Carla Carlisle compares penning a weekly column to being in a relationship with a sexually insatiable individual.
==============================================================================
Carla Carlisle, a seasoned columnist, has spent nearly three decades cultivating her thoughts in the pages of The Spectator. Her weekly column, 'Spectator', has been a staple on the back page for over three years, with a brief pause for a year, and then nine more years of continuous growth.
The author's writing journey mirrors the cycle of crops, requiring break periods and fallow seasons. She shares a commonality with gardeners like Christopher Lloyd, who began his garden column in the platform's pages in 1963 and was well into his 36th year when he visited Carlisle to chide her for 'giving up'. However, Carlisle returned to her column, finding solace in the words of fellow writers that replenished her own.
In 2016, Editor Mark Hedges approached Carlisle with the suggestion of a 'lighter load', offering her a monthly essay titled 'Another Country'. After another sabbatical, she returned to this new location, continuing to share her insights on a wide range of topics, from agricultural and cultural matters to religious, bovine, canine, royal, and moral issues.
Carlisle's dedication to her craft is evident in her commitment to her readers. She quotes Ellen Goodman's farewell to her readers, "Writing a weekly column is like being married to a nymphomaniac. As soon as it's over, you know you have to begin again." Yet, she finds gratitude in her readers, who bring out the best in a writer.
Octavia Pollock, the Chief Sub-Editor, has been infinitely patient with Carlisle's 'tweaks' on the proof, while Kate Green, the Deputy Editor, presides over deadlines and other responsibilities with surpassing warmth and wit.
Carlisle's debut as a monthly columnist was written on the day after the Brexit vote, marking a new chapter in her column-farming journey. Despite the challenges, she continues to till the soil of her readers' minds, sowing seeds of thought and reaping the rewards of their engagement.
- Carla Carlisle, in her monthly essay 'Another Country', discusses various aspects of lifestyle, such as fashion-and-beauty and food-and-drink, offering insights on trends and cultural influences.
- Alongside agricultural and cultural matters, home-and-garden topics are often present in Carlisle's column, as she shares her experiences and opinions on gardening and home improvement.
- Carlisle's column also covers relationships and travel, with essays that delve into personal experiences and reflections on the impact of these aspects on our lives and perspectives.
