Why did you choose to become a freelancer?
For one reason or another I have moved around a lot and the joy of freelancing is you can file copy from anywhere where you have a computer and internet access. Also, it allows me variety in my work: one week I am researching the ins and outs of high speed train travel in Kent, the next I'm off to Barcelona Pride for a press trip.
If you trained, where? If not, how did you become a freelancer?
I did a part time NCTJ at NoSweat Journalism college in Clerkenwell, though I had already started freelancing before then for London listings site Flavorpill, Time Out and Metro, among other places, which allowed me to build up my portfolio. Following a series of permanent roles, like a lot of people I was forced back into freelancing through redundancy, but again it allowed me to branch into areas I wouldn't otherwise have had time to, like copywriting and travel writing.
Do you specialise in any particular field and what areas do you write about?
I write a lot for the LGBT market and about the media industry, but I have also written about the arts, club culture, transport, music, leisure, technology, health and sport.
Which publications have you been published in?
Most recently I've been copywriting for a new arts space in Margate, Kent, so in connection with that I've been published in Kent leisure titles EKOne and Isle magazine. But over my career I have written for the likes of Diva magazine, Metro, South London Press, the Guardian, Time Out and websites including Pinke.biz, GaydarNation, Digital Spy, Brand Republic, as well as radio work for Smooth Radio London and GaydarRadio.
Which articles, in which publication, are you the most proud of?
I am really proud of the features and podcasts I created for GaydarNation and GaydarRadio around the theme of Military Pride. It was in connection with the Army signing up for Stonewall's Diversity Champions programme and Manchester's Imperial War Museum holding an exhibition about the history of gays in the military. I interviewed some very senior officers in the armed forces and met some truly inspirational former and current LGBT military personnel. Knowing very little about how the armed forces operates beforehand, it was one of those opportunities that gives you real insight and it made me more interested in my own families’ experiences in the RAF and WAAF in WWII, which I am now researching for a book.
What are the best and worst aspects of freelancing?
Best: The freedom, the variety, the interesting experiences you have and the people you meet. Worst: Spending time chasing up pitches and payments, and the lack of security.
Do you have any interesting anecdotes in relation to your experience as a freelancer?
I never really get star struck interviewing anyone famous, but I am a huge fan of Stephen Fry. So speaking to him some years ago left me a bit delirious and led me to act rather unprofessionally. I ended up door stepping him for an autograph as he left the building we were in. He was very nice, but you could see him thinking 'Didn't you just interview me?' Thankfully, he’s too busy Tweeting now to remember such things
Finance reporter - property
