ABOUT

So what do you actually do?

My job as a freelancer and writer involves coming up with lots of unique story ideas, writing accurate and engaging copy, and filing my work to meet tight deadlines.

What has your career path been?

I was lucky enough to study English Literature at Leeds University for my undergraduate degree before going on to study Renaissance Literature for my masters at Cambridge.

I got into freelancing during my masters and then my burgeoning freelance portfolio helped me land my first full-time writing job with culture website Eighties Kids.

What is the best part of your job?

I get to be creative and write - as a child I dreamed of one day writing to earn a living, so I am always incredibly grateful that I have ultimately ended up in a job where I love what I do.

Why do you do your job?

Reading other people’s work will always inspire me to keep going and be the best writer that I can be.

Just when I think I’m getting the hang of things I’ll read something truly astounding, and I’ll think - I want to write like that!

One piece of advice for someone starting in your role?

For anyone looking to get into writing, I would simply say don’t overthink!

I often get asked for advice on freelancing and so many people are terrified to send off their first pitch out of fear of rejection. It can be daunting and it’s an industry rife with impostor syndrome, but honestly, you’ve just got to believe in yourself and go for it.

Check out Serena’s socials below!

DAY IN THE LIFE

Morning

I’m honestly not a morning person at all, so as my job is remote, I’ll get up as late as possible - usually around 8am. I’ll curl up in front of the news with a cup of tea and doomscroll on Twitter for a bit - a habit I’m trying to break! Before then getting dressed and ready for the day.

I’ll then check my emails and do any freelance admin - chasing case studies, sending invoices, drafting pitches - before starting work at 9am.

I work full-time as a content writer for a website called Eighties Kids, so I’ll usually be assigned something to research and write about in the morning and spend the whole day working on that. The content varies slightly from day to day, but usually I’ll be writing up fact posts about 80s celebrities.

Evening 

Once I finish work I like to relax by going for a walk and listening to music or a podcast. I suffer from seasonal affective disorder, so it’s so important for my mental health that I get outside for a bit of exercise and fresh air every day. I might pop into Sainsbury’s and grab a treat on the way back home, then when I’m back I like to unwind by having a bath or shower. 

Depending on my mood or if I have any articles due, I might then meet up with my friends, binge-watch a TV show (I’m loving Selling Sunset at the moment), or do some more writing work. I try to be in bed by 10:30pm, as I get grumpy if I don’t get a good night’s sleep!