Category: Writing

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, 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!” →

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, Writing

July 2023: some recent work

DorkyMum

A photograph of a typewriter sitting on a table, with the caption 'Recent work: July 2023'

It’s only been about a month since I last posted links to some recent pieces of mine, but I’ve been so busy recently that I thought I would post a few more – before the list gets out of hand!

  • Let’s start with the most recent pieces I’ve worked on for CSIRO. The first is on building resilient seafood supply chains, the second is a piece about direct air capture that I contributed to, the third is about CO2 utilisation in the Northern Territory, and the fourth is about all the work going on behind the scenes to make sure Australia’s energy grid can deal with the huge changes that are coming over the next decade.
  • Next up, it’s another story that I’ve worked on for Brand Tasmania. These are always great fun to do, and a real inspiration to see what’s taking place around our state. Pop over for a read about disability advocate Jane Wardlaw. I’ve written a couple more of these stories that are still in production and haven’t yet been published, but I’ll share the links as soon as I can.
  • Finally, here’s a post that’s not from me, but is from my 14 year old son. He’s currently learning to fly with Par Avion, and six months after starting the lessons he has written a blog post abut how it’s all going. Pop over and show him some support with a like or a comment!

 

*

Photo by Daria Kraplak on Unsplash

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

May 2023: Some recent work

DorkyMum

Just a very quick post from me today to share some recent pieces I’ve had published.

These three links say more than I ever could about the diversity of work that comes my way as a freelancer!

Firstly, I was so pleased to have an essay published in Guardian Australia, reflecting on the ten years that have passed since we first visited Tasmania, and everything that has happened in that time. I’ve had a lovely response to the piece, which I was initially just going to pop on my own DorkyMum blog, so I’m very grateful to the Guardian team for giving it a home and helping it find a bigger audience.

You can read that here: I was told to live like a tourist after my 18,000km move. But I owe Tasmania more than that. Continue reading “May 2023: Some recent work” →

Copywriting, Writing

Navigating the net zero transition

DorkyMum

My latest piece for CSIRO was published recently, and I thought I’d share a link here because it’s really interesting topic.

The feature was for CSIRO’s Resourceful Magazine, which is focused on content that’s relevant to the minerals value chain, from mining exploration to metal production.

I was lucky enough to speak with some researchers from the recently established Valuing Sustainability Future Science Platform about the work they are doing mapping out potential routes to a decarbonised society – and ensuring that issues of social justice and fairness are taken into account.

I think this is a really important part of the net zero conversation which is often skimmed over in favour of a technology focus, and I’m really pleased to see the national science agency starting to work in this space. I’m excited to see what happens with the Valuing Sustainability FSP over the next couple of years.

If you’d like to read the article, take a look here: Navigating a Path to Sustainability.

 

*

Photo by rafael albornoz on Unsplash

Writing

Lonely Planet: Experience Tasmania

DorkyMum

I was lucky enough to spend a weekend in Melbourne recently: catching up with friends, eating and drinking my way around the city, and enjoying a few quiet nights in a hotel. What a treat!

I was only away for three days, but I ran out of books and had to make my way to Dymocks on Chapel Street to pick up something new… and guess what I found?

A copy of Lonely Planet Experience Tasmania! Written in part by yours truly! Continue reading “Lonely Planet: Experience Tasmania” →

Copywriting, Writing

Celebrating World Water Day

DorkyMum

A screenshot from the Hydro Tasmania website showing a blog post titled 'It takes a village'

 

Monday 22nd March was World Water Day – a valuable opportunity to reflect on how lucky we are here in Tasmania to enjoy an abundance of water, and also a time to acknowledge that not everyone in the world is so fortunate. Continue reading “Celebrating World Water Day” →

Feature Writing, Writing

An essay on Caught by the River

DorkyMum

an image of a sunset on the Isle of Harris, with a quote from an Iain Crichton Smith poem that reads "It’s the island that goes away, not we who leave it.”

Caught by the River has long been one of my favourite websites. The self-described ‘arts/culture/nature clash’ publishes beautiful and thought-provoking essays, music and photography.

It’s one of the sites that I recommended in my Women’s Nature Writing post a couple of years ago, and I’ve been thrilled by the number of people who have let me know that they’ve become regular readers since that recommendation. Continue reading “An essay on Caught by the River” →