, it’s still a great profile of an interesting guy… LINK
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What happens to our writing when we lose our sense of place?
Sometimes, you’ve got to leave somewhere to see it properly. This is explored by Isobel Wohl for Lithub… LINK
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Fullstopnewparagraph
This might be the best website advertising copywriting services that I’ve ever seen. Definitely one of those ‘I wish I’d thought of that’ websites… LINK
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My work
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Mile 1, Mile 2…
I’ve been doing a lot of charity fundraising work recently, so don’t have much work out in the public domain that I can share with you - except for a cartoon I drew for Lonely Goat. Head to their Instagram account to see it… LINK
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Managing and prioritising your workload
Next Thursday, 6 May, I’ll be talking about managing my workload for the Institute of Fundraising Central South Regional Group’s ‘First Thursday’ virtual networking series. I’m cohosting the event with Suzie Simmons from Naomi House & jacksplace, but it is very much intended as a conversation where we can all learn from each other’s experiences… LINK
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Thanks for reading
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That’s it for this month’s edition of ‘Words about Words’. Keep an eye out for May’s edition, arriving in subscribers’ inboxes on the last Thursday of the month, and published on my website the following day.
Until next time,
Jonathan
x
“Mile 1… Mile 2” - Cartoon for Lonely Goat
Though primarily a person who works with words, I’ve always doodled and drawn and had a handful of illustrations published.
Today, in what is a professional first (as an adult, anyway - I sold a couple of cartoons as a child), I’ve had a cartoon published. It’s for Lonely Goat Running Club and you can find it on their social media channels, including Instagram.
Words about Words - March 2021
Hello all,
Welcome to March’s edition of ‘Words about Words’, featuring - as always - things I’ve found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month, and a bit of my own work.
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Interesting, entertaining or useful
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Coffee outside, somewhere new
I like Alastair Humphrey’s writing about adventures both big and small. He recently shared his thoughts on exploring locally, by encouraging his readers to drink coffee somewhere new. It’s a nice idea… LINK
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My father was famous as John le Carré. My mother was his crucial, covert collaborator
Nick Cornwell shares an insight into the working practice - and powerful professional and personal relationship - of his parents… LINK
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Visual pleasure in narrative cinema
I read this 1975 essay by Laura Mulvey as part of a writing course hosted by Matt West of Artful Scribe. It may be almost 50 years old, but much of the argument remains valid today.
It’s a bit heavy (paradox of phallocentricism, anyone?), but an interesting read if you commit the effort to it… LINK
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The Australian Dream
I spent a semester in Australia in 2005, so even though I’m far from being an expert on the country, I do have an ongoing interest in it. ‘The Australian Dream’ is a documentary, written by Stan Grant, that looks at the experience of Adam Goodes - an aboriginal Australian Rules Football player - national identity and racism in Australia.
Even though the Australian history of racism is different to that of the UK, USA, or other countries (due to our different histories and contexts), I think everyone can learn from this film. It’s currently available on the BBC Iplayer in the UK… LINK
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Monocle
I’m not a fancy-watch wearing, jet-setting, Euro-entrepreneur (far from it!), so I’m probably not their ideal target reader, but I’ve spent the past couple of weeks flicking through the March edition of ‘Monocle’ magazine - and have found it really interesting.
Perhaps because lockdown has made our worlds smaller, taking a bit of time to learn about things that wouldn’t normally pass across my radar (rewilding in Lebanon, a Japanese chef’s new business, the revitalisation of Barcelona kiosks, etc.) feels important and necessary… LINK
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My work
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‘Out of Thin Air’ by Michael Crawley, review
Over on my blog I reviewed anthropologist Michael Crawley’s fascinating book on running in Ethiopia.
The short version? I loved it… LINK
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The Lonely Goat Guide to Running in London
Using tips received from members of the Lonely Goat Running Club community, I wrote this guide to running in the British capital… LINK
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Thanks for reading
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That’s about it for this month’s edition of ‘Words about Words’, except to say that I have joined 1% for the Planet and pledged to give one per cent of my income to environmental causes. You can read more about it here… LINK
Keep an eye out for April’s edition of ‘Words about Words’, arriving in subscribers’ inboxes on the last Thursday of the month, and published here the following day.
Until next time,
Jonathan
x
Recommended: ‘Out of Thin Air’ by Michael Crawley
This week, I read Michael Crawley’s Out of Thin Air: Running wisdom and magic from above the clouds in Ethiopia - and recommend it wholeheartedly.
Yes, I’m a runner, so I liked the opportunity to geek out and learn how some of the best runners on the planet go about things. But more than that, I enjoyed learning about a culture I admit to knowing very little about. The result is that Ethiopia has jumped right up the list of countries I would like to visit.
It’s well written, fun to read, and covers a topic that seems to have previously been strangely ignored (by white Anglo-European authors, at least).
[nb: If you click on the link at the top of this article, I receive a little bit of commission should you buy it]
I’ve joined 1% for the Planet
As the headline says, I have signed up to pledge one per cent of my income to environmental causes and joined 1% for the Planet. It’s a step-up from what I currently give to environmental charities, but I think it is an important one.
Why am I telling you this? Two reasons:
You now know that should you decide to hire me, that a little bit of the fee will be going to help the planet.
I hope that mentioning it here might encourage others to make the same pledge.
In the interests of transparency, I should stress that I have joined 1% for the Planet as an individual member, not as a business. I decided to do this because I earn a living as a sole trader, not a limited company. There are a few differences in how the process is managed, but the end result is the same: For every £100 I earn, £1 will go to environmental causes.
Words about Words - February 2021
Hello all,
Welcome to February’s edition of ‘Words about Words’ - where I share some of the things I’ve found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month. Read on…
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Interesting, entertaining or useful
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The rad women’s surf communities of Scandinavia
Wavelength profile three women surfers and their communities who lie far outside the glamorous, sunny stereotype often portrayed in surf culture. Visiting Norway, Denmark, and Sweden, this spotlight looks at women dedicated to getting on the water despite cold conditions and mushy waves… LINK
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A whistle-stop tour of great online legacy promotion
Melanie May writes for fundraising.co.uk on recent, strong examples of charities’ legacy giving campaigns. Worth a read for anyone involved in a charity that wants to make the most of this oft-under-appreciated source of donations… LINK
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Ursula K. Le Guin on being a man
Thanks to Matt West from Artful Scribe for putting me on to this 2014 article by Maria Popova for brainpickings.org, in which she annotates Le Guin’s 2004 essay on gender… LINK
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No logo, no likes: New York’s offline DIY culture embraces lockdown limitations
Edward Helmore writes in The Guardian about the thriving lockdown DIY local newspaper scene. Perhaps I could start the Richville Road Review for a hyper-local take on life in Shirley, Southampton?… LINK
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Bad Hand Coffee - Sustainability Report
OK, so it’s not the usual sort of thing you’d expect to find me posting here, but I was so impressed by Bad Hand’s sustainability report that I wanted to share it. Bad Hand are a coffee company from Bournemouth that go far beyond what the vast majority of companies do when it comes to looking after the planet. This report should inspire anyone who wants to do ‘better’ business… LINK
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My work
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#NotJustNCVO
I share my thoughts on the recent (and ongoing) #NotJustNCVO campaign to call out bullying and oppression of marginalised groups within the charity sector… LINK
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Books for writers
These are my favourite books about writing. In particular, I’d recommend Joe Moran’s First you write a sentence to anyone who has to write anything, and DBC Pierre’s Release the bats for fiction writers… LINK
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Lonely Goat
A handful of my pieces have gone up over the past month, including articles on ‘plogging’, running without a watch, running with your partner, and an interview with Dame Kelly Holmes MBE… LINK
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That’s it for February’s edition of ‘Words about Words’. Keep an eye out for March’s edition, arriving in your inbox on the last Thursday of the month (if you’re a Substack subscriber), and appearing here the following day.
Thanks for reading,
Jonathan x
Books for writers
Obviously, I consider all books to be essential for writers, but there’s a few I’ve found helpful on the subject of writing itself. Here’s a short selection, in alphabetical order…
DBC Pierre, Release the Bats
This is my favourite book about writing as it gave me the confidence to stop faffing and just get some words on a page.
AJ Ayer, Language, Truth and Logic
More philosophical pondering than writing instruction, but useful for understanding the importance of language.
Albert Camus, Create Dangerously
Camus' speech exhorts us to do bold, 'dangerous' things with our creativity.
Joe Moran, First You Write a Sentence
Looking back over my writing in 2020, I can see a change for the better that coincides with the point where I read this book.
George Orwell, Books v. Cigarettes
Orwell’s views on matters ranging from books and cigarettes, to critics, and patriotism.
Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet
Poetry advice from a poet.
Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook 2021
The definitive reference book for anyone looking to make some money from their writing.
All of the above are available from my ‘shop’ at Bookshop.org. If you buy any of them, I’ll get a little cut of the price, so please shop away!
LINK: https://uk.bookshop.org/lists/books-for-writers-1ebef879-3447-4d1b-bdcf-ec756590bb1b
#NotJustNCVO
A recent report highlighted a culture of bullying at the National Council of Voluntary Organisations, with ‘staff members from marginalised groups experiencing “overt oppression” across all levels’. You can read more about it in the Third Sector article here. While it is awful this ever happened, it is good that this behaviour has finally been called out, and hopefully it will lead to positive change.
What this news story has also done, is encourage people who have experienced bullying and oppressive behaviour in other organisations to speak out, with the hashtag #NotJustNCVO trending on Twitter.
Food for thought
I’m fortunate that I’ve not personally experienced bullying directed towards me at the charities where I’ve worked, but I have friends who have.
This recent news and the conversations that have followed has got me wondering whether bullying and abusive behaviour is a bigger problem in the third sector than other industries, or if this is a more widespread problem through workplaces in general.
Whichever it is, it’s not acceptable and work needs to be done to address it. So what are the causes?
Perhaps I’m an optimist, but I tend to believe in the inherent good in people. I find it hard to understand why people would resort to bullying others unless they have some personal issues or history that have skewed their sense of what is acceptable behaviour. I’m not excusing the bullies - and they need to take responsibility for their own actions - but I’m trying to understand why they act the way they do.
I can’t believe that the charity industry is riddled with sociopaths or psychopaths. At least, no more than you would expect to find it in other industries. Instead, I feel there must be something in the culture at some charities that brings the worst out in people. This suggests to me that there are structural issues that need to be addressed?
Possible causes
Consider the following - which may, in my opinion, be contributing factors to this problem:
A lot of charities are founded by people who are passionate about a particular cause. In time, they may grow to the point where they are now too large to be effectively managed by the founder.
Trustees tend to be people who want to do something good for society, so volunteer their time. If a charity is struggling to find trustees, there is a chance that people are appointed who are willing to give their time, but who don’t necessarily have the skills required. There are certainly some organisations where trustees may enjoy being involved when everything is going well, but can be reluctant to step in when there are problems to address.
It is often the case that funders (be it the public, statutory bodies, or charitable trusts and foundations) want as much of their support as possible to be directed to the front-line activities of the charity (and not ‘greedy CEO salaries’). This, combined with the financial struggles many charities face, means there is often very little funding to support the ‘back office’.
I think this last point may be the most significant driver of charity workplace bullying. Tight financial resources results in:
A squeeze on recruitment leading to too few people doing too much work, causing stress and tensions in the workplace;
Lower salaries, preventing the best candidates for leadership positions from being recruited;
Insufficient funding to support HR, staff training and development, and training trustees to be effective governors of the charity;
A fear of scandals that may jeopardise future funding, causing people in positions of responsibility to turn a blind eye to poor behaviour.
Combined, I think these factors can result in toxic workplace environments that bring the worst out of people, within organisations that are lacking either the expertise or the willingness to fix the problem. Instead, the bullied have to either stick it out, or move on - and that’s not fair.
How to fix this
The solution? Money will help, if used appropriately.
I understand the motivation behind the obsession with limiting overheads and maximising funds put towards charitable activities, but it can have unintended consequences. It can lead to the problems outlined above, and I think in some cases it can lead to inefficient use of funds, with excess resources devoted to areas of an organisation’s work where they’re not needed, just to make the percentages look better in the year-end accounts.
The measure of a charity’s effectiveness shouldn’t be the ratio between money spent on overheads, and money spent on programmes and services. Unfortunately there are no clear, tidy alternatives that I’m aware of. ‘Social return on investment’ would be a good measure, but is so difficult to determine that it is hard for all but the largest of charities to report on.
If charities felt they had ‘permission’ (from funders and society as a whole) to invest properly in their people, then I wouldn’t mind betting they would do better work - which would offer better value for money.
Happy managers have happy teams. Happy fundraisers raise more money. Happy programme staff deliver better programmes. And better programmes means more positive social change.
Put a name to it
What I’ve written above addresses some of the circumstances in which people can behave badly (on the potentially flawed basis that people are inherently good), and the environments that can allow that behaviour to continue. However, it is also important to consider the issues of representation and the lack of diversity in the sector - especially because so much of the bullying highlighted by #NotJustNCVO is racist, sexist, homophobic, or disablist.
It’s a fact that white men are over-represented within the upper levels of the sector.
Now, that fact does not automatically mean that discriminatory behaviour is a given: “White men are all bigoted so the organisations they lead will be bigoted”.
Rather, what this lack of diversity can mean is that bigoted behaviour and bullying is not noticed or dealt with because the people at the top don’t recognise it for what it is. It’s beyond their frame of reference as it is not something they have personally experienced. In a sector that is so skewed towards one viewpoint, it is easy for discrimination to fly under managers’ and trustees’ radars.
That does not make it acceptable or excusable. Until such time as boards and leadership teams have more diverse viewpoints, people in positions of power need to actively work to broaden their perspectives.
I recognise that as a white, straight, British male I have blindspots. As much as I try to expand my point of view, there will always be things I won’t notice. No doubt I am demonstrating some of these blindspots in what I’m writing! What is important, in my (limited) opinion, is that I recognise I don’t know everything, work to educate myself, and do something when there is a problem to address.
Diverse boards and leadership teams will go a long way to helping resolve discriminatory bullying. What is more important is for charities to show willingness to address bullying (or other harmful practices and behaviours) and do something about it - even at the risk of reputational or financial damage.
I commend everyone who has come forward to speak out about this problem, but this shouldn’t be where #NotJustNCVO ends.
The problem has been identified and given a name. It now needs to be addressed by everyone within the charity sector (including funders) to make sure that the necessary change happens, even when it hurts.
As Sophia Moreau said in response to the first version of this article*:
“It isn’t just a matter of more diversity resolving discriminatory bullying. […] #NotJustNCVO is about the prevalence of discrimination and harassment in a sector that’s too uncomfortable to even give problems their names.”
Continue the conversation
These are just my feelings on this issue. If you think I’ve got this wrong, or am way off the mark, please let me know (hello@jonathansbean.com) as I think honest, open discussion about these problems is an important step towards resolving them.
And if you’re experiencing bullying in the workplace - third sector or otherwise - I hope you feel there is someone you can talk to: A sympathetic boss, someone in HR, a union rep, an employment lawyer, or a good friend.
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[*Please note, I have updated the original text of this article to reflect a point made to me by Sophia Moreau (@mssmoreau) on Twitter, that I completely agree with:
“Thank you for sharing this. However, there's an absence of discussion of demographics and discrimination.
Just 3% of charity management is BME. 92% of trustees are white. 38% are women. Less than 2.9% of trustees are women of colour. No stats on disability.”]
My ‘bookshop’ on Bookshop
You might be familiar with the online book retailer, Bookshop.org. If not, it’s well worth checking out, as a percentage of the profits goes to support real bricks and mortar bookshops.
Bookshop.org also allows bookshops (or individual people) to set up their own lists of books, that they can then earn affiliate commission on for any sales. And that’s what I’ve done…
If you head to my online bookshop (https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/jonathansbean), you can currently see two lists:
Books for writers
2021
The first is a selection of books that I own and have found useful, which may be of interest to other writers (by which I mean anyone that wrangles words for fun or for a living). The second is a growing list of the books I’ve read so far this year.
I’ll add to this list in time. I want to include as many of the books I read last year, as well as other themed lists, such as running books. Watch this space!
Words about Words - January 2021
Hello all,
Welcome to January’s edition of ‘Words about Words’ - where I share some of the things I’ve found interesting, entertaining or useful over the past month. Read on…
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Interesting, entertaining or useful
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Make time to do your best work
I’m a fan of the Do Lectures’ stuff, and have found a lot of their advice useful over the past almost-year of full-time freelancing. In this article, they share advice on how to work better rather than work more. LINK
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How to create and achieve ‘process goals’
This article by Britain’s second-fastest female marathoner, Mara Yamauchi, has an athletics focus, but the advice could easily be applied to any area of life, leisure and work. LINK
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How we made ‘Run Lola Run’
My favourite film of all time is ‘Run Lola Run’, or ‘Lola Rennt’ in German. If you’ve not watched it, then this article may, admittedly, be of limited interest to you. LINK
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For those I love - I have a love
Here’s a music recommendation. Words and dance music? Yep, that’ll do for me. LINK
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Many (many!) charities are too small to measure their own impact
There are a few things within the charity world that are accepted as being ‘good to do’ or ‘good to have’, but can actually be detrimental. Caroline Fiennes at Giving Evidence is an expert at cutting through the preconceptions and measuring the true value of an activity. In this article, she demonstrates how funders’ requests for impact measurement can negatively affect the effectiveness of the charities’ work (and the value for money of their own donation). LINK
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My work
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I’ve been a bit of a rubbish blogger this year, with no new content on my website, but that is (fortunately) as I’ve been working on a few other things that have taken up my time. I’ve got plenty of ideas for blogs - I’ve just not written them yet.
There’s been a chunk of new content and behind-the-scenes stuff at Lonely Goat, which you can read:
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That’s it for January’s edition of ‘Words about Words’. Keep an eye out for February’s edition, arriving in subscribers’ email inboxes on the last Thursday of the month (use the box below to subscribe), and appearing on this website on the following day.
Thanks for reading,
Jonathan x
Words about Words - December 2020
Vita Sackville-West, George the Poet, East 17... and more!
Hello all,
It may be 2021, but I’m going to go back in time for a week, to the last day of 2020. Why? Because though I ordinarily publish ‘Words about Words’ on the last Thursday of the month, I decided against doing so on Thursday 31st December 2020 as I was having a week off work and I reckoned no-one would be that fussed about receiving this newsletter on New Year’s Eve.
With that explanation out of the way, here’s some things I’ve read (or written) that I think you’ll be interested in. But first, a request to help my friends Nina, Paulo and Noni rebuild their lives…
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Nina, Paulo and Noni
My good friends, Nina, Paulo and Noni, experienced the unimaginable trauma of losing their home and everything they owned to a gas explosion and fire on the Sunday before Christmas. Even if they’re strangers to you, please consider giving them a few quid to help with the long process of rebuilding their lives. Thank you… LINK
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Interesting or useful
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‘Your worries disappear!’ East 17’s Tony Mortimer on discovering reading - as a 50 year old
The title says it all really. Tim Jonze interviews Tony Mortimer for The Guardian… LINK
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The Fabulous Forgotten Life of Vita Sackville-West
I read Orlando, by Virginia Woolf in December, so it was timely that I came across this article, by Rebecca Dinerstein Knight for The Paris Review, that looks at the fascinating life of the person who inspired the character of Orlando. In this instance, life is possibly just as fantastic as fiction… LINK
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Start Writing Fiction
The Open University have a free course for people who would like to write fiction… LINK
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Have you heard George’s podcast?
George the Poet’s podcast is an incredible piece of work that should be required listening for everyone. Every episode is a work of art, but episode three in particular, on the Grenfell tragedy, had me in tears. Find it on your podcast player of choice… LINK
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Make time to do your best work
The Do Lectures team share their advice on how to not just get stuff done, but do get great stuff done. Among the tips are saying no, doing ‘deep work’, and the importance of love… LINK
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How to become a freelancer in the UK, according to those who’ve done it
Tom May at Creative Boom, has compiled a selection of tips on how to fly solo as a freelancer, from the practical (taxes!) to the personal (loneliness)… LINK
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My work
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28 day lockdown writing challenge
In November’s Words about Words I wrote about the 28 day lockdown writing challenge I set myself. You can now read the whole thing, in one place, on my website… LINK
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That’s it for December’s edition of ‘Words about Words’. Keep your eyes on your inbox for January’s edition, arriving on Thursday 28th January.
Have a great 2021!
Thanks for reading,
Jonathan x
BENCH
Back in September, I painted a haiku onto the slats of a city centre bench, for BENCH, a project run by Solent University’s Solent Showcase Gallery with support from GO! Southampton. Those slats have now been reassembled back into a bench and the finished piece is now in Southampton’s city centre, installed on Above Bar.
The finished piece reads:
Sit here for a while,
Think of those who you have loved,
And bask in the glow.
I wrote the following about the “haiku bench” for the project’s website:
The bench I've painted invites the sitter to think about their loved ones. When considering this project, I thought of memorial benches that are installed in dedication to people who have died. I wanted to create a bench that could act as a universal memorial.
It's not just to remember the dead, but also the living. There's no reason why you couldn't use the bench to think fondly about the person who's sat on it next to you. It's for the sitter to decide who to think about at that moment.
I have written a haiku on the bench. This three-line poetry form lends itself well to the three-slatted back of the bench. The text is hand-written in a custom style inspired by the seriffed styles carved or painted onto memorial plaques.
Primarily, I work as a writer, so to have the opportunity to express myself in this tangible, public medium has been very exciting. As a Southampton resident since 2006, I feel very proud to think that something I have created might help brighten up the day of visitors to the city, or fellow Sotonians.
The other artists who contributed to the project are Don John, Professor Peter Lloyd, Sian Storey, Clarke Reynolds, Charlotte Connelly, Nathan Evans, Wendy Hall, Sharon Hannah, Jonny Hannah, Kev Munday, Jojo Lewis, Jon Oliver, and Ciro.
You can look at photos of the other benches via the links in this post, but the best way to experience them, in my humble opinion, is to go for a stroll through Southampton and sit down at each bench you find.
Words about Words - November 2020
Hello,
Welcome to November’s Words about Words, where I share some of the things that I have found interesting or useful over the past month, plus a few things I’ve been working on.
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Interesting or useful
‘Landscape of fear: why we need the wolf’, by Cal Flyn in The Guardian
A fascinating article about our relationship with wolves, and the prospects for their reintroduction in the UK… LINK
‘The secrets of TV’s greatest thriller writer’, by Sarah Hughes at bbc.com
A profile of Jed Mercurio, who - as well as having a wonderful name - is known as the writer behind ‘Line of Duty’ and ‘Bodyguard’… LINK
‘Essential writing advice from Virginia Woolf’, by Emily Temple at Lithub.com
I’ve just started reading Woolf’s Orlando and love the style of it, so I went searching for articles on Woolf’s writing. This is a good one, with good advice… LINK
Free resources for writers from the National Centre for Writing
This is, as the title suggests, a directory of free resources for writers… LINK
‘Sabhbh Curran: ‘A smart, engaging pitch letter will stand you in good stead to get attention’’, by Katie Smart at Curtis Brown Creative
The Curtis Brown Creative site is a ‘go-to’ site for me, when I’m looking for advice for writers. In this article, one of Curtis Brown’s agents, Sabhbh Curran, shares her tips for getting noticed… LINK
Chartered Institute of Fundraising
The Institute of Fundraising is now the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and has a rebrand to mark the occasion. This seems as good a time as any to remind anyone within the charity world (because you’re all fundraisers really, even if it’s not in your job title) of the CIoF and its resources… LINK
Breasts and Eggs, by Mieko Kawakami
I realised that I haven’t shared much about the books I’ve been reading in Words about Words recently. I’ve decided I want to share some more detailed reviews, but in the meantime, I can wholeheartedly recommend Mieko Kawakami’s novel, Breasts and Eggs.
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My work
Lonely Goat Running Club
Over at lonelygoat.com you can read an interview with pro athlete, Laura Muir, a guide for people who want to start running, and a summary of the principles of running training… LINK
Fundraising
I’ve been doing a bit of work for an organisation that I have a lot of respect for, which has been good fun. I’m not going to go into more detail here, as I’m not sure if this is an appropriate place to do so, but just wanted to mention it as I’m so pleased to be working with them.
28 day fiction writing challenge
At the start of Lockdown II, I set myself challenge of writing a work of fiction, by adding a new Tweet to an ongoing Twitter thread each day. To make things more challenging, I decided to try and come up with each daily instalment that morning, rather than plan or plot the work in advance. I don’t mind admitting, that I’m not entirely convinced of the results so far, but I do think projects like this are a great way of getting the creative juices going… LINK
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Thanks for reading
That’s it for November’s Words about Words. I usually send these to subscribers on the last Thursday of the month, and then publish it here onm my website the following day, but as that will be New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, I might do it a couple of days early.
Have a great month,
Cheers,
Jonathan
28 day lockdown writing challenge
As we (in England) had another lockdown to contend with in November, I decided to set myself a little writing challenge. [nb: The date of this blogpost is misleading. I posted the first part of the project here on 6 November, but it has been added to and rewritten significantly on 7 December]
Everyday for four weeks, I wrote a new instalment of an evolving, unfolding short story. I did this in Twitter, so each daily addition was as long as I could fit in a tweet.
I didn’t plot or plan this beforehand, as I wanted to see where my inspiration takes me each day. There’s no guarantee the final, 28 tweet piece will work as a cohesive whole, but it was fun to do.
You can see the full project at Twitter.com/jonathansbean, where the thread is pinned to the top of my profile - at least until the end of December. I also added screenshots to my Instagram account (jonathansbean) - which I may delete at the end of the year.
For ease of reading, and to collate the full text in one piece for posterity, here is the full story, below.
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Chapter one
We arrived in Yegen before dawn this morning. The 48hr journey was tense, but went to plan. Fishing boat to France, Laszlo's car to the Pyrenees, hike over the mountains. Once in the country, we were able to use the Spanish identities to hire a car and appear above board. Our cover legends are Marc and Ana, two hiking enthusiasts from Cantabria writing a guidebook. It should work well, giving us a plausible reason for exploring the surrounding area and asking questions of the locals without arousing suspicions as to our true intentions. We're both excited, as it feels like we might finally be close to completing this mission. It's been seven years, but at last the pieces of the plan are coming together. Just a few more days - if everything goes as it should - and we'll have her. Patience, patience, patience.
I remember when the call came through. I was in the pub. I had been for months.
"We have a job for you" said Nunez. I said I could be at the Factory in a couple of hours. "No. This one is off the books. We can't meet. You'll receive your instructions tonight."
A Chinese takeaway I hadn't ordered arrived at my flat that night. Also in the bag was an envelope with a passport, euros and a ticket to Rome. A driver picked me up at Fiumicino and took me to a villa outside the city where Nunez and 'Ana' were waiting to brief me.
The target had been one of ours. Or still was, depending on how you looked at it. She had gone missing after a job in strange circumstances. Officially she was dead, but Nunez had his doubts. No-one could know we were looking for her, so Ana and I would have to go dark. The theory was that she went to ground after the job was botched and was hiding from the other side. With no back-up and limited resources, we'd have to get her to make a mistake and reveal herself. The only risk was that the other side would get to her before we could.
Chapter two
31/10/2013
The Range Rover sped along the Corniche towards the hospital. In the back was William Aldwych, head of the Aldwych Group of legal and illegal businesses. Moments earlier, he had been pulled from the wreckage of his own car by his security guards. Aldwych's would-be-assassin revealed who had paid him to place the bomb. The chase was on, but the prey had a head start. Having seen the attempt fail, 'Salma F' was on a motorbike heading towards the marina. A quick change in a public toilet and she was Lucia Stone again.
Stone climbed into the tender and headed out to a motoryacht waiting offshore. She motored to the other side of the peninsula and waited until dark. Then she set the charges and swam ashore. She heard the thud of the explosion below the waterline and the yacht slowly sank. With Aldwych alive, Stone had to assume he would be after her. That wouldn't have been difficult to resolve with the Factory's help. It was a well-rehearsed drill: Safe house, change appearance, new documents, cross the border, company jet to Europe, train to London, home. But something didn't feel right. That should have been the end of Aldwych, yet he survived. Had there been a tip-off? Had the asset been compromised beforehand? Was she being set-up to fail by persons unknown? Or had it just been bad luck and she was being paranoid?
Whatever the reason for the failed mission, it was at that point she made the decision to retire. She had given them a decade of her life and owed them nothing. It would be difficult to lie low and start a new life without the Factory's support, but not impossible. There was something else playing on Stone's mind. She'd put off thinking about it while she had work to do, but it was getting increasingly hard to ignore. She knew at some point soon she'd have to make a decision. Moving her hands to her stomach, Stone sighed, and smiled.
Chapter three
For seven years, Marc and Ana had pursued Stone. With few resources of their own, they fed Aldwych's organisation with information and acted on the reactions. It was a subtle, dangerous game, as they edged closer to Stone. They had to get there first. Above all, they wanted Stone to be safe, so the first step was to buy her some time to get away from Dubai. Gambling on her initially running as far as possible, they operated closer to home, constructing red herrings suggesting that Stone was heading to Europe to lie low.
Ana, disguised as Stone, took a trip on a container ship.
Marc, made a statement to Police in Naples, claiming to have been attacked by a women matching Stone's description.
They staged a break-in at a Swiss banker's house.
Then, they watched and waited. Sure enough, Aldwych took the bait. One of his men followed the trail they had set. They couldn't bug him, as they knew Aldwych regularly swept his staff, but they could bug the hotel room and hire car. The recordings confirmed their suspicions: Aldwych was after Stone. They played the long game, cautiously observing Aldwych, while working on any weak links. If they could lean on people within the organisation, without them realising they were being leant on, then they could get unwitting agents on the inside feeding them information. With a network in place, and able to monitor Aldwych's activities, they started making real information available. The cycle became established: Monitor, act, feed, monitor, act, feed. All the while getting closer to Stone, but trying to stay one step ahead of Aldwych.
What Marc and Ana didn't realise is that they were being played, just as they were playing Aldwych. The clues they'd found, and passed to Aldwych, had been fed to them by Stone. It was all part of her high stakes plan to be rid of the Factory, and her old life, for good.
Chapter four
And so, dear reader, the denouement approaches. All roads have led to Yegen, and the players are assembled: Marc and Ana, sent by Nunez who has joined them. Aldwych and his cronies, led there by Marc and Ana. And, as for Stone herself; is she present?
The showdown occurred in the main square, just after dawn. Marc and Ana had positively identified Stone on their second week in the town, then observed her movements to learn her routine. They knew she wouldn't voluntarily come to them, so they'd have to force the issue. Exposing Stone and offering her an opportunity to escape with them, was the approach Marc and Ana opted for. They had tipped off Aldwych and seen his men arrive the day. before. Now, the result of seven years work was just minutes away. Everything was falling into place.
Stone crossed the square. Three men got out of a black car and approached her. Marc and Ana got out of theirs, hands on holsters, ready to intervene. Before either side could reach her, Stone stopped walking, held up her hand, turned, and smiled at each of her pursuers.
At that moment, there was a firm knock on Nunez's front door. He got up to answer it, interrupted from remotely watching the events in Yegen. Across London, Aldwych, stepped out of the sauna to find his home was full of men and women in dark suits, pointing guns at him.
Suddenly, the Fuentos de los Leones was flooded with police who streamed in from all directions, sweeping up Marc, Ana and Aldwych's men before disappearing as quickly as they appeared. All was calm again. Stone kept walking, took a phone out of her bag, and dialled. A young girl answered the phone.
"Hi Mum."
"Hi. Did I wake you?"
"Yes, but it's OK. I don't mind. Are you coming home today?"
"Yes, I am. I can't wait to see you."
"That's it? You've finished your job? No more work trips?"
"Yes. It's finished. No more work trips."
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Did it work?
The idea of this project was to get into the swing of writing creatively, at least once a day, for an extended period. In that sense, the project was a success.
I knew it was unlikely to result in a complete story that worked perfectly, and my expectations were met in that regard! Writing in tweets is difficult as they’re too short to develop any ideas fully while still moving the plot on enough to finish a story within the 28 day window. I think the lack of planning showed, or perhaps, as the writer, I’m aware of the bits where I didn’t know what was happening in the story.
However, I do think there are some nuggets in the text that could be teased out into something better:
I didn’t go into Marc’s backstory, but I think there is scope there.
Ditto, Stone’s complexity was hinted at, but never explored. That could be fun to do.
I like the idea of The Factory as some kind of secret agency using takeaway delivery drivers to pass on messages.
Big issues with the story are, in my opinion:
Ana was essentially a pointless character. I could have developed that more.
In my head, Aldwych is a bit of a stereotype dodgy businessman/gangster. That seems lazy to me, but I felt I needed to use an instantly familiar archetype to save time.
Most of the action during the seven years Stone is on the run is just hinted at, as I felt I didn’t have the space to develop it. It might have been better to include at least some of it.
On balance, I enjoyed this project, and I have come out of it with a rough sketch that might even be worth working up into some kind of more detailed story. As a brainstorming method, forcing yourself to write each day and add to a story works well. Just don’t expect a perfect, polished diamond.
Words about Words - October 2020
Hello, and welcome to Words about Words.
As usual, I start off with a selection of things that I’ve enjoyed or found interesting or useful. Then, I finish off with a few things I’ve done over the past month.
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Interesting, entertaining, or useful
17 tips for great copywriting
I don’t always agree with all writing tips, all of the time, but these are pretty sound.
Even if you’re a good writer, it can’t hurt to check back over these sort of articles every now and then to stop you from drifting into bad habits.
Doves Press Font revived by Robert Green
Thanks to my dad for sharing this with me.
After the Doves Press closed, it’s most famous type was ‘bequeathed’ to the Thames, with the original metal sorts being thrown into the river. Now, a hundred years later, the type has been recovered and made available in a digital format more suited to twenty-first century usage.
You can read the surprisingly fascinating story at this link.
Are we nearly there yet? How Margaret Calvert steered Britain into the fast lane
Staying in the world of typefaces, Oliver Wainwright in the Guardian recently wrote about Margaret Calvert, who designed the lettering seen on British road signs.
It’s an interesting portrait of an impressive woman with an impressive body of work.
Beach Books
In time, I would like to return to Latvia (where I spent a weekend for a stag do a few years ago) and enjoy the country properly. One of my stops will be Anna Iltnere’s ‘sea library’, Beach Books, which sounds like exactly the kind of place I would like to spend some time.
Read more about it at this link.
The lesbian partnership that changed literature
Emma Garman, in the Paris Review, writes about Jane Heap and Margaret C. Anderson who, in the 1920s and ‘30s, "left an indelible imprint on avant-garde culture between the wars”.
You can read the article at this link.
Goodbye nine-to-five; hello Oxford hours
Charles Handy, in the Idler, explains his delightful-sounding routine: Work in the morning, long lunch, exercise in the afternoon, socialise in the evening.
25 years of His Dark Materials: Philip Pullman on the Journey of a lifetime
Philip Pullman ponders the changes that have happened since he first started writing about the world of Lyra Silvertongue in 1993.
It’s an interesting read, and it’s at this link.
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Things I’ve done
Lonely Goat
A significant chunk of my last month has been spent editing previous work of mine for Lonely Goat. Specifically, I have cut down my long, comprehensive training articles to make them more suited to our new reference page section.
Writing 5,000 words is easy compared to trying to cut half of them out!
You can read the results of my efforts, here at this link.
My website
Over on my blog, you can read:
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Thanks for reading
I hope you enjoyed October’s edition of Words about Words. If you fancy a chat about any of this, please get in touch by emailing ‘hello at jonathansbean dot com’.
Keep your eyes peeled for November’s edition arriving in your inbox on the last Thursday of the month.
Cheers,
Jonathan
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PS… You can look at previous editions of Words about Words at jonathansbean.substack.com. Of course, I add each edition to my website, jonathansbean.com, anyway, but it does provide another way for you to keep updated.
Self-publishing (and why I’ve changed my mind on it)
This post follows on from my previous one, a review of Ya Mum by Ben Tallon…
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As mentioned in my review of Ya Mum, I was excited to read this book. I’ve been a fan of Ben Tallon’s illustration (the work he’s arguably best known for) for some time, had read his excellent Champagne and Wax Crayons (part-memoir, part-survival guide for new creative freelancers), and listen to his Arrest All Mimics podcast, so was intrigued to read this collection.
I’ll admit, I was also intrigued by the process behind the production of Ya Mum.
Tallon has published Ya Mum himself. He has engaged the services of an editor, designer and printer to create a slick looking product, but the promotion and distribution is all - as far as I’m aware - being done by himself.
I wanted to understand the reasons for self-publishing Ya Mum, after conventionally publishing Champagne and Wax Crayons, and Tallon was kind enough to answer my questions in a Twitter conversation. He has also expanded on the subject on his podcast. His reasons make sense:
Greater control over the creative process, compared to a conventional publishing deal;
Greater control over the marketing and distribution;
All of the profit!
Of course, the flip side is also true: You’ve got to do everything yourself and take on all the financial risk. If you can make all that hard work pay off, then it can definitely be worth it.
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Self-publishing is not new, but there is still - rightly or wrongly - a sense in some quarters that it ranks behind the conventional author-to-agent-to-publishing deal approach.
I’ve got a couple of novel drafts on the go and would love to see them in print. I could get them finished and printed myself, but my preference would be to get an agent and secure a publishing deal. Why? Potentially, the novels would reach a wider audience and I might earn more money, but ego also plays a part.
If being honest, all but the most self-secure of us would admit to enjoying the validation that comes from external approval of our work. As a writer, the ultimate judge of whether something is good or bad is the reader, yet agent and publisher approval carries a lot of weight.
Is this search for external validation preventing good work from reaching its audience - because the writer is holding out for the deal that says they’ve ‘made it’? Or, is the conventional publishing process a necessary quality filter that prevents crap work from getting read?
The answer is probably somewhere in the middle, but self-publishing certainly exists as a viable option for good writers who want to reach their audience without the barrier of third party involvement.
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Long-form fiction novels still, for the most part, exist in a market dominated by conventional publishing. It’s the world of book fairs, literary festivals, Richard and Judy reviews, and reading on the beach. Unless an author already has a sizeable following it will be hard for a self-published work to break into that market.
In comparison, A project likeYa Mum - a small, illustrated, short story collection about stuff found on the street - is a niche offering. By going down the self-published route, Tallon has a greater chance of appealing directly to Ya Mum’s target audience. Plus, because he’s not sharing the profit with anyone else, he doesn’t need to sell as many to make money.
In this respect, it feels similar to the approach an artist may take with selling prints of their work through an online shop (like my friend, Nina Fraser, for example):
Full creative control;
Responsibility for the production process;
Direct marketing and sales;
Money in your pocket with no commission or agent’s fees.
In addition to the novel ideas I mentioned above, I’ve also got a few short stories hiding away in notebooks and Google Docs. Previously, I always thought of them as sketches, or ideas that might find their way into a longer piece. Alternatively, I’ve submitted a couple of them for prizes or journals if the idea has been more fully formed.
Now, having read Ya Mum and learnt about Ben Tallon’s publishing process, I’m now tempted to see if I might be able to work them up into a cohesive collection.
If I do, and if I’m pleased with the results, then I might just decide to self-publish them.
Watch this space…
Book review: Ya Mum, by Ben Tallon
I was excited to get this little yellow number through my letterbox, and I wasn’t disappointed.
Ben Tallon’s new book describes itself as a ‘rancid collection of short stories, moments and embarrassments from Britain’s cultural underbelly.’
I’d say that’s accurate.
This is definitely not a collection of lovely little romances, poetic homages to the beauty of the natural world, or meditations on the prettiness Cath Kidston handbags. No, this is about the “other” Britain that can be found in the weeds behind the bingo hall, the High Street gutter, or dumped in a lay-by.
Among the subjects that have inspired Tallon’s stories are a bike lock without a bike, cigarette butts, a knackered hub cap, a glove on a fence, and rude graffiti.
“Is this really stuff I want to read about?” you might ask.
“Yes”, I’d reply. Because it’s true, it’s real life, and thanks to Tallon’s imagination and skill, it’s a fun, entertaining collection of stories. Additionally, each chapter is illustrated in Tallon’s dynamic drawing style, perfectly complementing his writing.
In my opinion, Ya Mum is well worth a tenner of your money and you can buy it direct from Ben Tallon’s website.
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Next week, I’ll follow up on this review with some thoughts on the self-publishing process - as this book has got me reconsidering my previous prejudices.
Ya Mum - and other stories from the backstreets of Britain, by Ben Tallon