Comfort Zones Anthology

Comfort Zones, which is curated by content agency Sonder & Tell and published by British fashion brand Jigsaw, has challenged writers to go out of their comfort zones and tackle themes and forms that are brave, vulnerable and new.

The concept of Comfort Zones – of questioning the parameters we set ourselves as women and how it feels to move beyond them – was inspired by the bravery of the women who enrol in Women for Women International's programmes. The aim is not to draw parallels between the women supported by the charity and the writers, but to explore the idea of pushing boundaries – both big and small – in recognition of their bravery.

Contributors have donated their time and skills to bring the project to life and 100% of proceeds from this book will help support women survivors of war. 

The book challenges writers to think about their usual subject matter, and then work against it. In this collection of essays, letters and stories you’ll find journalists tackling their first works of fiction, reflective essays that take an unflinching look at past failures as well as big ideas for creating a kinder world.

Broadcaster Lindsey Hilsum says goodbye to her late friend Marie Colvin in a heartfelt letter, journalist Emma Gannon reflects on the life lessons she has learned at the age of 30, while author Poorna Bell details her path to finding happiness in her own company, “from that of a dark, bottomless chasm into a dazzlingly bright portal lit with endless possibility”.

• ALICE AZANIA JARVIS Journalist and founder of The Sunday Salon podcast and events series.
• ANA SANTI Journalist, writer and editor-in-chief of Jigsaw
• ANNA JONES Award-winning author of The Modern Cook’s Year and columnist at the Guardian
• ARIANE SHERINE Writer, comedian, journalist and author of Talk Yourself Better
• BRITA FERNANDEZ SCHMIDT Executive Director of Women for Women International - UK
• CHARLIE BRINKHURST-CUFF Journalist; deputy editor of gal-dem; author of Mother Country
• DAISY BUCHANAN Journalist, author of How to Be a Grown Up and Sisterhood (March 2019)
• EMMA GANNON Journalist; author of The Multi-Hyphen Method; host of Ctrl Alt Delete podcast
• ELIZABETH DAY Novelist; journalist; host of How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast
• FARRAH STORR Editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan UK, author of The Discomfort Zone
• FUNMI FETTO Contributing beauty editor Vogue; author of Palette
• GILLIAN ORR Content director at Refinery29 UK
• IRENOSEN OKOJIE Author of award-winning Butterfly Fish and Speak Gigantular
• LINDSEY HILSUM International editor for Channel 4 News; author of In Extremis
• MINA HOLLAND Editor of Guardian Feast; author of The Edible Atlas and Mamma
• NATASHA LUNN Features editor at RED Magazine; founder of Conversations on Love newsletter
• NELLIE EDEN Co-founder of Babyface agency; deputy editor at Dazed Beauty
• OLIVIA SUDJIC Author of Sympathy and Exposure
• PANDORA SYKES Journalist; co-host of currents affairs and pop culture podcast The High Low
• PHOEBE LOVATT Journalist; founder of The WW Club; author of The Working Women’s Handbook
• POORNA BELL Award-winning journalist; author of Chase the Rainbow and In Search of Silence
• SOPHIE MACKINTOSH Author of Man Booker longlisted The Water Cure and Blue Ticket
• SOPHIE WILKINSON Journalist; writer; editorial consultant; scriptwriter
• TAHMINA BEGUM Journalist, editor of XXY Magazine
• VICKY SPRATT Editor-at-large at Grazia; campaigner for fair rents
• YOMI ADEGOKE Multi-award winning journalist; co-author of bestseller Slay in Your Lane
• ZING TSJENG Editor of Broadly UK (Vice Media); author of Forgotten Women book series