WELCOME TO URBAN CURIOSITY

What to expect in this corner of the internet

via Unsplash

Welcome, welcome. And welcome back to readers who’ve followed me for years.

Urban Curiosity is a weekly newsletter about creativity, writing and finding focus for the work that matters. I’m excited to share stories, insights and London street meditations each month.

I love writing but also photography and tiny films float my boat. The problem is other platforms melt my brain in terms of the learning curve + the mental health toll of using them. So the idea of a single place to share articles, images, audio and film as well as running creative community challenges is very appealing!

Substack’s functionality means there aren’t the same technical barriers to entry that have held me back on, for example, resurrecting the Urban Curiosity podcast or more easily making my content accessible to all subscribers. Plus it’s a place where I like to hang out; my intention is to create content and a community here, so that you find it an uplifting and fun place too. The vibes are good. As many a Substacker has written, it feels like the old days of blogging. There’s a sizzle in the air, you know?

Here at Urban Curiosity on Substack, there will be more playful and spontaneous writing than might be evident over at Urban Curiosity the website. I still need to write website articles that appeal to SEO and are a bit more work-y over there. This Substack will be for sharing my newsletter and other thoughtful, curious sparks to inspire you and make you think.

My approach to life since burning out and going through multiple bereavements is about slowing down in a world that’s speeding up. Because city life is fast. Curiosity is the antidote. If you want to reclaim time and headspace for the people and projects that matter most and kickstart your creativity, then keep reading. Together, let’s see things differently!

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A bit about me

Hello, I’m Clare Barry. I’m a writer, Londoner, facilitator and fundraiser. This I know: time, energy and attention are our most precious resources. How do you spend yours?

I run a London-based creative training company called Urban Curiosity. We design and lead uplifting creative training workshops and mindful walks that help people build energy, resilience and focus for the projects that matter, and the challenges ahead. We work with charities, local community groups, libraries and universities across London. We collaborate with purpose driven companies and social prescribing practitioners too.

Here’s what I believe: burnout and compassion fatigue don’t have to be inevitable by-product of nonprofit work success; human connection is a beautiful thing; words have power - use yours!

I write about creativity in a digital world and positive mental health in the real one. My interests also include: wellbeing at work, digital mindfulness and humane productivity. I lead this Walking Book Club in Greenwich Park. I design impactful creative training workshops. I teach writing for wellbeing and I lead mindful walks. I fundraise at EECF. I’m a fan of tiny experiments.

For years I raced through my days as my creativity melted into a puddle at the bottom of the career ladder. I created the Urban Curiosity Walkshop after burnout, back surgery and bereavement forced me to find a slower, more self-compassionate (and sustainable!) way of living and working.

Some work highlights include: being part of the team that secured the custodianship of The Women’s Library@LSE; working on media liaison for the indy film company that made The Stranger on the Bridge, a film about mental health and suicide; having my essays and ideas published by or featured in books by Department Store for the Mind and magazines like Vanity Fair, Stylist, Balance, Liz Earle Wellbeing; and working on the Life Chances Campaign to reduce deprivation and isolation across Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham.

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On Mental Notes

For seven years I wrote a regular newsletter called Mental Notes. My lovely readers were based all over the world and some of them are still reading my words despite the newsletter changing shape a few times over the years. Hello to long-time readers like Terri, Kristen, Susannah, Olga, Sue, Hannah and Katie in Brizzle! Once or twice a month I’d share a story or idea + a handful of links worth the reader’s time, energy and attention.

via Unsplash

I also tried - and mostly failed at - building an email list so I could sell stuff to people. Any biz coach or online marketer will tell you The List is the single most important marketing asset/tool/thing a business owner has. It’s true. But somewhere down the line I stopped blogging and started writing for SEO… and I also began to write more sales-y newsletters. And I never ‘did’ Facebook or Instagram properly as a business owner because they made me ill - no exaggeration. I haven’t logged into the former in years and I’ll be deleting both before the year’s out.

And breathe.

Today, I’m keen to recapture that zest for writing with no other intention other than sharing and finding a connection with my community. Some times I’ll share details of an event I’m running like my Walking Book Club or a London Writers Retreat; but mostly I’ll be sharing for the sake of sharing. I’ve also got a book project I want to develop, so watch this space!

By focusing on community organisations, universities and charities for my client work in 2023 and beyond, I’m able to stop trying to sell a specific print product, course or experience to one human and simply build a relationship with charity leaders and HR professionals instead. It takes a different approach and means I’ll have to pitch my creative training workshops to a single decision-maker in order to then facilitate something with a group of people. I’ll share more on that down the line.

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Ways to get involved

If you become a paid subscriber to this newsletter, you’ll get access to an exclusive community where I’ll share behind-the-scenes stuff on being a writer, developing creative confidence and sustainable working practices so you can find focus for the projects that matter.

Most articles and meditations will be free (for now), but paid subscribers will have more access to me and get the inside track on new projects. I’ll host quarterly online workshops and record a monthly-ish podcast. Of course, London-themed visuals will accompany everything. The bit I’m most excited about is the community challenges.

So that’s the nitty gritty. I hope it sounds interesting and useful. But really, I’d love you to consider joining me in this experiment. My intention is that this newsletter will be a warm, supportive and helpful place for writers, creative souls, charity professionals and readers alike.

If you decide to subscribe (or stay subscribed if you’re a long-time reader), then know you’ll be most welcome and you can always unsubscribe at any time without any hassle. My usual newsletters will be much more easily digested than this one. If you’re “in,” leave a comment to this post and share a little about yourself. And don’t forget to subscribe. I look forward to reading your comments and replying to you. Thanks for reading this far!!

Curiously yours,

Clare Barry

PS. Be sure to add me to safe senders and drag this email out of any spam filters or promotions tabs it may have gotten stuck in. Add urbancuriosity@substack.com to your contact list to make sure you never miss a post. If you’re having probs receiving emails from me, then check this article out.