mizz.jpgI got a rather fabulous message from Pink Lady Emma, over at myspace today:

I think you are totally awesome and I’m completely in love with pink world =]

I just wondered if you had any tips you could share about getting into writing. How do you start off getting into journalism? And what sort of thing can you do to get your work noticed? Anything would be great!

Keep up the good work!

Emma xoxo


To get paid to put words together and actually call it work, rocks.

Now, I’m not saying it’s easy, because writing to deadline, and that’s what writing for publication is all about, is like having homework for the rest of your life, but if you’re cool with that, have a love of words and want to inform and entertain people, then being a writer-girl is deffo for you.

Now, I’m all about the teen mags - I’ve written for teen mags both here and in the US for the past 8 years and I LOVE it! I’ve written for magazines like Mizz, J17, 19, Teen, Cosmogirl, Bliss as a freelance writer girl, basically, freelance means you don’t work for one specific magazine - I work from home and write for lots of different magazines, doing most of my work via email. If you fancy finding out more about my path to journ-o-girlness, you can check out interviews with me here and here.

Writer-girl tips

Get writing - I know it sounds silly, but lots of people talk about wanting to be a writer, yet they don’t actually write.

Get good - Write every day - keep a journal, write lists - keep practicing, the more you write, the better you’ll get.

Get seen - a lot of magazines will ask to see your clips - examples of your published work. Now to get clips, you’ll need to get published. Offer to write for your school/local newspaper - not got one? Start one! Write a blog or create a zine, this not only shows go-for-it girl initiative, it also gives you a space of your own to create something that totally reflects you and your writing style - what better way to showcase your sweet self?!

Get experience - Work experience really is the best way to get into journalism - you might not get the chance to write straight away, but if you show up, work hard and make a good impression, you’ll not only learn all about how magazines and newspapers really work, you’ll stand a good chance of being remembered.

Follow up - I got work experience at my most favourite mag in the whole world, J17 by pestering the then Editor, author-girl Sarra Manning until she gave in and let me come into the office. Now, I don’t condone pestering - but by bombarded her with ideas, I showed how passionate I was about the magazine and about writing and learning, which is why she gave me a chance. I then followed up my experience with lots more ideas, until finally they actually commissioned me, I got to write two features for my fave magazine AND got paid for it! If there’s a mag that you like, get really familiar with the style, and make yourself known without being a pest!

If you have any specific journ-o girl questions, feel free to email or message me up!