Meet Josephine Hall | Writer & Creative

We had the good fortune of connecting with Josephine Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Josephine, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
Even though I studied Creative Arts at University, after graduating I still felt that societal pressure to find a “sensible” career option for myself as opposed to pursuing writing or art. I tried my hand at a few things but always struggled to maintain “real jobs” – partly due to undiagnosed neurodiversity, but also because I was always busy thinking about my next creative project instead.

After a mental health breakdown in my twenties, it became clear that I needed to rethink my approach to life and find more meaning and joy in my day-to-day existence. A few years later, I began connecting with local writing groups especially for writers of colour, which is where I really started to grow my confidence and think that maybe this was something I could do.

Some days it feels really tough to be a freelance creative. But I’d much rather feel stressed about a creative project that I’m excited about and proud of, than stressed about some other work I don’t really care about or feel a connection to. Pursuing a creative career has built my confidence and made me realise I’m capable of much more than I once thought.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a black mixed-race woman who grew up in a very isolated and rural location (the deep countryside of Cornwall, UK) in the 1990s. At primary school, my sister and I were the only non-white kids, and at secondary there were only a few others in my year group and all were male. Growing up, I felt like an alien and it was really hard to see any kind of future for myself. Writing began as a therapeutic tool for me, but now I am much more aware of how important it is for me to tell my story for the other lost and lonely brown girls in the countryside – and to let the world know that we exist!
I live in a city at the moment, but I still identify greatly with a more outdoor, rural lifestyle and it’s been amazing to join groups like Black Girls Hike where I can meet other black women with similar interests. With my writing and creative work, I want to help spread the message to other people who feel alien or displaced that there is a sense of belonging, and incredible support, to be found in connecting with the natural world.
I live with mental health conditions and neuro-diversities – both of which probably contributed to me beginning to write and are often themes in my writing. Getting diagnosed in adulthood has helped me gain more understanding of some of the struggles I’ve faced along the way. There is still not much representation of black women living with these difficulties, so I’m increasingly aware of the importance of telling these stories too. It is the best feeling when somebody tells you they feel seen by your work, and I hope my work can continue to help others begin to access a sense of healing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Ooh… Well, we’d begin the week with a refreshing sea swim before warming up with brunch in whichever cute cafe takes our fancy in the cobbled streets of Brighton’s infamous Laines. We’d probably follow that with checking out some of the local stalls, maybe buy some jewellery and clothes and then head into the Resident record shop for a snoop. Later in the week, we could also check out the Black Brighton Market – browse the goods, see some live music, and soak up the happy melanated vibes.
We should probably check out whatever exciting exhibition is on at Onca Gallery or Phoenix Art Space, and maybe go for a roller-skate along Hove promenade or back in the sea for a paddleboard.
We’d definitely take a walk up a hill to catch a breathtaking sunset and take in a view of the whole city and the sea. At some point, we’d go for a lovely long walk in Stanmer park too.
And we’d definitely go to the Open Mic at The Actors pub hosted by Frankie Jean – a great vibe with a diverse audience at a pub which aims to be a safe space for both the LGBTQI+ and Global Majority communities in Brighton.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Oh wow, I’ve been lucky to have received support and encouragement from so many different organisations and individuals over the years that it’s hard to know who to choose! My older sister, Amy Hall – who is also a writer and editor at New Internationalist Magazine – has always been there for me with words of encouragement, edits on my work and belief in my capabilities. As well as regularly cooking me food and lending me money!
Local Brighton organisations such as Writing Our Legacy, New Writing South and Creative Future have also been incredibly supportive. I also would like to shout out Afrori Books – the first Black bookshop in Brighton, UK – who have created such a supportive and encouraging space. Knowing there’s places like Afrori who are excited to sell my future books makes it feels much more possible that I will write them! And I’ve been so lucky to receive support and encouragement from many other global majority writers – such as: Akila Richards, Oluwafemi Hughes Jonas, Salena Godden, Yvvette Edwards, Sharon Duggal, Alinah Azadeh, AFLO.The Poet, Priss Nash, Erin James, Adrianna Lord and Sea Sharp.

Website: www.josephinehall.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfuljomad/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/josephinehall_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josephineha11

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoS-QZ-AJKdDsnfCxGgH_Aw?view_as=subscriber

Image Credits
1st image (on stage closeup of face smiling with mic) = credit: Dongjie Wei 2nd & 3rd image (one solo, plants behind, greens and purples… one group, 5 women lying down and laughing ) = credit: Jade Hylton