Freelance Writing

My home is in a village on the west coast of Scotland, twenty minutes from beautiful Loch Lomond and thirty minutes from the centre of Glasgow. My surroundings often inspire my writing; both the countryside around my house, and the River Clyde which meanders alongside the M8.

Whenever the Waverley paddle steamer sails 'doon the watter' as of old, the backdrop of hills frames the view and paints a stunning scene. 

 She is the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world and still plies her way around the islands of the Clyde. She also calls in at places like Glasgow, Greenock and Largs, and further afield into England.

Imagine a summer's evening sailing down the river, with a backdrop of hills and the gentle swell of the tide. And if it rains?There's always the warmth of the dining saloon and refreshments from the bar. Either way, the sound of the  paddles is a step back in time.

It all started more than ten years ago when the children were getting older and the need to be creative had space to grow. A supportive husband allowed me the freedom to try being a published writer, in between part-time jobs and studying.

The number of published short stories, articles and poetry has grown. But the world of the novelist, for adults and children, beckons and I've accepted the challenge.

Market research is my great interest and a necessary one for the freelance, in order to keep abreast of what is happening in the writing world.  I like to share this knowledge with fellow writers and often give talks to writing groups. We can help one another in a competitive field, for our writing should be as individual as a fingerprint.

I'm also privileged to adjudicate writing competitions. This is a great learning curve as I've read some wonderful writing. And I like to enter competitions myself; it helps to have deadlines and sometimes themes.

Occasionally, I do some tutoring in Adult Literacy & Numeracy, because I want everyone to enjoy the written word.

I've been a student nurse, a business travel consultant, a business/education liaison administrator and a direct banking advisor. Then I became a mature student with the Open University and gained a BA Hons in European Literature and History. I was hooked, so did an MA in Humanities (Literature with British Cinema History). 

Now I love being a writer; it is finally who I am.

You can contact me at: ros_gemmell@hotmail.com

For regular information on books and writing see my separate blog.