October in Scandinavia
Come and join me in a cabin on a lonely island, watching the sea eagles soar...
Dreaming of winter. It’s getting close now.
What’s new?
October/November 2024
I’m watching the wind whip the trees outside my window this morning and feeling very grateful to live in Copenhagen. It’s not perfect – nowhere is – but after a trip to London this week, I am glad I have found a city that has a pace of life that suits me. I had completely forgotten how overwhelming a big city can be.
I’ve been working on books and ideas and all sorts of projects this month, and probably the best of the lot has been being a judge for the CIFFT film festival, reviewing entrants for tourism films. There’s nothing like watching a huge volume of short films for showing you the exact mechanism of what makes a good one work. It taught me the dangers of having a broad audience: don’t do it. Pretty much every single film that stated their target market was male and female, aged 18-80, came out with a bland result. You have to be brave and make a choice.
It also taught me the importance of humanity in storytelling. Give me a story about an individual living in America who longs for the sea in Portugal where she was born over a tour of of your city’s ancient and modern sights. Take photographers to your mountains and get them to find the best shots and tell you all about them. Throw a location scout a challenge and film him solving it. Tell me about individuals and you break open the world.
I was being judged too, this month, as a finalist in the Travel Media Awards in London. I didn’t win, but I was just so happy to have made it that far. I met some great people and reconnected with other writers I met years ago; it’s a lovely thing to be together once a year at least, and it reminds me that this isn’t a competitive sport, it’s a collaborative one.
Lots of stories to share and lots of inspiration from Scandinavia today – enjoy!
Laura
Stories of the month
Into the heart of Denmark
For October’s cover story in Baltic Outlook, the inflight magazine of Air Baltic, I took a wonderful trip to the middle of Jutland. I discovered viking treasures, night watchmen, seal safaris and an island where seabirds roam. It was, sigh, pretty wonderful, all told.
How green is gaming?
If you’re like me, you’re spending a lot more time inside during this part of the year. For the amazing Imagine 5 website, I investigated what the gaming industry is doing to offer sustainable solutions – and how we can all do it better. It’s kind of a fun ride.
Winter holidays in the world’s happiest nations
For inews, I researched a selection of great holidays to take in this part of the world. Tip: the Lofoten Islands one is a really good one: a red fisherman’s cabin, wildlife photography and a roaring fire. I wish I could do it myself!
Journeys is here!
Joy of joys, this beautiful slow travel book is finally out! Kinfolk asked me to contribute a few chapters to this gorgeous coffee table book last year, sending me cycling across the Lofoten Islands with my husband, driving down the Wilderness Road with my daughter and exploring the reaches of the mysterious Upper Mustang in Nepal. It is such an immense pleasure to see it in print.
Inspiration
Some things that are keeping me fuelled this month:
I am so obsessed with Claire Keegan that I’ve read Small Things Like These three times this week alone. Can’t wait for the film (which stars Cillian Murphy).
I like the look (sound?) of Miranda Sawyer’s new book. I’m a huge fan.
Just hanging on now for that election result. Good luck friends, I hope the right person wins.
Where next?
Manchester. I’m going back to my old haunts in the city that raised me to do a lovely 90s nostalgia piece. It’s been 25 years since I lived there, and I am so curious about how it has changed.
Thanks for subscribing to Modern Scandinavian. I’m so happy that you’re here. Laura
