10 reasons to commission Chris Alden
I’m Chris Alden, a freelance writer who specialises in consumer features for national media – plus advertorials and web copy for commercial clients. Here are 10 reasons to commission me for your editorial or copywriting project:
1. I’m experienced
I’ve been a journalist for 11 years. I spent three years learning my trade at a medical magazine, four years at the Guardian website during the dotcom years, and now four years as a freelance for national media and commercial clients – so you can rely on me to turn around good, clean copy, on time, first time.
2. I write in plain English
I believe that good writing is accessible writing. Whether it’s journalism or copywriting, I make sure I know who the target reader is – and then I get the message across as straightforwardly as I can.
3. My copy is clean
I started my journalism career as a sub-editor, editing other journalists’ work for grammar and style. Put simply: I can spell!
4. I hit my deadlines
I believe copy deadlines are sacrosanct. If in exceptional circumstances I think I might miss a deadline – perhaps because a vital contact wants to reschedule a call – then I will always clear it with you, the client, first.
5. I have wide interests
Commissioning something and can’t find an expert? Try me. I’ve written recently about renewable energy, the best Christmas presents, Scotch whisky, real ale, the artist Philip Guston, environmentally friendly holidays, running marathons, life in a monkey park, how to get the best broadband deal, business travel to Paris, springtime in Italy, business leadership, rail holidays for Christmas, how to get a creative MBA, and a lot more. Even if I’m not an expert, I can find one and distil his or her expertise in an article.
6. I understand the internet
Need a writer who can hard-code links and special characters directly into text? Want someone who can write SEO copy for a website, and then write copy for Google ads to promote it? I can do that. I’ve even presented and produced podcasts, and when I worked at Guardian Unlimited I became the UK’s first national newspaper blogger.
7. I can write in a wide range of styles
Over the years I’ve written features, comment, books, round-ups, news, full-length supplements, how-to guides, advertorials, art criticism, website copy, blog copy, Google ads copy – so I’m ready for anything you might need.
8. I focus on the intro
Readers don’t have a lot of time, so it’s vital to get the point across early and keep the reader hooked. For that reason, I concentrate my efforts on getting that first paragraph right.
9. I specialise in tight turnarounds
Want 1,000 words by noon tomorrow? I can do that. Clients have asked me for more and I’ve always filed on time.
10. I enjoy my work
Many people are freelance because they’re still looking for a job or have been made redundant. That doesn’t apply to me: I’m freelance because I couldn’t imagine life any other way. This way I get to learn more skills than I could doing a single job – for example, who other than a freelance gets to write a beer advertorial one day and present a podcast about Dubrovnik the next?
• To commission Chris Alden, email mail@chrisalden.net.
View Chris Alden's journalism portfolio
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All content © Chris Alden. Original design by Andy Brockie, adapted by Chris Alden over the years.