Editor -- Housing DigitalManaging Editor -- Build in Digital

It's my privilege to be counted among the talented authors signed up with independent small press, Inspired Quill. In my case, I'm the author of the dark urban fantasy, SILAS MORLOCK (2013), and the dystopian science fiction thriller, CITIZEN ZERO (2017), both of which are available in paperback and digital editions.From a practical perspective, an author's working life isn't all about staring at a blank screen until the eyeballs bleed: there's plenty of ongoing side projects necessary to support a public profile. Chiefly:Author Website & Blog: tykewriter.wordpress.com* Designed and built using Wordpress, Tykewriter represents the 'shop window', primary information source for potential readers/fans, and a 'gateway' to wider online activities. The site is kept under constant review for new elements, including SEO and user experience* The blog has maintained a weekly update schedule since its launch in mid-2017, so sourcing stories and ideas (as well as open source images) is a big part of the process. A trick of the journalism trade (press releases) helps to deliver and sustain a variety of quality content* Posts may be a little unconventional in standard blogging terms, but it means the site transcends the 'me me me' hard sell it might otherwise become. Typical themes cover science, technology, culture, society and politics, literature and moreSocial Media* Currently active on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads to share links, post micro-comments, promote published works, and engage or otherwise interact with peers and potential readers alikeEvents* In-person events may be occasional occurrences, but they are prime opportunities to represent my work, my publisher, and myself. The trick is to avoid the hard sell, be professional, but just share the mutual love of booksNaturally, these activities require editing skills and clear communication, be that in copy writing, pitching ideas, or in designing memes with Canva.

Launch Editor: Northern Housing magazine* Crosby's first independent quarterly magazine, with an associated daily news website, aimed at social housing professionals in the North of England* Editorial content presented a mix of news, features, industry interviews, and incisive commentary on hot topics affecting the sector* Remit and target audience similar to Excel's Housing magazine (see below) but with a distinctly Northern 'flavour' and 'attitude'* Sourced, researched and wrote news, features, interviews, edited contributed articles* Represented magazine at industry events, such as Northern Housing Awards

Duties covered producing editorial content; commissioning articles; editing and proofreading; general copywriting such as event blurbs, web page copy, advertorials; social media. Primary responsibilities:Editor/Journalist, NFB Regional Review; NFB Heritage & Traditional Building* A set of quarterly magazines published on behalf of the National Federation of Builders* Sourced and wrote news and features relevant to SME construction sector* Liaised with client over content and contributions; sub-edited supplied copy* Interviewed selected members to generate company profiles for each issue* Represented magazines at NFB events, such as the organisation's annual awards ceremonyJournalist, The Voice* Quarterly magazine published on behalf of North & Western Lancs Chamber of Commerce* Liaised with client to produce each issue's cover story interview

Formerly Excel Publishing* Duties remained essentially the same as they were under the company's previous incarnation* To recap, primarily research and write news and features for the bi-monthly print title Housing magazine, covering the social housing industry in England and Wales*Also sourced and produced news on a daily basis for the magazine's associated website* Additionally, contributed features and news to sister title Timber in Construction* Other regular aspects of the job included conducting set-piece interviews and writing features for various contract titles

Excel was a B2B publisher with a wide-ranging portfolio of in-house and contract publications. Primary duties included:* Writing news; set-piece interviews; issue- or topic-based features; extended news analysis; commentary and opinion; advertorials* Working on Housing magazine (a bi-monthly print publication); Housing Excellence (a daily news website); Timber in Construction (a quarterly, print publication) and its associated news website *Interviewing key industry figures, including Lord Best, George Clarke and Terry Waite* Contributing features to Local Government Executive, Builder & Engineer, Master Builder, and Elements magazines (latter two both contract titles) * Using the content management system Drupal*Providing ad-hoc copywriting for company events and advertisers* Sub-editing colleagues' work, proofing pages, and writing headlines * Making use of appropriate social media and SEO to enhance editorial reach

A brief aside from my main role on Housing magazine, I was tasked to provide book reviews for the arts and entertainments section of this news and current affairs website, Cheshire Today

A sideline focusing largely on the grass roots creative writing scene, I provided regular freelance news reports for this market-leading publication

Tyke Writer was a monthly newsletter produced on behalf of Interchange (Bradford Writers' Network), a local group of poets and creative writers * A simple four-page A4 micro-publication, it nevertheless strived to present quality content, offering news and features relevant to creative writers* Tasks included writing articles, editing supplied material, and designing the newsletter

* Worked as part of a small team of volunteers helping to publicise the activities of this local community theatre* Contributed towards copywriting and press relations work

World Textile Publications produced a portfolio of journals and magazines aimed at an international audience covering all aspects of the textile industry* Primarily worked on International Dyer, but also contributed material for Textile Horizons and Textile Month* Duties included: news and feature writing, sourcing stories, interviewing industry figures, editing supplied copy, working with design team to put together pages, proofreading editions prior to press