Chameleon Soul x Davina Catt

When I met Interview editor, Davina Catt, at the Mary Katrantzou x The Industry event at Conde Nast, I had to work really hard to keep my cool (read: avoid obnoxiously fangirling and tragically embarrassing myself). As an English Honors major and Creative Writing Honors minor, beautiful words make me weak at the knees and Davina Catt’s words are enviously pretty.

Since Catt has written for esteemed publications such as Style.com, British Vogue, FT Weekend, Violet and The Observer, I have crossed paths with her words quite a few times. And every time I read her work, I gawk at its crisp and elegant style. Each word, each sentence flows seamlessly from one to the next. I never stumble over syntax or halt over jarring phrases. Everything is so smooth, so poised, so perfect. And now I’m sounding like one of those horrifying fangirls (you know, the ones that chase One Direction tour buses and cry from the sheer euphoria of being in the presence of their celebrity icon). But what can I say? I’m a words girl. So yeah, sometimes I do cry over great texts and if Allen Ginsberg had a tour bus, you can bet your bottom dollar I’d chase it.

Anyways, given my extreme enthusiasm for words, I couldn’t resist asking Davina if I could pick her brain on journalism and writing in general. Luckily, she agreed and provided me with a handful of interesting insights that I’ve copy/pasted here. Scroll down to read one of my favorite journalist’s thoughts on words and the fashion/magazine industry. You won’t regret it.

I read a piece where you wrote about how creativity breeds an inner loneliness. You mentioned that in order to escape the loneliness, the creative must find a balance. Do you have any tips on how to create that balance? And do you believe that balancing could be of detriment to the art/writing? 

Well, I think the background to the piece you are referring to was that most creative people have gone through some sort of painful path and it’s about channelling those experiences in a positive way. One of my favourite quotes is from Hemingway; “Write hard and clear about what hurts.” I am somewhat of an extremist personality, though, so balance is something I am still figuring out as I go along – I think it had just got to a point when I was working from this deep, dark hole and it could no longer bring about anything positive, so I was forced into taking a new approach. Yes I still do worry, though, that maybe my work could lose something this way but what I have come to see is that if you have travelled a hard path which has required plenty of soul searching, it never leaves you, however ‘balanced’ you may have become. And it’s always there for you to tap into when you want/need to. I read somewhere the other day, the term now used is ‘metamodernism’ – i.e what comes after post modernism!

  What are your thoughts on how the Internet is affecting journalism? 

That’s a big question! Right now, I am just going along trying not to think about it too much, as to be honest I don’t see it having the most positive outcome down the line. In the immediate, I think that what the Internet offers is a huge and easy access to information and knowledge that would be too time consuming to delve into otherwise, but I think on the negative side, there’s too much noise and few people are using it in a discerning way, so I think a lot of writing journalism has no distinct angle and has become largely derivative.

Your writing style is enviously pristine. There are no stumbling blocks in your syntax. Each sentence flows cleanly into the next. How did you find your voice and develop your writing style?

Well that’s very kind of you! I hope so! I genuinely believe that everything I’ve done in my writing career so far has taught me something new and different – you have to be cognisant of that though to use it advantageously. I studied English Literature as my degree at University College London and had previously always read a lot so I think that was an essential base. Before I went into journalism, I worked for awhile as assistant to a leading literary agent, where I was lucky enough to be given all the scripts to read first off, so I learnt to dissect, quickly and efficiently, good writing style and narrative. Then I worked for a newspaper, which is the quickest way to sharpen up anyone’s writing – and teaches you a good lesson easily forgotten – that people might be reading your articles on a tube on the way home – so they don’t necessarily want long, languid prose! And I also think it’s really important, if you are a writer, to write for different publications and have to learn to shift and adapt your tone and style  - I know it’s really developed my work – in my opinion people don’t do this enough and get so locked into one publication, they can often stumble if they don’t have that comfort zone to lean on. But the beauty of this game is that you never ever stop learning and developing!

   Favorite authors?

A complete range from childhood favourite, Enid Blyton, to Dicken’s classics, Ian McEwan, Joan Didion, playwright Eugene o’neill, Zadie Smith.

    Favorite journalists? 

Good writing is good writing whatever the subject is. So I look at features written by a complete range of journalists – in fact I learn more from ones writing outside of my subject areas! To name a few, I like reading Tim Blanks, Lisa Armstrong, Mark Kermode (film critic), Sean O’Hagan (Guardian arts), Susie Boyt.

 Did you have a eureka moment when you realized journalism was the path for you? If so, how and when did you reach this epiphany? 

Sadly not, I pretty much for as long as I can remember wanted to write, and if you study English, it does end up as a choice between writing and teaching! I did get insights into other industries along the way - I got scouted and did some modelling before university but I never found it fulfilling or even considered it as a career option. My grandfather was a film producer and worked with some big names – a memory that stands out was being an extra on a film set when I was very young. I just had to walk through an airport pushing a luggage trolley as someone in the backdrop (I was a kid so I did the scene with my granny!) The iconic British stage actress, Angela Lansbury, happened to actually be playing the lead in the film, and was so keen to pass down some advice to a youngster, she told me not to look at or be aware of the camera, and then turned back to do her part and fluffed her lines!! It was a great experience but put me off the movie industry, as the waiting around and the hours it took to film even this small scene were insane. However, I have forever loved narrative and storytelling, whichever medium it is through, and have now come back full circle to love interviewing film directors, in particular. I think when I first entered journalism, I thought it would be more creative and less ‘organised’ than it is but I’ve luckily found myself working with some great people along the way and somehow you just come to find the people in this world who are on the same page as you.

  Where do you think journalism will be in 50 years, especially with the growing presence of blogs?

I don’t know – I can’t guess – but I fear it may not even exist because it seems more and more people/designers/brands don’t like the idea of being seen by the reader through a journalist’s eyes.

Comical stories from the world of journalism? 

Sorry I have to keep quiet on this one – I could get myself into way too much trouble! But I do think the fashion world is a crazy one (good type of crazy) like this huge, dysfunctional family all madly obsessed with what they are doing, who randomly connect at different times and stages. I can’t think how insane it must look, especially during fashion weeks, to the everyday member of the public.

As a freelance writer, one of my greatest pains is writer's block. My current solution has been to listen to the same song on repeat until inspiration strikes. Do you struggle with writer's block and if so what's your cure?

Of course, yes, sometimes one can’t think anymore on one piece or nothing is flowing any longer. No real answer, other than get up, maybe go for a walk, do something else for a bit and go back to it. I generally like to have music on in the background, if possible, when working.

We talked about both being words girls. I love words because of their power to make the finite, infinite. My favorite words are the ones that capture something so powerful and so large in beautiful,  profound simplicity. I also love how infinite words are themselves. When I find dictionary words to be finite, I smash words together to create a new one! It's magic. Can you elaborate upon your relationship with words and what they mean to you? 

I think words have the power to impact and reach right through to your core, like nothing else. I, too, think the most profound statement is often the one made in the fewest and simplest of words – in fact I believe today people often use too many words to ‘communicate’ which only undermines how special and sacred good words are. I am much more confident now, but like a lot of girls growing up during teens, early twenties etc, I was quite emotionally awkward and writing was a way I could best express myself. I think one of the most lamentable byproducts of the internet era is that no one writes letters or cards anymore – receiving gift cards, good luck cards, or little notes is one of my favourite things. They make a personal, lasting, private impact well beyond any other form of communication – I never throw any of them away, I have shelves and drawers and drawers full of old diaries, handwritten letters and other similar memorabilia.

Most powerful words you've ever read? 

It’s absolutely impossible to put it down to one bit of writing – powerful words have been written by great writers with different styles, techniques or interests over time. A writer that particularly comes to mind, especially with the recent documentary, is Joan Didion. I was living abroad and in quite a strange space when I read, ‘The Year of Magical Thinking’ – nothing I say can do justice to that book. I also love her quote, “we tell our stories to be able to live.”

 Besides writing, what else do you enjoy? 

I have quite an overactive mind so it tends to fall into two categories, either something that will make me completely switch off or will stimulate me! Movies, dinners with friends, meeting new kindred spirits, photography exhibitions etc.

Advice for aspiring journalists?

No one ever said it was meant to be really straightforward and easy, so you’ve got to really, really want to do it. Also, always always stay true to yourself, even if people don’t initially get you or like to point fingers, you will come out the winner in the end.