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Reading

2025: My year in reading

DorkyMum

Photo shows a close up of a book with the pages fanned out, and the text '2025: My year in reading'

It’s time for one of my favourite annual traditions: a roundup of the reading I’ve done this year. Some of you have followed along with me on my Instagram account, which has been lovely. If you haven’t found me on there and you’d like to, please do come and say hello.

In 2025, I read 100 books. Of those, 51 were fiction, 46 were non-fiction, and three were poetry. I also logged six DNFs – which, by my own rules, only count if I made it at least 50 pages in before admitting defeat. Anything abandoned earlier than that doesn’t make the list at all.

Compared with previous years, this has been a slightly lighter reading year overall. ALMOST LIKE THE WORLD HAS BEEN REALLY MESSY AND I’VE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME DOOMSCROLLING LOL. Continue reading “2025: My year in reading” →

Copywriting, freelance life, Writing

2025: a final work update

DorkyMum

Image reads as follows: 21 clients + 59 unique projects + Too many words to count + 40 invoices (Only some of which needed a gentle nudge for late payment...) = I tired but very grateful freelance copywriter celebrating a full and fulfilling 2025. Thanks so much to everyone who made it possible.

The 2025 work year is over me – so I thought I would pop one final blog post up on here.

First, to say thank you very much to all the clients who have supported my little business this year. I am so grateful for the opportunities you have sent my way, and hope I have done your projects justice.

Continue reading “2025: a final work update” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

August 2025: some recent work

DorkyMum

It’s been a few months since I did a post about my work projects, so I thought I would pop on here and share a few links!

Firstly, a thank you to Brand Tasmania, who continue to be one of my most regular clients – and also one of my favourites! My work for them involves taking interview transcripts and turning them into profiles. Sometimes there are a few as part of a series – women in sport, or healthcare workers – other times it’s just an inspiring individual who in some way captures what it means to be Tasmanian. My recent profiles have included:

Continue reading “August 2025: some recent work” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

ChatGPT and me: a commitment to my clients

DorkyMum

 

I’m in a lot of writer groups online, and there’s one topic that seems to come up almost daily at the moment: ChatGPT.

The conversations around it are wide-ranging and often passionate. Some writers won’t go anywhere near it for ethical, environmental, or creative reasons. Others have fully embraced it, and are open about how they have incorporated it into their workflow. Some use it quietly, without disclosing it to clients. And some are using it against their better judgment, simply because clients expect or require them to.

It’s clear we’re still in the early stages of figuring out how AI fits into creative and professional writing. There are strong opinions and no settled norms – and as freelancers, it’s up to each of us to take an individual position that we are comfortable with.

For me, that decision is clear: I don’t use ChatGPT for client work.

Continue reading “ChatGPT and me: a commitment to my clients” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life

April 2025: some recent work

DorkyMum

Hello everyone, I hope you’ve all enjoyed a break over the Easter weekend.

If you’re anything like me, you’re now racing to get a week’s worth of work done in three days before the next public holiday on Friday! Perhaps instead I should just give myself over to some enforced rest and pick things up next week when school goes back instead…

While I do have a moment spare, I thought I would share just a few links to some of my recent work.

Continue reading “April 2025: some recent work” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

Cheerio 2024, hello 2025!

DorkyMum

It’s that wonderful week between Christmas and New Year when there are few demands on my time, and still plenty of festive snacks left in the fridge.

I always find this period to be both relaxing and productive. Without any work obligations, I can tackle some of the other things that need doing around the house – all the paperwork tasks and chores that sit on my to-do list for six months, but take only ten minutes when I finally get to them… leaving plenty of time for an afternoon nap.

In order to put 2024 firmly behind me, I thought I’d pop up a quick blog post to share some links to my final few published pieces of the year.

Continue reading “Cheerio 2024, hello 2025!” →

Reading

2024: My year in reading

DorkyMum

It’s time for one of my favourite annual traditions! A roundup of the reading I’ve done this year. 

There are still a few days to go, and I’m about halfway through Salt Houses by Hala Alyan. I’m expecting to finish it by New Year, so that will bring my 2024 book total to 103 books. That’s slightly down on the previous few years, but there were some big chunky novels in there and fewer poetry collections, so I reckon my reading pace remains unchanged.

Of those 103 books that passed through my hands, 46 were fiction, 50 were non-fiction, five were poetry and one was a hard-to-categorise anthology of images and words.  Continue reading “2024: My year in reading” →

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life

October 2024: some recent writing work

DorkyMum

Hello friends,

I hope the year is treating you well. We are very happy to be moving into spring here in Tasmania – the warmer, lighter days are a delight after a very wet and windy winter. I no longer have to shove a hot water bottle up my jumper when I’m sitting at the desk in my home office!

Since it’s been a couple of months since my last post on here, I thought it was time to share a few more links to pieces I’ve worked on recently. So, here goes.

Almost all of these are articles that I’ve written for CSIRO, but they’re on a very diverse range of subjects so hopefully there will be at least one that piques your interest!

Continue reading “October 2024: some recent writing work” →

Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

July 2024: some recent work

DorkyMum

July already! Goodness me, how did that happen? This year seems to be galloping along at an incredible pace.

It has been a very busy year for me so far, with a great combination of shorter one-off projects and longer tasks that I can really immerse myself in. I hope the second half of the year continues in the same way – although perhaps with fewer family medical dramas. Thank you to all my wonderful clients for your patience and flexibility as we worked through that tricky little spell.

It’s always fun to take a moment and reflect on the variety of work that has come across my desk, and this update is no exception.

Continue reading “July 2024: some recent work” →

Copywriting, freelance life

January 2024: some recent work

DorkyMum

We have somehow reached the end of January already!

It’s still school holidays here in Tasmania for another week, but now that my kiddo is a little older – and very able to entertain himself – I’ve managed to get some work done over the last few weeks and thought I would share some links with you.

Continue reading “January 2024: some recent work” →