The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World

MY modestly-named book,The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips In The World, (yes, it's a light-hearted title) is out now.

Here's a selection of quotes from first feedback and reviews of The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World:

"Very, very good in cutting the fat from the bone and providing excellent advice not only to the aspiring freelance writer but also for those who are beyond the beginner’s stage.... The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World adequately fulfills its obligation as offering down-to-earth practical advice and not the gibberish that we are often accustomed to reading." Bookpleasures.

Selected latest work

Double trouble for lazy authors

Guardian Books Blog

DID you see the BBC’s star-studded adaptation of Little Dorrit at the weekend? It went straight for the ‘evil twin’ cliffhanger as Mrs Flintwich came face to face with her husband’s doppelganger in the dead of night.

Dickens is not the only author to have trodden the well-worn path of mysterious, shady, mischievous or downright evil twins.

I wrote about this in the Guardian's book blog.

Things I have learned as an author

Journalism.co.uk

THIS time last year, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. My first book, the modestly titled Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World had just been published. Holding some initial copies in my quivering hands, I’d felt a rush of pride. Now here I was, preparing for my very own book launch. Then one by one, more than half the confirmed guests dropped out. Read more.

Guardian books blog: Websites for fictional characters is a marketing ploy too far.

Take a Break, How Paul walked his sister up the aisle, despite being paralysed.

Practical Parenting, "What sent me into labour."

FORGET old wives' tales about curries, sex and raspberry leaf tea - these mums share their own real life stories about what really got things moving. Read more

Press Gazette: Coping with the stress of a much-needed holiday.

Brief resume

FROM detailing the horror of receiving big pants for Christmas in Bella, to reporting on the heinous crimes of Fred West for regional media, my career has spanned nearly two decades and seen work published in dozens of publications.

Human interest

The Sun (with John Troupe), Love It: House raid is a cock-up

WHEN Rachel found a policeman at her door asking for a stolen shuttlecock, she couldn't believe her ears. Read more.

Business, careers and technology

The Telegraph: Headhunted on Facebook

AS some companies ban social networks, others are using them to find recruits, says Linda Jones. Read more.

The Guardian: Carving virtual gravestones

MORE and more people are leaving tributes to loved ones on memorial websites, but are they opening themselves up to abuse? Read more.

The Guardian: Member of the twittering classes

MP Alan Johnson is using the microblogging tool in his campaign to be Labour deputy leader. But is it 'potentially the biggest waste of time in the world'? Linda Jones reports. Read more.

Parenting, relationships and health

I'M a former editor of Tamba's Twins, Triplets & More magazine and have written for various newspapers, magazines and websites. 

My blog You've got your hands full has received lovely feedback from parents, as well as being featured by publications including The Times Online and The Telegraph.

Journalism and PR

Press Gazette: How to break into the real-life magazine sector

CRACKING the so-called “real life” women’s weekly market is not only one of the most lucrative areas of freelance journalism, but can also be one of the most daunting. Read more.

Education

The Independent: My daughters' reports are meaningless drivel

SOMETIME in the early Eighties, heading home from school, I was a quivering wreck. My geography teacher had called me "erratic" in my report. Read more

Television

Is this year's Big Brother offensive to twins? Guardian Arts Blog.

MY twin daughters are feeling the Samanda effect - but at least they're not facing questions over being a nasty piece of work like Charley. Read more.