Freelance Writing Jobs: The Guardian, Vittles, Financial Times
It's a great week for writers in Scotland.
Free Workshop: Marketing for Writers
Thursday 23rd January, 7pm GMT
You want a platform or bigger audience, but what's the next step? Find out in Amber Petty's Marketing for Writers Open House – 60 minutes devoted to your individual questions about marketing. Find out if you need a Substack, what social media is best for you (or if you need it at all), and how to promote your project without saying "buy my book" 500 times. Amber's grown her newsletter to 11,000 subscribers and runs a 6 figure business because of it, and she'd like to help you get more eyes on your work. This open house is one time only event.
"A career-changing book... if you're thinking about going freelance, read this first," says GQ’s Oliver Franklin-Wallis.
My book The Pyjama Myth: the Freelance Writer's Survival Guide will make you a better, happier freelancer and you can order your copy from Bookshop.
Hello! How are you doing this week? I’ve been a bit in limbo – fleshing out long-term plans that make short-term plans tricky, waiting for news. It’s been a slow start to 2025 and I prefer to come right out of the gate like a greyhound. I’m trying to embrace the slow pace – I can feel my novel draft tugging at my sleeve, I’m starting a ceramics class on Monday, and I’ve gone all in on a book that’s pushing 1000 pages, instead of racing through new releases. I have to admit, when I can quiet my brain about all the things I think I should be doing, I’m enjoying it.
There’s so much good stuff available to paid newsletter subscribers this month!
Look out for monthly interviews with editors looking for pitches, like this one with GQ’s Oliver Franklin-Wallis.
The monthly round-up, packed with writing residences, awards and bursaries all with upcoming deadlines lands this weekend.
Plus you’ll get the weekly newsletter 24 hours in advance. All for just £5 a month.
Claire Köksal, my lovely editor on WIZZ Air’s inflight magazine, is looking for a writer who knows Armenia well for an article in the next issue. Dortmund ideas welcome, too. Quick deadline for pitches – email by EOP today. Email address is in her bio.
Anna Evdokimou at APL Media is looking for writers with extensive knowledge of Qatar for some upcoming commissions.
Faima Bakar at The Mirror is open to pitches from freelancers. Human interest, real-life stories, celeb interviews – all sorts of things.
Harriet Fitch-Little at the Financial Times is looking for food and restaurant pitches for a future project.
Another one for food writers: Vittles is open for pitches for its cooking series.
Newsquest is hiring a part-time reporter to cover its Andover publications.
The Royal Astronomical Society is taking on a part-time editor for its members’ magazine Astronomy & Geophysics.
Can you fix it? Construction company Willmott Dixon is hiring a part-time project journalist.
Wriggle Marketing is looking for a part-time content strategist.
Accountancy firm Shorts needs a digital content lead to work part-time.
This one’s a little different. The Sandford St Martin Awards is for audio and visual media, but there’s a journalism category so there’s definitely some crossover for some of you.
Bitter Lemon Press is hiring a freelance collaborator.
Here’s a gig for a part-time head of publishing for a publisher based in the south east. It’s with a recruiter so I can’t tell you who its with.
ArtfulScribe is commissioning three experienced writers to run workshops on a new housing development in West Waterlooville.
Hosking Houses Trust is open for applications from writers for its residency.
The National Centre of Writing and Suffolk Libraries have teamed up to launch Bound/Unbound, creative residency for poets.
That’s alongside the Suffolk Libraries vacancy for a storyteller-in-residence.
The AOP Digital Publishing Awards are open for entries. Most have an entry fee, but the local journalism category is free to enter.
The Guardian has renamed the Hugo Young Award. It’s now the Emerging Voice Awards and it’s open for young political writers (up to the age of 25) from a state school background.
The BBC National Short Story Award is open for entries. You’ll need to have a strong publishing history to submit to this one.
The Women’s Prize for Playwriting is open for submissions.
It’s a really great issue for writers in Scotland: Cove Park is offering four fully funded residencies in 2025 for creatives based in Scotland whose careers have been impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis.
The Dr Gavin Wallace Fellowship is open for entries from mid-career writers. I can’t see a mention of this on the page itself, but I’m fairly sure you have to be based in Scotland to apply for this one.
This sounds interesting – Creative Scotland’s creative industries fund Go See Share is open for applications from creatives living and working in Scotland who need funding for trips and remote meetings.
Last one of the week before I go and put the finishing touches to my new project (more soon, eeek!): Gutter Mag is hosting a series of workshops for writers in Scotland who are finishing their first book.
Loved this week’s issue? Hit that heart button, share with a freelance friend or buy me a cuppa.
And finally: next on the reading list | weekend baking plans | theatre plans.
I'm Sian Meades-Williams. I'm a freelance writer, author and poet and I was the winner of the 2022 Yeovil Literary Prize. My book The Pyjama Myth: the Freelance Writer's Survival Guide will make you a better, happier freelancer and it’s out now.
Best of luck with your pitches this week!