London Writers' Salon cover image

London Writers' Salon

#129: Anita Bhagwandas - Pitching And Crafting Viral Stories, Navigating ADHD, and Breaking Beauty Myths.

Jan 26, 2025
Anita Bhagwandas is an award-winning journalist and beauty culture expert, recognized for her impactful writing in The Guardian and Vogue. She discusses her career journey, from passionate intern to celebrated writer, while sharing valuable pitching advice. Anita opens up about managing ADHD in her writing process and coping with rejection. The conversation dives into her book, "Ugly," unveiling the history of beauty standards and urging listeners to challenge societal ideals. Her insights blend personal narrative with cultural analysis, making a compelling case for redefining beauty.
01:05:56

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Anita Bhagwandas emphasizes the crucial role of a compelling opening sentence in capturing attention, as writers have mere seconds to engage readers.
  • She reflects on her journey, highlighting the importance of persistence and networking in overcoming challenges and building a writing career.

Deep dives

The Importance of Captivating Openings

Anita Bagwandis emphasizes that the first sentence of any written piece is crucial for capturing the reader's attention, especially in an era where attention spans are fleeting. She believes that writers have only a short window, approximately five seconds, to engage the audience, so crafting an intriguing opening is essential. A strong introduction sets the stage for the article and leads the reader on a narrative journey. This approach not only aids in engaging readers but also encourages writers to continuously refine their opening lines to maximize impact.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode