Why did you choose to become a freelancer?
I went full-time freelance in 2001 after five years of combining a part-time staff post with freelance work. It was a good way to get used to the lifestyle and build up enough clients to know I could make a go of it while maintaining some security. I'd always wanted to be freelance, really, because I like the (relative) freedom of working for myself. In reality, it's working for lots of people rather than one employer, but at least you have some degree of control. I also like working from home, which I do most of the time, and being freelance has enabled me to take interesting and varied jobs that I might not have been able to otherwise.
If you trained, where? If not, how did you become a freelancer?
I trained as a journalist on a three-month post-graduate course in London for people interested in what they called 'periodical journalism'. I'd been writing for magazines anyway but thought I should get some training once I decided it was definitely what I wanted to do. I'm glad I did as I learned a lot. At some point I also took a one-day introduction course on freelancing run by the NUJ. That was very good for practicalities, pitfalls, tips, and all that. They still run it, I think.
Do you specialise in any particular field and what areas do you write about?
I have written about all sorts of things in my time, from human rights and equalities to education, the voluntary sector, local government, politics, literature, all manner of 'human interest' stuff - but I suppose my specialism is sport, generally, and, specifically, athletics. I have reported from the last four Olympic Games, the last three Paralympic Games, and numerous world and European championships, Commonwealth Games, and other events.
Which publications have you been published in?
Too many to remember them all but the 'big name' ones would be the Guardian, the Observer, the Sunday Times, the Telegraph, New Statesman, Time Out, Times Educational Supplement … I'm sure I've forgotten some. My sports stuff has mostly been in magazines such as When Saturday Comes and Athletics Weekly, and on specialist sports websites, mostly athletics. I have also worked for many news agencies and services reporting from major events for organisations such as international federations, the British Paralympic Association, London Marathon, Team England at the Commonwealth Games, and so on.
Which articles, in which publication, are you the most proud of?
One of the first (of many) features I wrote about racism in football, which was in When Saturday Comes years ago, and raised an issue about Asian football that not many were talking about at the time. Plus, some of the features I wrote for TES were OK, I think.
What are the best and worst aspects of freelancing?
Best: working from home, having no immediate 'boss' or single employer, having some degree of control over what you do, having some freedom to do other things with your day (sometimes).
Worst: the insecurity can be hard at times, but so can the fact you do have to take work you don't really want to do just for the money. It can also be isolating and it's easy to feel no-one knows you exist. Except for a very few, it's not a route to riches or fame, if that's what you're after. Freelance writing is low-paid work, mostly (and getting lower).
Do you have any interesting anecdotes in relation to your experience as a freelancer?
I'm hopeless at remembering such things. I have had one or two bad instances when a publication I've sent commissioned material to has disappeared without paying, and publishers are always trying to grab your rights or pay late.
On the lighter side, I write much of the London Marathon's online editorial content for their website in the run-up to race day. I am regarded as the person with the least interest in the whole celebrity side of the event but when Katie Price came in to do a press conference a couple of years ago, followed by her own entourage and TV crew, it was my face that somehow ended up, larger than life, on her TV programme. I didn't see it (of course) but the rest of the staff thought it was very funny and are fond of reminding me. Talking of celebrities, I also once ran into Kylie Minogue in the tunnel under the Sydney Olympic stadium. She was adjusting her headdress, about to go and perform at the opening ceremony.
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