MEET OUR SEPTEMBER 2024 SPEAKER: LINDSAY JOHNSTONE
Lindsay Johnstone is a Substack Bestselling life writer, literary critic and expressive writing facilitator based in Glasgow. She is the author of one memoir and is currently working on her next narrative non-fiction title and her first novel. Her work explores mental health, midlife, parenting and caring. She is represented by Caro Clarke at Portobello Literary.
She won the John Byrne Award in 2023 for an extract from her memoir, was shortlisted for the Writing Award at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival in 2022 and has been selected as one of the non-fiction writers on Arvon’s inaugural Advanced Writing Programme for 2024-26. Her writing has been published by Motherlore Magazine, London Lit Lab and Hillcrest Journal. Her author interviews and reviews of memoir and poetry are published by Glasgow Review of Books and she is a judge on Scottish Book Trust’s New Writers Award 2025.
September’s Creative Mornings theme is REFLECTION and Lindsay will be sharing her expertise on why expressive writing - or writing about the self - is beneficial to our mental and physical health. She brings her extensive facilitation experience to the session, offering prompts that will encourage us to reflect upon ourselves and our relationship with the world we live in.
CM Glasgow: What do you think about when you consider this month’s theme of REFLECTION?
Lindsay: When I think about reflection, I am drawn to consider the practices I use that help me understand myself in an increasingly confusing and distressing world. I think about making time for myself with just the blank page, a nice pencil and a hot drink, knowing that maintaining and ritualising a writing practice helps me to both regulate and assimilate.
CM: What motivates you day to day?
LJ: I’m an extrovert and glean so much energy from being with and working alongside other people. I’m motivated by the belief that the work I do has value and that it offers me the opportunity to forge genuine, deep connections. I love the way that different creative disciplines influence one another and I’m tentatively working on a novel that draws heavily on the early paintings of Alison Watt. I’m inspired by so many of the people I have the honour of working with to develop their writing, and find that sense of common purpose and the cross-pollination of ideas that can spring from it so nourishing. Oh, and synchronicity. I can’t get enough of that!
CM: What’s a typical day like for you?
LJ: Up around 7 and until 8.30am, it’s family time. Next, a brisk walk, a savoury breakfast and coffee. I settle down to work by 9.30 and, though the days are varied, I’ll mostly be writing, recording audio and video or attending to the admin that comes from running online courses. Lunch will be leftovers or something quick and a couple of times a week, I lift weights and grab a sauna before getting back to my desk in the afternoon. Evenings are family time (or parent-taxi time) if I’m not attending events or running courses.
CM: Tunnocks Tea Cakes or Caramel Wafers?
LJ: Teacakes, because I can make them last longer than a wafer.
CM: Lastly, if you could describe Glasgow in one word, what would it be?
LJ: Home
Thank you Lindsay! <3
Besides CreativeMornings on September 25th, you can catch Lindsay at her next in-person expressive writing workshop with poet Donna Matthew at Paisley Arts Centre 6.10.24: Sunday Writing Workshop (ticketsolve.com).
Follow Lindsay on her Substack: What Now? with Lindsay Johnstone
