"I'm a Quiet Revolutionary..." she whispered

How Do You (Really) Feel About Your Competition?

Do you love or hate them?

How to Open a Blog Post (So People Keep Reading!)

Why you should save the waffle for breakfast.

My Favourite ‘Mental Health Tips’*

'Unconventional' tips to help perk you up.

How to Write About Yourself (So You Sound Unique and Interesting!)

Nothing and nobody is boring, once we’re able to understand them properly.

Do You Have to Carve Out a Freelance Niche?

In my five years as a freelance writer, I have so far avoided the thing that most people told me I’d eventually have to do, which is to carve out a niche for my writing.

How would you describe 'creative writing'?

Do copywriting and non-fiction count?

How much for a slice of time?

Why time is a valuable commodity.

Is there a secret to good writing?

Why is the Pope "allergic" to adjectives? 

(That's not the start of a joke.)

How to Tame the Fear That Lurks Behind “I Haven’t Got Time to Write”

Strategies to beat your writing monster into submission

Fun Creative Resolutions to Make You Happy in 2021

How to take the pressure off... and just enjoy being creative.

The Art of Asking for Advice (or Why Should I Care if You Want to Be a Writer?)

What's in it for me?

Do You Need Inspiration to Create?

Are you waiting for that bolt of creative lightning?

How to Be (or Stay!) Creative in Lockdown 2

Ideas to help you keep that creative well flowing.

When Schedules, Goals, and Rituals Don’t Work

Why failing to plan could be just what you need to succeed.

How Dare They Criticise Me! How To Make Good Use Of Feedback

How not to drown in other people's opinions.

If You Want To Be Ultra-Creative, Channel Your Weirdness

What are the events, loves, or random quirks of character that really make you, you?

How To Be A Confident Writer

How to write like nobody's reading (in a good way!)

How To Engage Readers With Your Words

How to entice readers into joining your wordy world

Why Should I Write About That, When Others Have Done It Already?

Nobody else can tell a story in quite the same way you can.

All Hail September, Month of New Beginnings

Get ready to shed the skin of summer, and begin a new creative project.

Why (The Right) Words Matter, More Than Ever Before

In these unprecedented times, words count.

(Don’t) Show Your Work: How To Become A Confident Creator

Create like nobody's watching... so that when they are, you're ready.

How to Shape Your Book Idea… So You Can’t Wait to Write it!

Maybe you haven’t done anything with that idea yet, because it’s just too vague.

Why ‘Explain Your Obvious’ is the Secret of Persuasive Writing

Explaining what’s blatantly obvious to you, could turn out to be advertising gold.

Life in the Time of Coronavirus

There’s something reassuring about businesses carrying on as ‘normally’ as they can...

GSOH Required: How to Write an (Effective) Online Dating Profile

"...it’s detail that will make you stand out, and most people aren’t mind readers."

Who Do You Want to Be Today?

This is a story about a career transformation.  And Take That.

Want to Write Like A Human? Mine Your Inner Monologue

"You can’t be on somebody’s side, if you don’t know what they think or how they feel".

Blogging, and the Importance of Bodacious Self-Expression

...they were learning how to express their true feelings in words, and the results were honest, uplifting, and totally magnetic. 

Secret Sauce to Give Your Blog Posts Added Spice

"If you want to grab readers’ attention, you have to start with the heart."

How to Transform Your Blog Into a Book

If you have trouble motivating yourself to write that next blog post, whisper a little reminder: this could be a book one day.

How to Plan Your Career Change CV (Hint: Be Selfish!)

"If you really want to change your career, you have to be determined, and you have to be selfish."

The Trials and Tribulations of the Freelance Holiday

As a freelance writer, taking a break is always a challenge.  But I push on through the guilt, and here's why.

The Magic of Kismet Marketing

Has your marketing strategy got room for some unexpected magic?

SEO Copywriting (and Other Ways to Make Your Business Sound Boring)

Don't write for search engines, write for people.

Transform your career...with help from the humble Creme Egg

How do you eat yours?

The Art of the Written Compliment

If you're too embarrassed to give (or receive!) compliments, writing it all down can work wonders

Looking for a way to beat the January blues? Start with a letter

It's Universal Letter Writing Week - how will you celebrate?

Straight from the heart: how to write irresistible words

When you give people a piece of yourself, you will naturally engage them.

Why giving up on social media is a mistake...

Easy tips to help you fit social media nicely into your life - no mindfulness seminars required.

If you can’t take criticism, don’t be a writer!*

You can always learn from other people's insights - good or bad

Appreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work

How to become every freelancer's favourite client!

Why a degree doesn't equal real-world competence

Sometimes, just putting the work in is enough.

Freelance reflections in the snow

Just like building the perfect snowman, carving out your freelance identity can be tough!

What's in a name? Captivate and connect with simple business stories

Finding the 'what's', 'whys' and 'hows' of your business will help people connect with you.

Break free from your CV: career transformation tips for 2018

Don't let your CV hold you back this year - it's time to think big!

Lone wolf or team worker - which is best?

How to write interesting content for any business (even yours)

Got a book or blog to write? Beat the block and get it done!

November means #NaNoWriMo - so whatever you're working on, it's time to get it done!

How will I sound like me, when you're doing the writing?

Ironically, it's when you're writing about yourself that you will sound least like you.  Hiring a writer to do it for you can bring a whole host of benefits.

Why storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)

Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling

Decoding the mystery of SEO

"SEO" is an often confusing term for those not well-versed in website maintenance.  In reality, it's not quite as confusing as you might think!

Take control of your career this summer

Take advantage of summer downtime to learn and grow in your career - or discover a new one!

Why being old is great for business

Age aint nothing but a number, right?  Wrong - here's how getting older can be great for business.

How to brief your copywriter

Trusting someone else with your words can be one of the best things you do for your business - but it has to be done properly!

Why you definitely shouldn't write a book in a weekend!

Writing books is big business - or at least it can be, if you get it right.  For starters, this means not rushing the process!

Read this before you publish you're next blog post!

Do you edit your work before you publish it?

How to beat those pre-presentation jitters

Standing up and presenting to a group of people is something that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most confident people - so if you're an introvert like me, it can really be the stuff of nightmares!  Here's how I tackle my nerves head-on, with some careful preparation and relatable content.

Create a schedule you can stick to (it's not as hard as you think!)

Creating a schedule can be a difficult task, especially when you're planning for work you're not being paid for - or that nobody is expecting!  Here's how to get started on crafting a time plan that will work for you.

Home truths for aspiring remote workers

Remote working is on the increase - so here's some advice on how to work it well!

Real-life lessons I learned from changing my career

I'm a 'Success Story'!  My career change journey was featured on Careershifters' website this week, and I'm incredibly proud of it.  But I wouldn't want anybody to think changing my career has been easy.  And so this is a reflection of sorts, on where I was when I began, and how I've ended up where I am now.

For that special person who has everything, give the gift of words

If you know someone who already has everything, give them something truly unique - special words.

The truth about blogging for business

Are you reading this over coffee, or maybe as you wait for a late train?  Blogging for business is a handy way to keep in regular contact with your followers and show them the human side of your company, but it can be difficult to keep it going once you've started.  It's worth it, though - so here are a few tips to keep your blog posts consistent and entertaining.

“Telling it like it is” – giving effective feedback in writing

There's a new trend sweeping Silicon Valley - giving honest and direct feedback to your colleagues.  Before you go rushing in, focus your message by writing it down first...your colleagues and your career will thank you for it!

Share your expertise - write a business book!

All those celebrated business gurus had to start somewhere...and the most successful ones know how to tell their stories in a relatable way that inspires others to act on their dreams and ideas.  By writing a business book, you can do just that yourself!

Read this before you write your next recruitment ad!

Writing a recruitment ad is often a rushed activity, with the words used ones you've read many times before ("dynamic" anyone?)  Here's how the Banks children managed to recruit their ideal candidate - Mary Poppins! - by using clear and creative words that stood out.

The bracing benefits of a car-free business life

What better way to kick off a new year by getting out into the fresh air?  Here's how I manage a busy working life as a non-driver - and it's not as hard as you might think!

Give yourself a special Christmas gift...a happy working life in 2017!

If you're stuck in a job you don't particularly like, mindlessly searching job boards for something else, it can be hard to dredge up any enthusiasm to make a change.  But that little bit of rest time between Christmas and a brand new year beginning is perfect for considering exactly what you want, and how to take the very first step towards making 2017 your happy work year!

How to write your life story

With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story?  Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come.  Here's how to get started.

Writing to get what you want at work!

Have you ever thought that making a few tweaks to your working life would help make living it much easier?  Harness the power of well-chosen words to state your case and win better work-life balance in the process.

How to pinpoint useful e-information for your business…without going crazy in the crowd!

Are you often left with the feeling that you don't quite know enough about all the online tools you can use to promote your business?  How about website analytics...shouldn't you be checking them every five minutes just like the experts say?  Relax - here's how to take advantage of all the advice available online, by defining exactly what YOU want to know.

Fitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed

Is time getting the better of you?  With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively.  Here's how you can do the same.

Use your sense of style to build trust and win business!

Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications?  Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.

Ghost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work

BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.

"I'm a Quiet Revolutionary..." she whispered

I'm very proud indeed to be featured as this week's 'Quiet Revolutionary' - a celebration of all things introverted.

How I escaped the corporate cage and set myself firmly on the ‘write’ career path!

An encounter with a corporate headhunter made me question my career - why was I still doing something I didn't love?  Here's how I formulated my corporate escape plan and found a career I truly enjoy.

Personal copywriting - attract a new boss AND a new relationship with the perfect profile!

Are your online profiles a bit lacklustre?  Don't waste a perfect opportunity to speak directly to the boss or partner of your dreams - use the power of personal copywriting to describe what makes you, you - and get ready to reap the rewards!

The (Not-So) Secret Life of an HR Manager

Ever wonder what your HR Manager is really thinking, or what they do all day?  I worked in this oft-misunderstood profession for a number of years and now I'm safely out of it, I'm free to vent!

Going it alone - surviving self-employment

Going it alone, releasing yourself from the shackles of a traditional nine-to-five, is exhilarating.  It's also incredibly scary!  To celebrate my first quarter-year in business, here are some of the most important lessons I've learned from the front line.

Blogging - not just for hipsters and sicksters*

Regular blog posts - especially if you run a business - can drastically increase your following, as well as helping you beat the competition by describing how you do things your way.  Read on for a few more great reasons why you should join the blogging revolution!

Making meaningful business connections…in writing

Speaking up in networking groups used to bring me out in a cold sweat.  So I sought out the people I really wanted to talk to and introduced myself in the way I'm best at - in writing.