Experienced freelance writer and editor

As an experienced freelance writer and editor, I can help you with a wide range of projects, from writing a magazine or blog article to editing your manuscript. I am also available for public speaking engagements, to appear on panels or to teach creative writing. Email me to find out more.

I am a former Wall Street Journal staff writer with hundreds of bylined articles to my name. I’ve had two novels published, as well as essays, articles and short stories in a wide range of magazines and anthologies. I have a masters degree in journalism from Columbia, and a history degree from Oxford. I am a qualified teacher of English as a second language, and have a solid grasp of English grammar and usage (both US and UK). I can spot a dangling modifier a mile off, and understand how to produce an article that grabs a reader’s attention from the first sentence and then maintains it throughout. I’ll bring a level of professionalism and attention to detail to your project that I believe few others can offer, and I guarantee I’ll get it done on time.

What I can offer

• I can write articles, blog posts, stories, website copy… pretty much anything except poetry!
• I can edit your article, business document, novel, ebook, etc.
• I can teach creative writing, mentor other writers or run workshops
• I can speak at your event
• I can teach English to speakers of other languages

My writing experience

As well as two novels and countless short stories, I’ve written hundreds of articles for newspapers, magazines and blogs. Here are just a few examples. See the “Published work” page for more.

• Say Goodbye to Passwords: technology article on alternatives to passwords
• The Gender Gap: feature article on health differences between men and women
• How to Calculate Your Savings Rate: personal finance advice
• Is there a Doctor in the House?: article on the expanding role of nurse practitioners
• Know When to Give Up: article on failed small businesses
• The two words that will help you write faster: blog post giving writing advice

My editing experience

As a staff reporter at The Wall Street Journal, I learned from the best editors in the business. I saw the questions they asked and the changes they made, and started applying that to my own work. I was frequently asked to check other reporters’ stories, too, and developed a reputation for catching errors other people had missed. I’ve since used those skills as a freelance editor, for example:

• Edited an investment proposal for a London property developer
• Edited a coaching article
• Currently assigned to edit an ebook on spirituality

My public speaking experience

• I gave a speech and appeared on a panel with publishers and other book industry representatives to debate the use of DRM protection in eBooks
• While in Barbados, I addressed BP’s London corporate marketing team via video link, speaking about the components of effective story-telling
• I’ve appeared at literary festivals, including a panel appearance with Alex Wheatle and Mark Piggott at the WriteIdea festival, running a writing workshop at the Holloway Arts Festival, speaking at several events in the Story of London festival, and judging a short story contest for the London Fringe Festival
• I’ve given dozens of readings and talks at libraries and bookshops around London, as well as being interviewed on TV and radio – see the news page for more details

My teaching experience

• Scheduled to teach creative writing at a workshop organised by Write-Connections
• As part of the Holloway Arts Festival, led a writing workshop along with Tom Chalmers and Mark Piggott at Blackwell’s Bookshop on the Holloway Road
• Addressed creative writing students at the University of Hertfordshire on becoming a published author
• Spoke at Middlesex University’s “Writer for Lunch” programme

What people are saying

Again, I’ve just put a small sample of client feedback here. More references available on request.

I did some checking before choosing Andrew and I am very satisfied with every aspect of his work. This was a small job but important and I would recommend him without hesitation.
— Marilou Seavey, co-founder of MindBridge Training and coach to Fortune 500 executives

“I was very happy with the way Andrew edited my short story. Apart from fixing the grammatical errors and offering some useful criticism, he gave me some creative advice on how to improve it. He did a thorough job and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him or to work with him again.”
— Jackie Bee, fiction writer, Israel

Andrew’s writing is always engaging and enlightening. I look forward to each of his submissions because they, without fail, shine a contemplative light on the topic while engaging readers of all backgrounds.
— Brandon Monk, founder of ReadLearnWrite.com

We freelanced some business writing, editing and formatting to Andrew to provide a professional touch to our investor proposal. Andrew responded very quickly to my request and also provided his deliverables in a timely manner. His work was exactly what I need and presented the proposal in a much better way than when we drafted it. He made the document flow and read in a concise way. I received what I wanted first time without any revision. Very happy. Thank you.
— London-based property developer (name withheld because the project was confidential)

Thanks for the work. You knocked it out of the park! Really pleased with the final product.
— Founder of technology startup in Austin, Texas

Thanks for another great story. You will be sorely missed. If you decide you want to write any kind of free-lance article, just let me know. I always know I can count on it being first-rate.
— My editor at The Wall Street Journal

A compelling and very entertaining look at the complexities of our hyper real age, an insightful and witty exploration of the disconnect between image and reality, truth and appearance and whether love and sincere sentiment can overcome the short term thrills of social media.
— Author James Miller, describing my second novel A Virtual Love

There are echoes of Jack Kerouac in this freewheeling adventure down the CCTV-ed, drizzly corridors of modern Britain.
— The Daily Mail, describing my first novel On the Holloway Road