Advice

I’ve reported on health for NHS Choices, The Independent, Take a Break, and many more publications. I provided a bank of NHS content, including on weight loss and healthier eating habits. At the time I was 17 stone — really not good for my 5ft 4 frame. On the way to developing Type 2 diabetes, […]

I’ve just been made editor of a new publication, and that has involved inviting pitches from writers. It’s an exciting new role. I’ve had some wonderful features suggested and now delivered or well under way by some fabulous writers. But I’ve also had some stinkers. The number one thing that shines out of the ones

Once when I filed copy about an inspiring bride for a best-selling women’s magazine, a sub editor pointed out: “You haven’t said what colour shoes she was wearing.” On a regional evening paper where I started out, writing about an armed robbery at a fuel station, a sub’s enquiry came: ‘Was the victim buying petrol

‘Write what you know’ is great advice of course for anyone pitching features to UK national newspapers and magazines. That’s why I’ve contributed a lot about parenting, twins in particular, grief, weight loss, health and more. But sometimes the opposite is true, fulfilling a brief to file on precisely what you don’t know can be