As alluded to in our contributor brief for Issue 5, The Records We Keep is special because we’re bringing on board a guest editor. That editor is no other than Johna Baylon, Hong Kong-based writer and our dear friend.
You may know Johna from her various online projects (more on that below). You may even know her from her articles on The Galvanizers: the first, describing the shaky balance between writing for work and writing for love; the second, a reflection on her then-daunting journey to self-publishing her essays.
What we love about Johna is that she applies the same thoughtful, steadfast compassion to whatever she writes about. Her writing is deeply personal, but unafraid to bring forth the difficult truths we may all recognize in our own lives. In her hands, a rose is never just a rose–and a cup of coffee is magical.
So it is with Johna’s guidance and keen eye for excellent nonfiction that we plan our next issue. You can be assured that we will be the better for it–and that your pieces, should you choose to submit (and please do!)–will be read by someone for whom real life truly is art.
Enough out of us. Get to know Johna Baylon in her own words below!
1. How would you describe yourself to a new acquaintance in under 60 seconds?
“Name’s Johna, that’s ‘John’ with an ‘A’ at the end; I work for a wine magazine, Tweeting mostly, writing stories and copy occasionally; I’m based in Hong Kong where I grew up; no, I was born in the Philippines, actually – I’ve been here since I was 10 months old–“
2. What do you write about?
Tricky question. The things I’ve written about, and the stories I feel compelled to write have more to do with things I remember, see and/or experience, that I feel might make for a good story. I’d say I write about ‘life,’ which although too generic, is the closest I can think of to describing the material I work with.
Life: what it’s like to unfold at any given place, at any given point in time.
3. What are 3 notable characteristics you look for in nonfiction? (Or, alternatively: what type of writing excites you?)
Great storytelling, a compelling voice, and something personal. I don’t name these to say they’re the most important things about a work of non-fiction; these are simply the traits I find that I’m drawn to. So, while great storytelling and a compelling voice are almost a given for published books, ‘something personal’ would refer to memoirs and personal essays – what I look out for in deciding what non-fiction books to read, I suppose.
4. What are you currently reading?
I recently started on Timothy Keller’s ‘Every Good Endeavor,’ but since that’s more informative than leisurely in nature, I’m about to dive into another one – Rebecca Solnit’s ‘The Faraway Nearby.’ (I quite like switching between books.)
5. Favorite drink to go with a book?
I usually read on the bus or train, meaning I don’t get to enjoy a drink with my reads as much as I’d like. When I do, though, it’s usually coffee – a skimmed flat white. (Surprise!)
6. Favorite (or much beloved) writing-related quote?
Too many! May I name two?
“You’ve got to sell your heart, your strongest reactions, not the little minor things that only touch you lightly, the little experiences that you might tell at dinner.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
While I don’t memorise this, it’s one that’s stuck since I first read it. Isn’t it true: If it doesn’t cost you anything, what value is it to the reader?
“There’s no reason to continue writing other than that I started writing at some point – and that, at some other point, I’ll stop.” – Sarah Manguso.
Because she’s the writer I want to be when I grow up, and this sums up neatly why one simply ought to keep doing what one was called to do.
7. Where can we find you online?
Out On Seventh Street, the blog I used to run, is in hibernation; in the interim my stray writing can be found on Tumblr. I am also on Twitter (@johnabaylon) and Instagram (@johnabaylon). I did start a new blog, called Like The Mornings, although it is less a writing project than it is a blogging and visual one.
Read Johna’s contributor brief and contribute to Issue 5 here!
