How to Write About Art
Author Verity Babbs shared the journey behind her book The History Of Art In One Sentence, sharing insights on how to develop your writing voice, find a niche and communicate complex ideas with clarity and creativity.
Takeaways:
Gaining experience across different areas - such as comedy, writing, or contributing to various websites - helps build a strong and versatile foundation.
Verity spent time working in the commercial art world before realising it wasn’t the right fit. Leaving that space to focus on comedy nights and writing felt more aligned with what she wanted to do.
Writing about art often means finding an alternative angle. Much of the foundational writing already exists, so your individuality and perspective are what add value.
Finding your voice includes being honest about what you don’t enjoy. You don’t need to say yes to every opportunity - acknowledging what doesn’t interest you is important. As Verity puts it: “Don’t be a busy fool.”
Engaging with life beyond writing - other interests, experiences, and parts of the world - feeds into your work and helps reveal what truly motivates you.
Cold emails can be effective when the idea is interesting and clearly relevant to the publication.
Success isn’t always about having the “best” idea. Being friendly, reliable, and known for a specific area of interest can lead journalists and publications to come back to you.