Tag / Freelance writer

by Magdiaries

I’m feeling lucky

I worry.

I worry about late payment and non-payment.

I worry about industry friends who aren’t valued enough, about the talent that’s lost when headcounts are cut.

I worry about thinning walls between advertising and editorial, about writers who don’t need paid because someone else is picking up their tab, about slideshows and pop-ups and weird tricks for flat bellies.

But I still feel lucky.

Lucky to be a freelancer, the perfect role for the imperfect; lucky to have been mentored by passionate, talented people; lucky to love my job as much today as when I started, sixteen years ago.

Gary Marshall | Freelance writer



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

A PhD in magazines

I have a PhD in magazines. Literally.

I’m interested in how they construct an identity for themselves and for their readers and how much that matters on both sides; I remember walking around at college with my copy of sfx artfully arranged so as to poke out of my tote bag, title outwards.

Now I write for magazines when I want to speak to people who care about something as passionately as I do, even if they disagree with me.

Digital is fine, but now that we know each other a little better… do you want to talk paper density?

Georgina Turner | Lecturer, University of Liverpool; Freelance writer



Grub Street Journal
by Magdiaries

Freelance life

The joy. Commissioned. Relief. Still a writer.

Prevarication. Official deadline… passes. Real deadline? Aaargh. Words wrenched from reluctant brain. Anguish: is it any good? Too many words? Again.

Click. Save. Send. Forget.

Time passes.

A magazine. On a shelf. I’m in it! Forgot it existed. In real life. Quick scan; no glaring blunder? Nice headline; I’ll claim it.

Intro changed. My fault. Too many words. Again.

But doesn’t it look lovely? The nice pictures. Shiny paper. Third read; relaxed in its company. Like real writing. By real journalists.

Maybe I’m OK. Onto the next. Then I’ll probably never work again…

Adrian Lobb | Freelance Writer (TV, music, arts)



Grub Street Journal