In memory of John J Johnson, 1965-2025
This is not the September newsletter I expected to write.
On Thursday morning, my friend John J Johnson died after a short illness. John was an Egyptologist, lecturer, world-expert on Doctor Who and, with his husband John Cunningham, one half of the first same-sex couple to marry in a church. (There is plenty more to discover about John, and here would be a good place to start.)
I wish our friendship had been longer than the less-than-two years it was, but what I knew immediately and will always treasure was here was a person who truly appreciated and celebrated all his life contained. He possessed that best of qualities: genuine, appreciative, knowledgable enthusiasm. He also possessed that equally important of gifts: the articulacy to communicate, connect and therefore spread that enthusiasm.
I’m not an Egyptologist, and my Doctor Who knowledge is comparatively humble, but John’s example could not be more relevant to me professionally as well as personally. As writers, we know characterisation is communicated not through telling the reader what someone’s like, but showing their behaviour, facial expression, tone of voice, actions, gestures and choice of words. Whether you encountered John in a university situation or as a blu-ray commentator, he was the ideal ambassador because he was celebrating the material: the message, not just the messenger. As writers, as coaches, as coaching clients, we discover the best of ourselves when we wear our knowledge lightly, because we know the magic happens not in expert mindset but beginner mindset; dwelling not in knowledge but in curiosity and possibility. Being truly present in whatever room we find ourselves, because there’s always some new joy to discover.
John, I’m so glad I knew you.
This month:
Focus and Flow: Creative Confidence Tools for Life
Friday 5 September, 12.30pm-1.30pm on Zoom
A practical, thoughtful space to discover what you want your future to look like and identify the gentle, authentic steps from where we are to where we choose to be.
Book here
Writers’ Gym Writing Workout
Tuesday 9 September, 6pm-7.30pm on Zoom
The perfect place to hone your writing. A creative writing warm-up, followed by exercises, tips and techniques for making the most of feedback on creative work. Click here.
Coffee & Creativity
Central London venue, Friday 26 September, 10am-11.30am
Whatever you want to create on the page or in the world, this creative confidence building workshop will give you what you need to enjoy the journey and relish the destination. Turn curiosity into creativity, whether you’re building creative and professional writing skills, or writing a new chapter in your professional and personal life story. Bring a notebook and an open mind. Places strictly limited: email info@rachelknightley.com
The Writers’ Gym Podcast
Every Monday on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts
Creative confidence workouts for art and life with authors including World Fantasy Award winner Priya Sharma, multiple-BAFTA-winning screenwriter Dan Berlinka and Carnegie winning novelist Anthony McGowan. Listen here
– Rachel Knightley Coaching: creative confidence for life, work and art –www.rachelknightley.com