Nothing good rhymes with Charlotte

  • ON RELATIONSHIPS
  • ON PARENTING
  • ON CONFIDENCE
  • ABOUT
  • HIRE ME

A Book for Her

Life lessons from Bridget Christie: Write about the things you care about

10/02/2016 by Charlotte Leave a Comment

20160207_121956-1-1I’m a huge fan of Bridget Christie. I wrote in my 2015 round-up that her book A Book For Her was the best thing I read last year, and I think it’s actually one of the best things I’ve ever read. It’s very funny and it taught me a lot about feminism. I devoured it like one might a bag of crisps after a long walk. I just couldn’t get enough.

As I said in one of my last posts (about what Tina Fey’s book Bossypants taught me about how she and Amy Poehler avoid worrying about what other people think), it means so much to have role models who talk about how they have found a way to get to where they want to be. I’ve reached a stage in my life where I can’t get enough of hearing how other people do it. Strange, isn’t it, how when we no longer have to learn, we suddenly want to do as much learning as possible.

Bridget Christie has been on the comedy circuit for years. She used to, as she puts it, dress up ‘as dead kings and insects and plagues and fire and things like that’. Then, just when she was thinking about giving up on the whole comedy thing, she decided, for her final hurrah, to write a show about a topic she’s genuinely interested in: feminism. And, much to her surprise, it changed everything. She won the 2013 Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Award for her show A Bic For Her and the rest, as they say, is history.

I went to see her most recent stand-up show – also called A Book For Her – at the weekend and it reminded me of what following her success has taught me.

This is a woman who has done really well because she’s extremely talented and hilarious, but also because she had the guts to write and to talk about what matters to her (and what should matter to everyone).

20160206_115021We’re all better at our work when we focus on something that interests us. It’s obvious – the more we care about something, the more of ourselves we’re going to put into it. And the more of our heart we put in, the better we’ll be at encouraging other people to be interested in it too.

As I talked about not so long ago, I’m starting out as a freelance writer. I am trying to make my way in a sector which is already seriously oversubscribed and I find it extremely overwhelming. Wednesdays are my assigned writing days (although I obviously do it more frequently than that and think about it ALL the time) and I have regular dips where I wonder what on earth I think I’m doing, who I think I am, and why I’m even bothering because CLEARLY THERE ISN’T ROOM FOR ME.

Now, this voice is not to be listened to – it’s just the sound of imposter syndrome which most of us experience every day one way or another. So to try and avoid it, when I’m struggling to know where to put myself, I go back to my list of things that I am most interested in. The things that I like writing about, that I know about, and where I really have something to offer. And from there, well, the ideas gradually start to come. It’s very much a work in progress, but it’s a starting point, and we all need one of those.

Of course, it’s not possible to just work on things you’re most interested in all the time – girl gotta get paid, yo. You also need to keep an open mind because you never know which new things you come across might make it onto your list. I’ve found myself writing about topics which I might not have previously thought would be my bag that have then turned out to be something I’ve loved looking into.

But when things are quiet on the work front, or when you have some spare time, it’s good to do a bit of writing just for the love of it about whatever it is that you want to talk about. Because that way is sure to lie some of your best work and you just never know where it might take you.

Who knows it could be an award winning stand-up show or an amazing book. Or it could just be a blog post that your mum is kind enough to read. Either way, you’re bound to have some of your happiest hours just getting it onto the page.

I’m always looking for my next source of inspiration to join Bridget, Amy and Tina (sure, we’re on first-name terms) on my list of go-to people for a spot of reassurance that even the very best of writers have their struggles. So if there’s anybody whose words and tales you find particularly helpful, please leave me a comment/send me a tweet/carrier pigeon and let me know.  

Posted in: ON CONFIDENCE, ON WRITING Tagged: A Book for Her, Bridget Christie, comedy, Edinburgh, feminism, freelancing, inspiration, stand-up, women, writing

HELLO, I’M CHARLOTTE

About me

Welcome to Nothing good rhymes with Charlotte. This blog is full of honest words about parenting, relationships, confidence and friendship. I'm here to help us all feel less alone and to make you laugh when I can, too. Want to hire me to write for you or just fancy a chat? Get in touch: nothinggoodrhymeswithcharlotte@gmail.com

Follow me on Instagram

Yesterday @radcliffe_hart and I took Isla to Londo Yesterday @radcliffe_hart and I took Isla to London Zoo and had the most wonderful time showing her penguins and tigers and generally what it is to be together and have fun again. I will remember it forever.

And today I've mainly been lying down because I'm 26 weeks pregnant and my body is reminding me that you don't just get away with having that much of a good time when you're this far along. But it was worth it, these two girls are always worth it 🐧🦁❤
The absolute JOY of seeing friends in the flesh ag The absolute JOY of seeing friends in the flesh again 💜
Small explorer on the lookout for dinosaurs 🦕🦖
🌸 Cherry blossom beauty at Kew 🌸 🌸 Cherry blossom beauty at Kew 🌸
24 and a bit weeks pregnant with a baby that isn't 24 and a bit weeks pregnant with a baby that isn't Isla. How bizarre. (And lovely. Very very lovely) ❤
We both had vaccinations this morning (not covid o We both had vaccinations this morning (not covid ones), we both got stickers for bravery, and we both managed not to cry. This was a good day!
Whoever first realised that you can cover breakfas Whoever first realised that you can cover breakfast cereal in chocolate and call it a cake was really onto something. #cornflakecakes #lockdownbaking
Scooting into Spring 💕☀️🌸 Scooting into Spring 💕☀️🌸
"I realised early on in lockdown that I was going "I realised early on in lockdown that I was going to have to cut down on how frequently I said 'Hi' to my husband." 

In purposely trivial creative escapism news, I've been thinking about how bizarre it is to have added 'co-worker' to the massive list of things we are to our significant others since the pandemic began, and the highs and lows of hardly spending any time apart. So I gave myself some time to write a blog about it. I've published it on my blog today if you fancy a read. You can find the link in my bio. 

Much love to all after an especially hard week for so many. x
Found this picture of us being silly in Kew Garden Found this picture of us being silly in Kew Gardens last year and it made me smile. It'll be so nice to have the option to go and be silly in places beyond our home again. Soon.
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Follow me on Twitter

Tweets by @CharlotteBuxto

Subscribe by email

Loading

Search this blog

Copyright © 2021 Nothing good rhymes with Charlotte.

Omega WordPress Theme by ThemeHall.