My Freelance Journalism

I began my writing career back in 1997 as a freelance journalist. I was on maternity leave and decided that it was ‘now or never’ if I wanted to make it as a writer and turn my back on a deeply unsatisfying career in sales.

So I enrolled on one of those correspondence courses you see advertised in the writing magazines. You know the sort, where they promise that they will help you to “make ££££ thousands from home as a freelance journalist”.

For the next few months I would send assignments off to my faceless, voiceless tutor, Donald McDougall (who I imagined to be a bearded sheep farmer somewhere in the Scottish Highlands) and my assignments would be returned to me, all neatly marked and with feedback reports.

I passed the course with distinction and as well as being sent a snazzy certificate I was also sent an “official press pass” that looked as if it had been laminated in Donald’s garage to be honest, but still, it was a start.

Although writing novels was my ultimate goal I felt that I had way more chance of getting an article or short story published in the first instance and I hoped that if I did I could use a freelance career as a stepping stone into the book world.

This is exactly how it panned out (with a fair few rejections on the way!). My first (non-fiction) book, Antenatal & Postnatal Depression, came about as a direct result of an article I had had published on the same subject. Once that book had been published I finally had the confidence to attempt writing a novel.

Six books later I still continue with my freelance work as it is generally a lot of fun and extremely interesting and also provides a welcome source of income.

When I give talks or workshops on writing and getting published I love telling people my story as it is real concrete proof that you can work your way up through the publishing world with no prior knowledge or contacts.

Below are some of the publications I have written for:

• Cosmopolitan
• SHE Magazine
• Sunshine Magazine
• That’s Life
• Daily Mirror
• Daily Mail
• Sunday Express
• Pregnancy & Birth
• Practical Parenting
• Self Publishing Magazine
• Writers’ Forum Magazine
• Writers’ News

I have also been a columnist for the following publications:

• Express & Star newspaper
• Self Publishing Magazine
• Writers’ Forum

I am currently the Self Publishing Editor for Writers’ Forum magazine so if you have self-published a book and would like to be featured please feel free to contact me via my mailbox.