Tasmanian copywriter – Ruth Dawkins Freelance Writer

Copywriting, Feature Writing, freelance life, Writing

May 2023: Some recent work

May 12, 2023 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

March 28, 2023 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

Copywriting, Feature Writing

February 2023: some recent writing work

February 9, 2023 DorkyMum

Black text that reads 2023 on a great background

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful, restful break over the festive period, and you’ve started 2023 feeling enthusiastic and energised!

Here in Tasmania, schools only went back a couple of days ago. While I did manage a few bits and pieces of work over the holidays, it’s nice to be getting those longer stretches of uninterrupted and focused time again.

I thought I would share links a few recent pieces of work. It’s great fun having this blog to look back on and remind myself of what a variety of projects I do each year.

Back in December, I was lucky enough to interview Hobart local Briony Kidd about her tips for visitors to Hobart. That feature was published on Guardian Australia: Platypus spotting, spontaneous nights out, and grassroots energy.
More recently, I had a piece of creative non-fiction published at one of my favourite websites, Caught by the River. That one is called Dog walking at the bottom of the world.
This interview for Brand Tasmania, with Caro and Chris Brown of Brady’s Lookout Cider was really fun to write.
And as ever, I am so grateful to CSIRO for being a regular, ongoing client. Recent pieces I’ve written for them include one for Resourceful Magazine on indicator minerals for nickel exploration, and two for ECOS on carbon sequestration and deep sea mining.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Copywriting

My latest for CSIRO

December 12, 2022December 12, 2022 DorkyMum

Photo shows a black, green and blue image that looks like electricity emanating from a black ball. In the corner is a box that reads 'Writing for CSIRO'

CSIRO is one of my very favourite clients.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself, because I feel like it’s a huge privilege helping some of Australia’s top researchers communicate their findings to a wider audience.

The briefs I receive from the Communications Managers across different CSIRO business units are always very thorough and clear, and every single piece I have written has taught me something. The breadth and depth of work that the national science agency undertakes is truly astonishing.

That diversity is on show if you take a quick look at the last three pieces I wrote for CSIRO.

The first: a look at the importance of biodiversity in water assessments in Northern Australia.

The second: proteins of the future, and how CSIRO is working with companies on precision fermentation.

Finally: an exploration of the work CSIRO is doing with a consortium of other organisations to examine the potential impacts of deep sea mining.

I have three other pieces due to be published in the coming weeks, and they are equally varied: they’re on carbon sequestration, indicator minerals for nickel exploration, and potential impacts on regional branding from gas development. Phew! I’ll look forward to sharing those with you very soon.

Photo by Moritz Kindler on Unsplash

Copywriting

From graphite to hemp: my latest writing subjects

August 29, 2022September 1, 2022 DorkyMum

I’ve been lucky enough to work on a real diversity of writing projects recently, and I thought I’d share a few of them here.

A piece for CSIRO’s Resourceful magazine about graphite processing.
A second piece for CSIRO, this time for their ECOS blog, about the State of the Environment Report and the important work that was done by Indigenous co-authors.
An article for one of my newest clients Brand Tasmania. What a privilege to help tell the stories about some of the smart, interesting, inspiring people who call Tassie home. My first piece was about Tim Crow, a Queenslander who moved to the north of the state and established a company called Hemp Harvests.
And my second piece for Brand Tasmania, which was about Mary Knights – Senior Art Curator at the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery.

Photo by Remedy Pics on Unsplash

Copywriting

CSIRO’s Transport Planning Tool

June 28, 2022 DorkyMum

My inner map geek is very happy this month.

I’ve recently written a couple of pieces for CSIRO about TraNSIT, their transport planning tool. First developed ten years ago for use in the livestock industry, the tool now helps with supply chain efficiency in a range of industries. It has even been used in the tourism sector, and to assist Emergency Management Australia during extreme weather events.

The first piece I wrote was an overarching history about the last ten years of TraNSIT.

While the second focused on how it can be used to get supplies to communities during floods or fire.

Hope you enjoy reading them.

Photo by Rhys Moult on Unsplash

Copywriting, Feature Writing

CSIRO climate change research

May 4, 2022 DorkyMum

I’ve recently enjoyed writing another couple of pieces for CSIRO, and thought I would share the links here in case they’re of interest.

The first is a post on the ECOS blog that explains compound risk and explores ways of supporting Australian communities that are dealing with multiple extreme events: How to build resilience in the face of compounding extreme events.

The second is a piece for Resourceful magazine about the new Carbon Lock research initiative: Locking away carbon permanently.

Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash

Copywriting

My latest pieces for CSIRO

February 11, 2022 DorkyMum

I’m deep in a big travel writing project at the moment, but in December and January it was science writing keeping me busy!

Here are some of the recent pieces I’ve written for CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency:

Continue reading “My latest pieces for CSIRO” →

Reading

2021: a year in books

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022 DorkyMum

Photo shows a woman standing in front of a brick wall, a book held in front of her face. Caption reads: 2021 a year in books ruthdawkins.net

I love reaching the end of a year and taking a moment to look back through the books I’ve read.

Starting my @ruthreadsbooks Instagram account that I use as a reading diary has been a bit of a game changer. I still keep a notebook to record everything I read each year, but having the visual prompts of the front covers is a great way to jog my memory about the books I’ve enjoyed the most. Continue reading “2021: a year in books” →

Copywriting

Copywriting for CSIRO

October 11, 2021 DorkyMum

Photo shows a black background with a pencil on the left, and the text 'Three recent pieces I've written for CSIRO'

The last few months have probably been the busiest I’ve had since starting work as a freelance writer.

I keep thinking I’m going to get a week or two away from my desk, but every time I near the end of one project, another opportunity pops into my inbox. It’s a really lovely problem to have, and I’m feeling very lucky!

Most of the writing I’ve been doing has been behind-the-scenes work for clients. Some ghostwriting, a few websites, and lots of fact sheets and brochures. Not so much editorial work recently. Continue reading “Copywriting for CSIRO” →