Post #816404

Well, I suppose it's time for one of those posts looking back at the working year, isn't it? Put simply, did I expect 2025 to be the year I went freelance? In all honesty, probably not, but circumstances pushed me down that path. (I got laid off by the company I worked for not long after they were bought by a private equity firm...) But, I think even though I'm really still making my first tentative steps at making things work for myself and as my own, for want of a better phrase, 'brand', it can count as successful so far, I think? At a fundamental level, working for myself is doing more than enough to keep a roof over my head and pay the bills, so that's good! On a more professional level, I'm so pleased with all the new publications and podcasts I've been able to work with this year - while it's also been satisfying to provide editorial consultation for companies and agencies behind the scenes. (Turns out you don't spent 15 years working as a journalist without learning a thing or two on what makes good writing and narrative storytelling, huh?) But it hasn't been easy. I didn't anticipate how quiet opportunities would get in the summer which caused a bit of a panic, but I know now for next year to organise the budgeting so that the August lull doesn't have me worrying about paying the bills. (Or maybe I should just go away on holiday? Or figure out a way of getting to that big cybersecurity conference in the US that month without destroying my bank balance...) But overall, despite the challenging start to the year, I'm pleased with how things have gone. And not to be all vague and mysterious, but I've got a very interesting opportunity on the horizon, but that can wait until 2026. Thank you to everyone who has commissioned me, read my articles, shared my posts and just generally supported me this year, it's really, really, appreciated. Have a good Christmas break!