Rural or city better for freelance work? - Freelance UK Forums

cymraes · 05-24-2008, 11:44 AM

Hello,

I'm new to posting on this forum, although I've been following some interesting threads for a couple of weeks. And now, of course, I've got questions, and I would appreciate your feedback.

1. What's the difference, in terms of amount of freelance writing/photography work, between living in a rural area, or a large town or city?

2. Is it realistic to expect to make a reasonable living (yes, I know that's subjective, so say £25,000 pa) as a freelance writer/journalist/photographer?

Reason I'm asking: I'm planning a move back to the UK (from Canada), and want to live in north Wales, but I'm wondering how practical that is, and if I'd be better off in somewhere like Cardiff, or even in England (

yes, I'm Welsh, hence the 'even')...
oh, and my background is years of journalism (inc. Managing Editor for trade mags), photography, and copy writing.

Sorry for the longish post - maybe other people will be enthralled by the question, and we can get a lively discussion going

Thanks!

cymraes · 05-25-2008, 11:27 AM

I know it's a holiday weekend, but I'd really appreciate some help here - please!

jonpaul · 05-26-2008, 12:30 AM

Hi I live in Halifax West Yorkshire a small town in the UK. My expereance is that small towns with local news papers do not have the budgets for freelance submissions, how ever it is still best to make yourself known to them as like my own many will pay you a fee to attent local news events thay send you too.

Best Of Luck

Jonpaul

cymraes · 05-27-2008, 02:10 PM

Thanks Jonpaul.

afj_uk · 07-22-2008, 11:57 PM

It depends on what you want to write about. And if you are willing to travel.

A writer I know who lives in the Derbyshire Peak District writes for UK-wide trade publications, and does very well for himself. As long as his broadband works OK, he is happy.

Do you have Welsh as well as English? Being bilingual does help.

In the modern age you can do interviews over the phone, or using electronic messenger services, or video conferencing, so where you are ain't all that important, these days.

And if you insist on going to a foreign country (England) try not to go further than -say- Oswestry or Shrewsbury!

spacekadet · 09-18-2008, 10:59 AM

I agree - it depends on what you want to write about. If you're looking to cover events like concerts, art, movies, etc., it'd be useful to be in a city where stuff actually happens. But I think most freelance writers can work just about anywhere - most interviews can happen on phone, Skype, email,etc. The important thing is you have a good internet connection.

As for making a reasonable living, it's definitely possible as long as you're flexible. I'd love to be 100% full time writing for newspapers, but I'm still starting out. So I work part-time writing market research papers and use the rest of my time for pitching to newspapers and working on my own projects.

I live in London and would love to move out into the country. Maybe we can trade. =)

05-24-2008, 11:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
cymraes New Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	Rural or city better for freelance work? Hello, I'm new to posting on this forum, although I've been following some interesting threads for a couple of weeks. And now, of course, I've got questions, and I would appreciate your feedback. 1. What's the difference, in terms of amount of freelance writing/photography work, between living in a rural area, or a large town or city? 2. Is it realistic to expect to make a reasonable living (yes, I know that's subjective, so say £25,000 pa) as a freelance writer/journalist/photographer? Reason I'm asking: I'm planning a move back to the UK (from Canada), and want to live in north Wales, but I'm wondering how practical that is, and if I'd be better off in somewhere like Cardiff, or even in England ( yes, I'm Welsh, hence the 'even')... oh, and my background is years of journalism (inc. Managing Editor for trade mags), photography, and copy writing. Sorry for the longish post - maybe other people will be enthralled by the question, and we can get a lively discussion going Thanks!

05-25-2008, 11:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
cymraes New Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	Rural versus city - help, please I know it's a holiday weekend, but I'd really appreciate some help here - please!

05-27-2008, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
cymraes New Poster Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 4	Thanks Thanks Jonpaul.

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05-26-2008, 12:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
jonpaul New Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1	Hi I live in Halifax West Yorkshire a small town in the UK. My expereance is that small towns with local news papers do not have the budgets for freelance submissions, how ever it is still best to make yourself known to them as like my own many will pay you a fee to attent local news events thay send you too. Best Of Luck Jonpaul

07-22-2008, 11:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
afj_uk New Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Shropshire Posts: 5	It depends on what you want to write about. And if you are willing to travel. A writer I know who lives in the Derbyshire Peak District writes for UK-wide trade publications, and does very well for himself. As long as his broadband works OK, he is happy. Do you have Welsh as well as English? Being bilingual does help. In the modern age you can do interviews over the phone, or using electronic messenger services, or video conferencing, so where you are ain't all that important, these days. And if you insist on going to a foreign country (England) try not to go further than -say- Oswestry or Shrewsbury!

09-18-2008, 10:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
spacekadet New Poster Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2	I agree - it depends on what you want to write about. If you're looking to cover events like concerts, art, movies, etc., it'd be useful to be in a city where stuff actually happens. But I think most freelance writers can work just about anywhere - most interviews can happen on phone, Skype, email,etc. The important thing is you have a good internet connection. As for making a reasonable living, it's definitely possible as long as you're flexible. I'd love to be 100% full time writing for newspapers, but I'm still starting out. So I work part-time writing market research papers and use the rest of my time for pitching to newspapers and working on my own projects. I live in London and would love to move out into the country. Maybe we can trade. =)