It’s safe to say that self-employment and working from home can be challenging at times…! Below are 30 tips I’ve pulled together for the benefit of fellow self-employed folk; especially those who are new to this lifestyle. So, without further ado… Tip 1 Try to get up at a similar (and sensible!) time each morning. When your workspace is a mere few metres away, it can be tempting to stay in bed a little longer, but it’s important to establish a routine.

Do you find yourself making the same spelling or grammatical errors in your writing, time and time again? Below are some of the mistakes I come across most regularly in my editing work. Do any of these cause you grief? Commonly confused words (British spellings) Defuse (remove a fuse) and diffuse (spread) Complement (contributing to something) and compliment (‘I love your hair!') Practice (noun: ‘she’s going to football practice,') and practise (verb: ‘I practise my trumpet every night’)

Book Benefits I’ve found comfort and enjoyment in books for as long as I can remember, and, fortunately for me, as a writer, proofreader and editor, I get to read on a daily basis! Luckily, reading as part of my job hasn’t quelled my appetite for books and I still read an awful lot; for pleasure, escapism and as a way of de-stressing! Even now, I come across words I feel compelled to look up; either because they’re unfamiliar, or I’m not sure how to pronounce them, as I’ve only ever seen them written down.

With wedding season fast approaching, I thought it might be helpful to talk about my personalised poetry in a little more detail. More often than not, I’m contacted by brides looking for a bespoke poem to take the place of a reading at their wedding ceremony, but I’ve also written poems for key members of the wedding party to give the newlyweds as a unique gift! Printed on parchment-style paper, the poems look lovely when framed.

It’s the start of a new year! Have you made any resolutions? Perhaps you’re planning to self-publish the book you spent most of 2018 writing, but know that it needs a little fine-tuning, in the form of a proofread or edit? It’s important to understand that although proofreading and editing have their similarities, there are key differences between the two. I provide both services, but you may come across professionals specialising in either proofreading or editing, so it is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the terms.