There are many times in my writing career that I am very, very thankful for the support, interest and opportunities that are presented to me. I really am enjoying my life at the moment, and the beautiful people I share it with.
Practice what you preach
I have finished writing my author packs, giving advice to the next generation of writers (hopefully). One of tips I drilled home is the importance of media contacts and networks, and free work experience. Honestly, they are important. So many of my opportunities have come through work experience, and forging and maintaining relationships:
- My first run in publishing film industry articles (3 editions!) came from my keeping in contact with the boss of the magazine I did work experience for.
- Offered a cadetship at a newspaper by an editor I worked for to cover materinty leave.
- Chance to submit a brief for my books through someone who worked with the publisher. My writing was recommended by another person. My 8 books were then born.
- Volunteering to edit the university law journals led to paid work and valid experience for my present role.
- Volunteering to edit a website led to a very well-paid job as a legal writer at my present company. Based on my work and eagerness to write articles, I am now the head legal writer with first choice of what topics to cover!
- Through a seminar, I met a colleague from a department I would never have contact with and briefly mentioned my food blog. Based on the alpha dinner entries, and known writing experience, he offered me a copywriting role for his print material and website! I am most excited about this, watch this space for entires about it.
- My book tours are known through word of mouth, either through teachers I have met on the book tour or my friends who are school teachers. My mother has also been a great PR manager with her friends who have children in my books’ target market.
- Volunteering to write press releases for marketing at my present company led to a journalist role in climate change being offered to me [I'm still in negotiation in whether to take it].
Which grape tattled???
“I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” ~Thomas Jefferson
Eating: Craisin and pitaschio shortbread, looks very festive with the green and red!
Drinking: tea mmm tea!
Listening: to my colleagues laughing. Not at me I hope!
