The best piece of writing advice I ever received was when I was doing work experience with Ink Global, an in-flight travel magazine publisher.

I was asked to write a short list of five-day trips from Brisbane, Australia for Etihad Airlines Atlas magazine. I researched, chose five locations, looked at some photos, and wrote my piece.

Later that day, the editor handed me a printout of my article covered in red ink. She said I'd used a lot of words like 'beautiful' and 'gorgeous' (a word she hated with a burning passion) without telling the reader what was so beautiful or gorgeous about the place.

She asked me to try and create a word picture and show, rather than tell, the reader what the locations looked like. To help them see, in their minds eye, the silver waterfalls or patchwork fields.

This simple piece of advice has stuck with me as I wrote the article for my final year project, which would be published in Prospect Magazine, and through my six and a half years writing for Dirt & Glory Media.

I always have it in mind when doing my freelance work - whether that be writing reviews of Matthew Bourne's ballets at Sadler's Wells or creating an SEO optimised blog post designed to help potential buyers choose between a period property or a new build in Bournemouth.

So Who Am I? 

I'm Sophia, a freelance journalist, copywriter, and editor with nine years of experience as a professional writer. I love conducting in-depth interviews and finding out what people know and how they live.

In 2015, I was working in a call center and, powered by red bull and existential dread, I started four blogs: a vegetarian cooking blog, a lifestyle, current events, and reviews blog, and two travel blogs called Europe Via Bus and The Flying Vegetarian - which is still my Instagram handle!

Broke In London (and abroad)

I left the call centre in 2016 to pursue a career as a full-time freelance writer. Armed with minimal experience and matching savings, I spent the next year and a bit travelling around Europe and writing for the aptly named Broke In London.

This was around the time I started my eight-year collaborative relationship with The Upcoming, which has given me the chance to attend over 100 press nights, film screenings, gallery openings, and launch parties. They've even sent me on a press trip to Paris!

I also spent this year ghostwriting buyers' guides and product reviews about vacuum cleaners, lawnmowers, hair dryers, and other products.

City, University of London

In 2017, I started my master's degree in Magazine Journalism at City, University of London. This intensive course sent me on work placements with The Drinks Business and Prospect Magazine in addition to Ink Global, which gave me experience with B2B, branded content, and consumer publications.

In our first term, we were given a beat in North London, where we had to source and write a weekly news article about our area. I also took classes in:

•Interview technique. I learned that you plan your questions ahead of time but then remember to listen to your interviewee and follow up on interesting points.

•Feature writing. We would be given a specific publication, like The Telegraph or Time Out, and be asked to write an article tailored to that audience.

•Media ethics. We debated conundrums like: is the public interest more important than a promise you made to a dying man?

•Media law. You can take photos of people in public places where they can reasonably expect to be filmed, but you can't spy on private property.

•I was the assistant social media assistant for X City, an annual print and digital magazine aimed at City University alumni.

Dirt & Glory Media

After graduating, I got a job as an editorial assistant at Dirt & Glory Media, a marketing agency. From 2018-2025 I worked with one of the company's biggest clients, the morning after pill ellaOne.

I had the opportunity to interview pharmacists, menstrual cycle coaches, sex educators, museum curators, and authors for My Morning After: ellaOne's digital lifestyle magazine.

I also worked closely with the SEO team to make sure our content was ranking while ensuring the articles still felt like they were written by humans.

When I was promoted to editor in 2020, I got to create tone of voice guidelines, editorial calendars, and oversee how social and editorial were working together to promote the brand.

HRA (now Perrigo), the company behind ellaOne, launched a new product called Hana in 2021. This was the first contraceptive pill to become available via pharmacy without a doctor's appointment in the UK.

As editor for both brands, I worked with the creative director, managing director, and other creatives in the company to plan brand guidelines, annual planning decks, social boosting schedules, and vox pop days where we would take to the streets of London and interview people about contraception and sex for ellaOne and Hana's reels and TikTok videos.

In 2023, I worked with six freelance writers to create the third edition of A Letter To, ellaOne's first-person guest series, where contributors would write a letter to their younger selves or someone from their past.

I led the newsletter ECRM campaign for Hana in 2024. We created 12 initial emails to fulfill different stages of the pre and post purchase journey, monitored their results, and then created monthly newsletters dedicated to specific themes (I.e. the history of the pill) to promote Hana's blog. 

In addition to female sexual health, I also spent six and a half years writing articles for Flexiseq, a drug-free gel for people with arthritis and sore joints. I always loved writing those articles - all my pieces were backed up by expert insights and it really felt like the advice we gave could empower and inform people.

Times change, and unfortunately, the need for my long-form feature articles wasn't what it used to be, so I was made redundant in February 2025. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from such talented and interesting people.

Freelance Writer Part Two: 2025 And Beyond

Since February, I've been travelling around India and Nepal and I'm currently in a small Himalayan town in Himachal Pradesh, India. I'm looking at snow-spattered mountains and rows of cedar and pine trees right now.

I'm excited to start freelancing full time again, armed with almost a decade of experience and a bunch of new skills. Get in touch if you'd like to work with me!