Blog
Welcome to my blog!
12th October 2011
'There's no such thing as a ghostwriter in New York', so one New York commissioning editor tells me. Gulp! Have I made a disastrous decision moving here for a couple of years? Thankfully, I have been saved by the New York agency, 'Gotham Ghostwriters' who signed me up recently, proving that not only does ghostwriting exist over here, but it is also thriving!
9th September 2011
I have been fortunate enough to have been made a columnist for the business website, 'Management Issues'. My role is to comment on the financial issues currently affecting my generation (Gen X). I have to say, it's probably one of the most challenging assignments I have had over the course of my career, as well as the most enjoyable! Thank you to all those readers who have been thoughtful enough not only to read but to comment on my articles. It's nice to know there is an audience out there!
16th May 2011
Well, I am finally settling into New York life and looking forward to the summer! I have almost finished my maternity leave and then back to work again, although I have been doing bits and pieces during my time off. Currently, I am ghosting an article for a journal and continuing to promote my latest book, 'How to Succeed as a Freelancer in Publishing'. Thanks again to everyone who bought a copy!
Luckily, as a freelancer I can work from anywhere in the world, so I'm looking forward to getting back to work and connecting with my clients from all over the globe.
7th March 2011
Thrilled that How to Succeed as a Freelancer in Publishing has been featured in the prestigious publishing trade magazine, The Bookseller, under 'The Best Books on Publishing'. Never dreamed when I wrote the article that it would be a full-page spread! The Publishing Training Centre have also agreed to include our freelance book in their resources section.
Moving to New York next week for a couple of years, so hope to establish a publishing network over there, as well as working for my clients in the UK. That's the good thing about being a freelancer - the ability to work anywhere in the world!
10th December 2010
What a great couple of weeks! Thanks Foliostop for awarding my website the title of 'Website of the month' . Our book, How to Succeed as a Freelancer in Publishing is also doing very well, selling hundreds of copies in its first month of publication, so thanks to everyone who bought a copy - both Charlie and I hope you find it useful! Thanks to the latest series of 'The Apprentice', my Lord Alan Sugar book is also selling well!
On another note, I was lucky enough to be invited along to a screening of an award-winning short film called 'Worship' by the very talented and creative, Calum Macdiarmid. The film is based on a fascinating manuscript called Century of Insight which I helped edit a couple of years ago in which the author (and Calum's father), Dr Derry Mcdiarmid, very eloquently discusses the history of psychology and shares his own unique insight into many of life's mysteries. Calum manages to really bring his father's words to life in this stunning piece of work. The film won the Gold Special Jury Prize at this year's Promax Short Film Festival, and deservedly so. Not only is the film a real tribute to his father's life-long dedication to the field of psychiatry and psychology, but really showcases Calum's talents as a director. Calum Mcdiarmid - definitely a rising talent in the art of film.
13th August 2010
Well, it's been a crazy couple of months! Maternity leave is a whole different ball-game to freelancing! However, it is fun as well as exhausting but I imagine the call of work will drag me out of my Pampers lifestyle in a few months time! Good news on the work front - my Alan Sugar book is also going to be available as an audio book! I wonder who will narrate it!
4th May 2010
Lots going on this month! My book about Alan Sugar is currently sitting at the no.1 slot in the business and management section of WH Smith! There are also posters advertising the book all over the UK, so keep an eye out of them! Almost finished work now and getting ready to swap my pen for pampers - life-changing event indeed! Also, saw the film The Ghost the other day which I thought was quite an entertaining view on ghostwriting. When I start leading such an exciting life as Ewan McGregor, I will be the first to let everyone know!
2nd February 2010
Well, you can see from my last entry that I have already broken my New Year's Resolution to update my blog more frequently. I'm pregnant so I'm going to use my 'baby brain' as an excuse here. However, 2010 has started out to be a good year so far. Charlie and I are writing away, trying to cram as much information as possible into our careers book for freelancers in publishing. Another ghostwriting project has just been commissioned by a publisher, so I will get stuck into that next week - as long as I can make the deadline before the baby is born I should be ok!
6th January 2010
My first blog entry for 2010! My New Year's Resolution is to write my blog a bit more frequently. As my book is finished now and off to the printers soon, I will hopefully have a bit more time to focus on other projects and write my blog, of course! I am just about to get stuck into another book about freelancing in publishing (commissioned by How To publishers) with my pal and fellow freelancer, Charlie Wilson. We have both managed to make good careers out of freelancing and want to publish a book that will help others to do the same.
1st December 2009
Well, my manuscript made it to the publishers on time, thank goodness. With such a tight deadline, it's always difficult to know whether the work will get done or not, but thanks to my retreat into "hermitsville" over the last two months, I was able to complete the first draft of my business book within the allocated time. Obviously, I will have to make a number of revisions, but it's just a relief that the main bulk of the work is done - and all the research to boot! Now, I am going to shed my recluse-type-state and join the real world for a change!
5th November 2009
Today I realised that it has been almost a month since my last blog, which is pretty lax of me I must say, but that's what happens when you're on a majorly tight deadline. However, I am a slave to time, so I am on schedule, thankfully. Deadlines are easy to meet when you, effectively, cancel your life for two months. The most exciting thing I have done since I took on this project is watch X Factor - although I do like those twins! Apart from my incredibly dull life, a couple of new things have happened on the writing front: I have just had another article published in InPrint magazine, called "Going Global", so please check it out. An article of mine on ghostwriting will also appear in the The Author magazine, Winter edition.
7th October 2009
Just back from my holidays and getting stuck into my latest project - a business book with an incredibly short deadline. I am officially a hermit for the next two months - all social engagements have been postponed (apart from my birthday of course) and the diary cleared as far as possible. Obviously, I will be very lucky to get a clear few months, as I'm sure there will be many other projects that I will be tempted by, and then I'll start working even crazier hours, but such is the life of a freelancer!
24th September 2009
Well, it's official. I have been commissioned by a major publisher to author a business book due out next year. Although I love being a ghost, there is something about having your name on your own book, and it will definitely help to further promote me as a writer. More good news: the website EzineArticles.com which publishes free content has just accepted my Freelance Famine article, so that means that not only have I established another link to my website but increased my online presence. It has been a good week!
21st September 2009
Well, I have just spent the weekend working. Sometimes, that's just how it works out. A publisher sent me over some research material for this book I am writing and they needed to know my thoughts on the subject - by Monday. So far, I have been pretty good about keeping my weekends free, but when it is a project I am excited about, I really don't mind putting the hours in. In any case, when I poured myself a nice glass of wine after I had finished work, I felt like I really deserved it!
17th September 2009
Hurrah for LinkedIn! I have just been approached by a major publisher to work on a really interesting project. I had done some work for that publisher years ago, but had recently invited my contact there to join LinkedIn. Receiving the invitation jogged her memory a bit and put me in the frame for some dream projects, which I am just about to get stuck into. So, there you go: proof that social networking can pay off!
15th September 2009
I have been getting lots of queries from other freelancers, wondering how they can generate work during a recession. Good question. There has definitely been a slow-down in the publishing world, and times are definitely harder than they used to be. Although it is hard to even contemplate spending money when there is no income in sight, if you have a few pennies, I do recommend that you invest in some advertising. This does not need to cost very much, especially if it is done online, but it is worth making the time, and will help give your business a bit of a boost.
11th September 2009
Well, in spite of my article about the lack of work for freelancers during the summer months ('Freelance Famine'), I have been lucky enough to be busy during this, normally, quiet period. I have been working on three book synopses: Art Therapy, Economics, and a careers book about freelancing - all are awaiting approval from the publishers.
Waiting to hear if a book has been commissioned is the most nerve-wracking time - for myself, and my clients. I doubt, between us all, that we have any nails left! Fingers (and bitten nails) crossed!
