Walking with Sophie Gordon, writer
The Chair of writers' organisation 26 talks about her interesting path from graphic design to writing to using storytelling to cultivate social change
“When I’m feeling overwhelmed, walking reminds me what I’m capable of, and that sometimes you just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.”
Sophie Gordon is a writer, Principal Communications Strategist at FrameWorks UK, and Chair of writers’ organisation, 26. We know each other through our connection with 26, so when she was appointed Chair, I asked her if she’d do an interview with me. She’s also a keen walker, so we met for a wander around Dulwich Park where she shared her vision for 26 and told me how she followed her feet into walking.
Ey up Sophie, thanks for chatting with me! We’ve obviously known each other for years, so for the benefit of our readers, please tell me about yourself.
I’m a Scot and a Londoner, having moved to London from Glasgow just over a decade ago. More recently, my partner Nathan and I moved to East Dulwich from Kentish Town so we’re officially south Londoners now.
For the last couple of years I’ve been working on strategic communications for social change at FrameWorks UK. We research how people think about different social issues, like homelessness and health, then test and craft different ways of framing those issues, to shift the narrative and ultimately lead to positive changes like more progressive policies. I’ve recently been doing a lot of work on how to frame housing – to help push for changes like renting reform and more decent, genuinely affordable homes. We’ve been partnering with JRF and the Nationwide Foundation on this, and working with organisations across the sector, like the brilliant Shelter.
How did I get here? Well, I moved down to London to join the inhouse Creative team at the NSPCC, and spent many happy years there working my way up from Junior Copywriter to Creative Director. Before that, I studied Graphic Design at Edinburgh College of Art. I still have that love for design as well as words. Plus, I love all things food, pottering in the garden, running/the right kind of gym class (shout out to Frame) and anything crafty (I’m slowly learning to make clothes).
“When I was starting out as a copywriter, 26 gave me a creative outlet, confidence, and a ready-made crew of interesting and supportive wordy people to meet. So it’s very close to my heart.”
You’re the new Chair of writers’ organisation 26. For the benefit of people who haven’t heard of it, can you tell me about your new role?
26 is a fantastic not-for-profit organisation for writers and anyone who believes in the power of words. Many of us work with words for a living – as business writers, authors, journalists, communication specialists, poets and designers – but we welcome anyone who cares about words and writing.
Our members participate in creative ‘crowd-writing’ initiatives, which bring together multiple writers to focus on a particular theme. We also offer our members training, a monthly newsletter, talks and social events including our annual Wordstock event. And we present the 26 Awards for both the best emerging writer and the best work in our creative projects.
26 was founded in 2003 by a group of writers who wanted to champion the importance of words in all aspects of life. We have now grown to over 300 members who pay a small annual fee. Pretty much since it was founded, 26 was chaired by the wonderful Martin Clarkson, who is now taking a well-earned step back and is generously helping me to settle into the role. Much has changed since 26 started, so my priorities will be steering us into a new chapter – with an updated website and clearer offer for members at the top of my to-do list.
When I was starting out as a copywriter, 26 gave me a creative outlet, confidence, and a ready-made crew of interesting and supportive wordy people to meet. So it’s very close to my heart and I’ll do my best to do the role justice!
How did you get into walking?
I always enjoyed being taken on walks as a kid, but what really sparked my love of it was doing the good old Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at school. We were properly sent off into the west highland wilderness and had to learn how to use our compasses and OS maps properly (often to cross massive expanses of bog with no actual path). Have you really lived until you’ve found yourself up to your knees in bog, scream-laughing with your pals?
I loved the challenge of it and kept going up to Gold level, which I had the opportunity to do in Iceland. It was unlike anything I’d ever experienced – from moon-like plains, to glittering fields of obsidian, glaciers, and a day of rain that out-soaked even my experiences hiking in Scotland.
As well as (literally) taking me to new places, I found that walking had a very grounding effect on me. And I now know that’s a feeling that I can always get back by going for a walk.
I grew up in Bearsden – near the start of the West Highland Way (in neighbouring Milngavie). And for a couple of summers when I was home from Uni, I worked at the West Highland Way visitor centre. This essentially involved a lot of standing around Milngavie town centre early in the morning, taking people’s photos at the start of the walk and advising them on key things, like not to wear jeans.
When I think about it, I feel quite nostalgic when it comes to planning more adventurous walks, and I think that comes from these early experiences.
“Have you really lived until you’ve found yourself up to your knees in bog, scream-laughing with your pals?”
What role does walking play in your working and writing practice?
Like a lot of people, I find walking a helpful way of getting unstuck. Going for a walk - even just around the block, or to the kitchen(!) is far better than sitting there and getting more and more tangled. I’ve also found longer, more challenging hikes have been a helpful way to see the bigger picture when I’ve felt somewhat stuck at different points in my life – creatively and otherwise.
During my degree, I was going through a phase of comparing my work too much to others, and was a bit stuck creatively. I decided to do a project about something that I loved – walking. So I took myself up Ben Lomond, snapped lots of photos, played around with screen printing OS maps, and messed about with projection. It made my work fun again.
When I’m feeling overwhelmed, walking reminds me what I’m capable of, and that sometimes you just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
How would you describe your walking style?
Happy Hiker
Reluctant Rambler
Sunday Stroller
Wild Weekender
A Happy Hiker at heart.
Headphones or head in the clouds?
Both! If I’m out in the countryside, I never walk or hike with headphones. Part of the joy of it is to listen to what’s around me. But for a more town-y walk, I’ll often take the opportunity to catch up on podcasts, or my unexpected favourite… The Archers omnibus.
“As well as (literally) taking me to new places, I found that walking had a very grounding effect on me. And I now know that’s a feeling that I can always get back by going for a walk.”
Tell me about the best, weirdest or funniest walk you’ve ever done
In September 2023 I finally managed to do a walk that had been on my list for well over a decade: the Besseggen ridge. Way back when I was at art school, a Norwegian friend on my course told me “If you like hiking, you’d love Besseggen.” After a quick Google to see the dramatic view of deep blue fjord on one side and turquoise glacial lake on the other, I was determined to go one day. That ridge has lived rent free in my head since then!
So, after being delayed by Covid years and saving up (Norway ain’t cheap), Nathan and I made the trip. It was everything I hoped for and we even had perfect weather for it – something which, much like Scotland, you certainly can’t rely on in Norway.
Tip: On a hike I always take a bit of duct tape wound around my walking pole. I needed it on Besseggen as one of my boots fell apart on the descent and required taping to get me safely down. What would have been a very annoying mishap ended up being a rather satisfying bit of DIY.
If you could take a walk with anyone, real or fictional, alive or gone, who would it be? And why?
It’s not a very snazzy answer, but I think I have to say “a good friend”. Walking can open you up. It makes it a lot easier to talk when you’re falling into pace with someone beside you. Getting to share that time with a friend is something I really value.
My partner’s mum died during the covid pandemic, and he needed to rush back to be with her, and then quarantine before he could come home. This was pre-vaccination, and we agreed it was too risky for me to go, as I have asthma. It was a horrible wrench to know that I couldn’t be there for Nathan, or to say goodbye to Lesley, and it was a lonely time.
My friend Manik met me for a walk around Hampstead Heath on a freezing cold day that week and we just walked and talked for hours. It was incredibly therapeutic, and I think it was good for him to talk too (he’s a doctor and had a rough time of it on the Covid wards). I don’t think we would have had the same conversation sitting in a pub. It was the walk that did it.
“Walking can open you up. It makes it a lot easier to talk when you’re falling into pace with someone beside you. Getting to share that time with a friend is something I really value.”
One word round
One thing you always take with you on a walk?
Tissues. (Thanks to my year-round allergies!)One word to describe how you feel about walking?
Grounded.One word to describe how you feel about writing?
Complicated.
I can’t chat with a walking writer without asking you for a walking-inspired writing prompt for our readers. Do you have one you’d like to share?
In honour of my dearly departed duct-taped walking boots, go for a walk and try writing a short piece from the perspective of the shoes you are wearing. You might want to think what it’s like to be on that walk at ground level. You could play with what their tone of voice would be like. You can be as serious or as silly as you like.
Thanks for chatting with me, Sophie, and for taking us on a walking journey with you. I love the writing exercise you’ve set and I’ll be trying that on my next walk!
Happy walking and writing until next time,
Sarah and Sophie
Photo credits: Sophie Gordon and Sarah Farley
Loved this, thanks Sophie and Sarah!
Awh, two of lovely people I’ve not seen for an age!