2019 - A Year in Words

I would like to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has supported my freelance writing business in 2019. It’s been quite an adventure. This time of year is always a good time to reflect, and so I’ve done a little thinking about what’s been happening in the world of Nicola Greenbrook - Freelance Writer this year.

Writing for some amazing clients has definitely been a highlight. This year was was my second year writing for Harris Hill, the UK’s leading charity recruitment specialist. I’m a contributing writer for their rather excellent blog and in 2019 I covered a diverse range of topics, including How to Leave a Job Gracefully (where I was allowed to include the best leaving a job scene EVER) and How to Turn Rejection into a Success Story. I also attempted to tackle perhaps one of the most difficult subjects in our modern, crazy world - How to Switch Off.

I also had the chance to interview two inspiring leaders from the charity sector, gaining an insight into the inner workings of the UK’s most successful charities and what makes the people that run them tick (as well as being nosey and asking what they eat for breakfast and what they’re watching on Netflix - ESSENTIAL TO KNOW). I’m looking forward to working with Harris Hill again in 2020.

I loved rocking out for RockShot Magazine, an online music magazine where I’ve been a contributing writer for over three years now. I reviewed four gigs which were all different but totally brilliant in their own way; the most fantastic witchy feminist rock star around, Maggie Rogers at Brixton Academy, Loyle Carner who nearly brought the vaults down at London’s House of Van’s and Luke Carey who was the undisputed king of The Dublin Castle. I also caught Hannah Wicklund & the Steppin’ Stones who blew my mind at O2 Academy 2. I premiered two singles, William Poyer’s April release of the hauntingly lovely Weight in Gold and the poetic brilliance of Loyle Carner’s You Don’t Know. I went back to 1999 for National Album Day 2019, selecting Foo Fighters’ There is Nothing Left to Lose and contributed my favourite five to RockShot’s mammoth Albums of The Year 2019. You have to check out the amazing list from my fellow writers and photographers - listening pleasure that’ll take you well into 2020 and beyond.

In 2019 I took a deep breath and attempted to overcome pesky imposter syndrome by putting myself out there and NETWORKING. To say I’m glad I did is an understatement. I joined Hive Collective - a network for freelance creatives or people with their own businesses, whose aim is to inspire local business people to learn and grow. Not only did I expand my knowledge and boost my business confidence, I gained some fantastic new clients. I met Alexandria Hall, a London-based photographer who specialises in weddings, fashion, portraiture and more and wrote her About Me page and other content for her website. I also got the chance to work with London-based artist and lingerie, fashion and empowerment photographer Patrick Falaniko and write content for his very stylish website. I’ve also met a lovely bunch of people who lift each other up and support each other’s businesses.

This year I had my words published again in a magazine that I could actually hold in my hands. I interviewed the founders of Hive Collective, Nathalina Harrison and Carmel King for The E List Magazine (see pages 26-27), and I’m delighted to be on board as their writer along with some brilliant local collaborators and partners. I write the Hive Success Stories series; where small businesses and creatives in Waltham Forest and beyond tell their stories of success since joining the collective.

In the summer, once my son was in bed and everything else was DONE, I pulled many 2.00am finishes, drank too much coffee and weeped just a little bit before finally launching my new website. It’s work in progress, and in no way finished, but it’s a start. I was fortunate to work with Sauce Music once again this year, a London-based consultancy that sources high-quality DJs for illustrious events across the best city in the world. I’m a London devotee in case you hadn’t noticed.

Another huge highlight was being interviewed by freelance writer, interviewer and podcast host Rachel Matthews, for her Corporate2Creative series. In the series, Rachel speaks to people who have navigated a bold career change and offers insight into the (sometimes not so-glamorous) realties of transitioning to a creative life. In our interview, Rachel converted my ramblings over a glass of red into a brilliantly written up article that encouraged me to actually take a deep breath, sit back and reflect on my career path and choices up until to the present moment.

The interview with Rachel was a turning point. It allowed me to actually give myself some credit for balancing my HR career with landing with a bump into the freelance writing world (a dream come true) and taking off on this exciting but often terrifying journey. Lots of plates are being spun, but I’m giving it my best spin.

As well as client work, I write for myself. In 2019 I reflected on the Things I Found Out by 40, wrote to my eighteen year old self with some sage advice on What I Wish I’d Known and celebrated my ultimate feminist role model, aged five, Matilda.

Frustrated with the spotlight being shone on so called ‘influencers’ and the disgraceful behaviour of certain celebrities (including an American family whose name begins with K), I wanted to highlight the authentic influencers that truly inspire me. The My Kind of Influencer series aims to do just that and focuses on the exemplars that inspire and entertain and do their bit to change the world - or at least make it a better place to be. So far, I’ve written about author and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, supermodel and activist Adwoa Aboah and the super-talented, super-cool DJ Anne Frankenstein.

I also write mini-blogs on Instagram - a creative outlet for all the words that whirl around in my head and a nifty way to free up the hundreds of drafts in Notes that are currently clogging up my iCloud storage.

What will 2020 bring? Lots more words, hopefully more collaborations and, I’m certain, more ideas sat in draft that I hope to set free in the coming months. I’ll be working with some new clients which I’m very excited about and I can’t wait to keep working with Visual Strategist Bernadette Baska who will be helping me spruce up my website, clarify and simplify my offering so you ACTUALLY KNOW WHAT I DO and to, gulp, get myself out there more.

Without getting too deep on you, I realised a few profound things in 2019:

Having your own business takes hard graft, tenacity and determination - not just a genuine passion for what you do. I. Must. Keep. On. Pushing. Forward.
I can’t do it alone. I’ve learnt so much this year from networking, collaborating and knowledge sharing and I intend to do more in 2020. No woman is an island.
That writing makes me really, really happy.

A sincere thanks to everyone that has supported me, helped me or been part of my business this year. To my valuable clients, the businesses I’ve collaborated with and learnt so much from and to my friends and family who read, ‘like’ and comment on my work. It means a lot and is never taken for granted.

One of my colleagues told me this year that reading my work was just like ‘sitting in my Mum’s garden in the warm sunshine with a cool drink. It makes me feel at home’. This made me so happy and these kind words have stayed with me all year; motivating and encouraging me and getting me over many doubts and hurdles.

There’s just one last thing to say.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a wonderful, happy and healthy new year. I hope you’ll join me on the adventure again next year - it’s going to be a blast.

Who knows, that book might get started too….

Nicola x