10 Ways to Get Your Start In the Creative Industries

*Contains affiliate links  A career in creative industries is something that is appealing to many people but it's now always the easiest industry to get a foothold into, although with a clear plan and ambition it really is possible. I always knew I wanted a creative job when I was younger and I feel very privileged to be able to write for a living but it took a lot of work to be able to do this full time. Firstly I started out about 15yrs ago writing for local and community-based magazines while studying in Photography and Photojournalism at college and then University, although I strongly feel you don't have to go to University achieve your goals.  There are plenty of opportunities in the creative industries but often you have to go out and find them. Besides writing for local magazines during my studies I also worked for an events company as a festival & live bands photographer, learning the importance of selling rights to images, networking and being profession......

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Work from home? Here are some ideas on making it happen

Not long after I had my first child I made the conscious decision to try and stay at home as long as possible but like most tI needed to have some kind of stable income. I was already blogging at this point as well as doing some freelance writing and photo editing but I needed to approach it with a more business like manner to make it work. With the opportunities that are available on the Internet today, it’s only logical to consider using it as an opportunity to make some money online and possibly a new career. It’s no longer just for business owners and sellers, anyone can utilise it for their own advantage. You never know your business may take off and you need to employ people to work for you, if this is the case you will need to use the best HR software .  Here are 5 ways people are doing just that.    Freelance Writing If you’re an excellent writer, a good living can be made from online writing. There are literally hundreds of websites paying writer......

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Mums making the move - Working from home

A beautiful home office, a creative place to work ( image ) A couple of years ago I came to a cross roads, my maternity pay was coming to an end and I was doing some freelance photography work as well as copy writing and blogging but nothing to really write home about. I knew I didn't want to go back to full time employment with a child under one and thought it was the perfect time to make the leap and really pursue my freelance work and I am so glad I did as even with the stress that comes with working from home and in the back of your head knowing you don't have a regular income it's been such an exciting journey as well as having the amazing opportunity to spend a lot of time with my son, which no matter what the future holds I will forever be grateful for. My work game face Now I know for some women working from home will simply never be an option, perhaps because they have amazing careers that they worked long and hard for and should be very pro......

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What we are reading

We love reading, Fact! Bedtime is one of our favourite parts of the day as it gives Mr A a moment of quite, a time to listen and believe in magical lands, faraway stories, talking woodland animals and everything in-between. We usually go through about 2-3 short stories a night although he is getting a little bit older and is now reading for slightly longer stories so when we had the chance to review The Babar Collection we literally couldn't wait for it to arrive. Babar is one of very few cartoons we actually let Mr A watch from time to time, as it's such a lovely classic and can you believe it's 80 years since the stories of Babar the Elephant were first published in the UK I love the unique, detailed and charming watercolours that the talented french writer and artist Jean de Brunhoff creates and every time we go back and re-read one of the wonderful stories in this collection we notice something new. This lovely little gift set comprises of 5 classic stori......

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Book Giveaway

I am really excited about this giveaway - I have four copies of "How Eskimos Keep their Babies Warm" for four lucky readers of the blog from Pan Macmillan . Written by the award winning journalist and mum to two Mei-Ling Hopgood this book shares parenting wisdom from around the world for a modern, well travelled and adventurous mum. Author Mei-Ling Hopgood I am half way through my copy and I am loving all the worldly insights this book gives to bringing up babies in ways we wouldn't imagine in the West. It is funny and light-hearted and is a wonderful break away from some of the more condescending instuction manuals on what your doing right and wrong with your children - this really does show parenting in a new light and has really reassured me that if things don't always go to plan that it really is ok - it always sorts it self out in the end. From toddlers dancing the night away in Argentina to the naturally healthy eating habits of the french childre......

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