Why did you choose to become a freelancer?
I’d been working full time for Just 17 magazine and after four years there I wanted the chance to write for a variety of different magazines and age groups. I also wanted to find the time to write books so freelancing seemed like the obvious option for me.
If you trained, where? If not, how did you become a freelancer?
Straight after my degree I got a job on Just 17 magazine as an assistant and I trained on the job under a really experienced journalist who was freelance herself. While I was working there I was offered freelance work for other publications such as the Guardian and Smash Hits, and as the offers escalated I took the leap and went freelance. Initially I thought I would just freelance for six months as I’d miss working on a team and being in a busy office but I’m still freelancing 18 years later.
Do you specialise in any particular field and what areas do you write about?
I specialise in women’s lifestyle, health, teenagers, pregnancy and parenting.
Which publications have you been published in?
Red, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Now, Closer, the Guardian. Daily Mail, Prima, Prima Baby, Men’s Health and numerous sites such as Handbag, iVillage, Netdoctor, Goodtoknow and Bounty.
Which articles, in which publication, are you the most proud of?
Last year I blogged and wrote columns on the Dove site, for the Campaign for Real Beauty which is all about boosting self esteem and body image in girls and women by promoting real images of beauty. There was a lot of media work alongside this and it was amazing to hear the positive impact the content on the site was having on girls and young women around the country.
What are the best and worst aspects of freelancing?
By far the best part of being freelance is being able to expand my work beyond magazines to digital sites, government campaigns, advertising agencies and publishers. I also love the fact I can work from home and choose my projects. The worst part is the financial insecurity and the lean work times when you start to feel that no one will ever employ you again.
Do you have any interesting anecdotes in relation to your experience as a freelancer?
I was the Just 17 agony aunt for eight years and people still recognise me from the magazine and often see it as an opportunity to 'share' something horribly inappropriate and personal like a rash they can’t get rid off or a boyfriend who’s rubbish in bed!
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