Tom H.
About me
| Tom H. | |
| English and Related Literature | |
| English | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Wentworth | |
| 1998 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Freelance writer | |
| Myself! | |
| United Kingdom | |
| 2005 |
Like this profile?
Add this profile to your favourites so you can return to it later from your account.
A day in the life of a Freelance writer in the United Kingdom
My career history
1998-1999 Researcher, Books in the Media, Chesham, Buckinghamshire;
1999-2003, Editor, Books in the Media, Bookseller Publications, London;
2003-2005 Publishing Reporter and Charts and Media Manager, The Bookseller, Bookseller Publications, London;
2005 onward, Freelance writer, Lindale, Cumbria;
Courses taken since graduation
None
Where I hope to be in 5 years
I want to broaden the range of people I write for, and would like to write more books. Preferably some bestsellers! But a big advantage of working for yourself is that I can progress in whatever direction I like.
My advice to students considering work
Follow your interests. If you're interested in writing, write - for your studies, for the newspapers, for yourself. Try to specialise and get to know your field. Start building contacts - I never thought networking would get me very far, but it has led me to all sorts of opportunities. Think of ways to get your foot in the door - writing and the media in general are very competitive, so getting that first break is important. But don't worry too much about things either - it might sound flippant to say it but opportunities will present themselves if you go looking for them!
What I do
I am a freelance writer, spending about half my time writing books and the other half working as a journalist, copywriter, editor and other roles in and around the written word! I've written six books about the Lake District and neighbouring areas, including general guidebooks and walking books. I also write regularly for The Bookseller, trade press for the publishing and bookselling industries and the magazine I worked for before going freelance. My other freelance journalism and writing is mostly for companies in the publishing business, though I also write for local magazines and newspapers in the Lake District.
Skills I use and how I developed them
Degree skills:
Studying English taught me plenty of useful research and writing skills. I also improved my working discipline - deadlines have come pretty easily to me since York. Having the chance to read far and wide for three years also helped me to improve my own writing.
Extracurricular skills:
I wrote occasional articles for the student newspapers, though I can't pretend this experience ever opened any doors for me in my career. I wouldn't underestimate the personal skills that I improved over three years at York - these are particularly valuable for journalists.
What I like most
I've always taken great pleasure in writing - before, during and after my time studying English at York - and it's very nice to be able to write for a living. I also enjoy the freedom of working as a freelance - I can pursue the work I'm interested in and steer clear of anything that doesn't appeal! Working for yourself gives you a freedom of time and opportunities that you don't get working for someone else.
What I like least
Pay obviously fluctuates according to the amount of work I have on, and that can sometimes cause uncertainty, though it's never become a major issue for me. And while I generally enjoy working for myself rather than someone else, it does mean there's no one to pay me when I can't work or am on holiday!
What would I change? I'd probably have turned freelance a bit sooner, but I've enjoyed everything I've done so far.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Tom’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Tom a message to find out more about their career journey.