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How much money can you make as a writer in New Zealand?
Writing is a fascinating field. It is not only personally rewarding but also financially feasible if done right. The writing industry in New Zealand is

Romancing Success: Tania Hutley’s Five Top Tips for Self-publishing Romance Novels
Tania Hutley has done what most writers only dream about. She left her day job to write full-time, and she hasn’t looked back. Writing under the pen name Talia Hunter, Tania has published 17 novels, landed on the USA Today Bestsellers List and built a self-publishing business that gives her

Journalism Course Graduate Jo Wills Q & A
Jo Wills completed the Writing Articles for Websites and Blogs Course, as well as the Basics of Creative Writing and Advanced Creative Writing Courses at

How to Find Work as a Freelance Journalist in New Zealand
The key to securing regular work as a freelance journalist is to know the local market inside and out. It is essential to familiarise yourself

The Self-Doubt of an Accidental Freelance Journalist
By PAUL HARRIS No, I did not crash my bike into a newsstand, although my journey was somewhat accidental. I went in search of professional

6 Essential Skills for Journalism
Considering being a journalist? Here are six essential skills any journalist needs. The digital landscape of media may have shifted the skillset for journalism, but

When last did you believe that ‘anything is possible’?
Remember when you were seven years old and someone asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? You probably said astronaut, or dragon trainer, or Lego designer. You believed it completely. The world felt wide open, bursting with possibilities. But these days, somewhere between grocery bills and mortgage payments, that confidence got quieter. […]

The Last Time You Wrote Something Creative Was in High School
Back then, remember the moment of thrill when your English teacher handed you your marked essay, an ‘A’ scrawled across the top? How you loved creating whole new worlds with words. Then, life happened. Slowly at first, and then faster, creativity slipped between the cracks. These days, you specialise in juggling your job, being the […]
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Could Copy-Editing Be Your Career? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
When AI burst onto the scene, many people assumed the days of the copy-editor were numbered. Why pay a human to check commas and catch

How Do You Get Your Web Content to Show Up in AI Searches?
Over 70% of searches are now AI-driven. Adapting your content strategy is becoming increasingly important for staying visible and relevant. Not long ago, every digital

Re-wilding language with Robert Macfarlane
How Robert Macfarlane is opening our eyes to the natural world and advocating for its protection, one word at a time. By JANA BEER. I first stumbled across Robert Macfarlane’s treasure trove of words, Landmarks, while writing stories for the Department of Conservation. My love of nature and language was hungry to name what I […]

Practical Strategies for Fearful Writers
BY JANE DANIELL If you, too, struggle with self-doubt when writing, the following tips may help you overcome some of the more common insecurities, while

The Modern Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Essential Tools to Supercharge Your Writing
Focusing on writing can feel impossible in today’s world full of deadlines and distractions. EMMA CLARKE shares six free digital tools to help freelance writers

How to Succeed in Content Writing
If you’ve ever wondered what makes the digital world tick, the answer is simple: content. It’s the words, images, videos and messages that keep audiences engaged and businesses thriving. Content writing is one of the fastest-growing fields, and the demand for talented writers has never been higher. With the ever-expanding world of digital marketing, e-commerce, […]

Destigmatising AI: Why ChatGPT Isn’t Here to Replace You
For eight years, Amanda Penton of QuickFuse Studios has handled marketing for prominent clients such as Only Organic, Takapoto Estate, Morris & James Pottery, and

A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming a Writer – Part Two
Earning an income from freelance writing can be daunting. In part two of her series, KATE TAYLOR breaks the process into easy-to-follow steps. Writing is a wonderful pastime. Creative, expressive, entertaining. But when the time comes to shift from writing as a hobby to writing for income, what do you do? There are so many […]

The Healing Power of Writing
When life unravels, committing to a daily practice of writing can be tremendously healing and helpful. SUE FENTON explores the benefits of writing. Writers seem a mysterious and intriguing breed, with uncanny insight and intellect. It’s no wonder, then, that many people dream of being a writer – and I am one of those dreamers. […]

Is My Freelance Writing Awful?
Does your passion for writing outweigh your skill? KATE TAYLOR explores what to do if you suspect your friends aren’t telling you the truth about

A Copywriting Deep Dive: The Role of Words in Modern Marketing
Many brands and marketers know what they want to say. Few know how to say it. That’s where copywriters come in. BY AMY TJASINK ‘Just

An Interview with Emma Russell, Award-Winning Investigative Journalist
WORDS BY JESS COOMBES Award-winning journalist Emma Russell has built a praiseworthy writing career in only six years. In 2017, she wrote for her home town paper, the Whanganui Chronicle. The following year, she became the health reporter at the New Zealand Herald. During her five years at the Herald, Emma uncovered two major investigations […]
Explore the World and Write

Why Do a Travel Writing Course?
When every man and his dog thinks he’s a great travel writer, WENDY MONTROSE explains why she did a course before embarking on the road to travel journalism. ‘I’m doing a travel writing course,’ I told my daughter. With retirement looming and plans for getting out and about in our camper, I saw travel writing […]

Q & A With Travel Writer and Award-Winning Author: Joe Bennett
An ex-pat Brit who travelled to NZ 35 years ago and settled in Lyttelton, Joe Bennett is an award-winning travel author, writer, and columnist. His work has been described by fellow travel author Bill Bryson as ‘brilliant’ and ‘deadly accurate

Travel Writing: 5 Travel Writers Who Show It’s Never Too Late to Start
It’s never too late to start a career in travel writing. Here, Chris Shorrock focuses on five travel writers who show that with hard work and perseverance, you can succeed. Travel writing is what dreams are made of. Whether it’s an African overland odyssey, reviewing upmarket hotels in Ko Samui, or weighing up the best […]

Talking Travel Writing With Award-Winning Journalist Ewan Mcdonald
Travel writer Mark Mitchell interviews leading New Zealand journalist Ewan McDonald, exploring his travel writing inspiration, highlights and writing tips and advice. Ewan McDonald had a great gig at the Waikato Times in Hamilton. He was a sub-editor, writing headlines
Watch a Q & A with Award-winning Tutors at Our College
Our team of Writers College writers/tutors answer your questions about the creative writing industry – and about getting published!









































