Glad you asked. I've been a writer for most of my life, starting with being an obsessively accurate speller and correcting anyone who couldn't spell our teacher's name at the age of six.
I've always loved learning (I was one of the weird kids who quite enjoyed going to school), and being a journalist means becoming an expert on anything you're writing at that moment - which means I get to learn all sorts.
So how did that happen?
Well. After studying at Goldsmiths (the uni, not the jewellers), I stayed in London and went on to:
I then started at Wahanda in October 2008 as a part time, wide-eyed intern and absorbed as much as I could before they offered me a full time role in January '09.
The role and site flourished very quickly and I soon became their Site Editor. This involved creating and writing themed newsletters to our customer base and supplier base; managing my rather brilliant interns; commissioning and editing their blogs; site merchandising; working on partnerships; PR and outreach; managing the Twitter accounts for the company; setting and maintaining the site's tone of voice and style; and making sure people understand 4pm is the ideal time for tea and biscuits.
After four tough but rewarding years at the health and beauty marketplace, I said my goodbyes in November 2012 in order to pursue my dream of working for journalists, with journalists, and as a journalist in the world of beauty. I'm now the Production Editor for expert beauty site Get the Gloss and can't wait to see where it takes me.
Anything else?
Outside of my day job I still freelance for a variety of sites so that I can keep learning and keep writing. I still dream of being an author of women's fiction, a columnist and generally someone whose strong opinions on anything from the X Factor, the latest Bruce Willis film or a new beauty product might be heard, and perhaps even agreed with - so if you need any of the above, do say hello.
Likes:
What's this site for?
As well as posting recent work (or links to it at least), this site is where I blog, so beware of the odd rant or two; I tend to talk about TV, beauty products, and the happy highs and occasional lows of being a girl in her twenties who wishes there was a rule book to this life malarky.
Where I studied stuff
I studied my BA in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London from 2005 - 2008 and achieved First Class Honours. The course was split evenly between practical and theoretical modules. That means I wasn't in the library all the time, but I did go there. Sometimes.
For the practical half I chose Photography for one term, to continue my love of it from studying at A Level, and then chose to specialise in Journalism. Taught by fantastic freelancers Kate Hilpern and Ellie Levenson, I produced work relevant for both print and online publications, including real life stories, features, and news pieces. I played with InDesign, found out what HTML was (sort of) and learned that the key to writing well was in the re-writing. Who knew?
* Disclosure *
Some of the content on this site comes about because I've been offered the chance to try something out, such as a beauty product or fitness class. If I haven't paid for it, I'll let you know, but either way I'm honest about whether it's any good.
I've always loved learning (I was one of the weird kids who quite enjoyed going to school), and being a journalist means becoming an expert on anything you're writing at that moment - which means I get to learn all sorts.
So how did that happen?
Well. After studying at Goldsmiths (the uni, not the jewellers), I stayed in London and went on to:
- Freelance for UKTV Food on their Local Food Hero project
- Have five weeks of fun at Inside Soap magazine on an internship that allowed me to swoon over Robert Kazinsky on a daily basis
- Continue my perfect job of reviewing clubs, bars and their rather strong cocktails for View London.
The role and site flourished very quickly and I soon became their Site Editor. This involved creating and writing themed newsletters to our customer base and supplier base; managing my rather brilliant interns; commissioning and editing their blogs; site merchandising; working on partnerships; PR and outreach; managing the Twitter accounts for the company; setting and maintaining the site's tone of voice and style; and making sure people understand 4pm is the ideal time for tea and biscuits.
Anything else?
Outside of my day job I still freelance for a variety of sites so that I can keep learning and keep writing. I still dream of being an author of women's fiction, a columnist and generally someone whose strong opinions on anything from the X Factor, the latest Bruce Willis film or a new beauty product might be heard, and perhaps even agreed with - so if you need any of the above, do say hello.
Likes:
- Attention to detail. It's necessary.
- Writing that makes me laugh out loud. In public.
- Watching TV, just so I can rant about it on Twitter.
- Film - that should be under 'loves' really. Especially if Matt Damon stars.
- Beauty. I discovered mascara aged 12 and never looked back.
- Anything I can't write about.
- Clowns.
- Tupperware. Well, you asked.
What's this site for?
As well as posting recent work (or links to it at least), this site is where I blog, so beware of the odd rant or two; I tend to talk about TV, beauty products, and the happy highs and occasional lows of being a girl in her twenties who wishes there was a rule book to this life malarky.
Where I studied stuff
I studied my BA in Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London from 2005 - 2008 and achieved First Class Honours. The course was split evenly between practical and theoretical modules. That means I wasn't in the library all the time, but I did go there. Sometimes.
For the practical half I chose Photography for one term, to continue my love of it from studying at A Level, and then chose to specialise in Journalism. Taught by fantastic freelancers Kate Hilpern and Ellie Levenson, I produced work relevant for both print and online publications, including real life stories, features, and news pieces. I played with InDesign, found out what HTML was (sort of) and learned that the key to writing well was in the re-writing. Who knew?
* Disclosure *
Some of the content on this site comes about because I've been offered the chance to try something out, such as a beauty product or fitness class. If I haven't paid for it, I'll let you know, but either way I'm honest about whether it's any good.
