Editor, reader, expert chocolate eater
Bio
Hello! I’m Becca Grant, a freelance editor and content writer. This article is to help you get to know me better.
You can find me on:
- My blog — beccagrant.co.uk. I write about books, reading, education and travel.
- My LinkedIn page — where you can find out more about my career and experience
- Instagram — where I post about the books I read and places I visit (when there is no pandemic of course)
Work With Me
Here’s how I can help you:
- Editing online content — blog posts, newsletters, social media posts, website content
- Editing print content — magazine articles, newsletters
- Editing…
All you need is the ability and desire to write.
For the past decade, I have struggled with finding permanent, full-time employment that came with a living wage. I thought this was what I wanted and it wasn’t until 2020 and the arrival of the pandemic, did I start to seriously consider writing and editing as ways for me to earn money, eventually full time.
Even after almost a year of finding regular freelance work, it took a long time to call myself a writer or editor. In fact, I started with the term ‘freelance editor’. This was how I made most of my money and it seemed like I…
Twice.
I remember the first time I found Holding by Graham Norton. It was in October 2016 and in supermarket near an office I used to work at. During my lunch break I would walk around the supermarket, stretching my legs before sitting at my desk for another three and half hours.
I had no idea that Norton had written a novel as his previous book was an autobiography. I’m not that into celebrity biographies. I even googled to check that it was the same Graham Norton. …
Some advice and tips
- Please make any and all instructions regarding how to apply for a job clear, obvious and concise. Vagueness doesn’t help anyone. Let applicants know if you want everything in the same document or separate ones. Be specific about what mean when you say ‘references’. Do you want actual references or the contact details of referees?
- If you decided to use an application form, perhaps don’t layout and format it in Microsoft Word. Try Google Forms or another program.
- If you insist on using tables in Microsoft Word, make sure columns line up properly. Make sure applicants can actually type in…
Restrictive diets, location and traditions
Over the last few years, vegetarianism and veganism have become incredibly popular. Combined, vegans and vegetarians make up roughly 8% of the world’s population, with 60% of US adults option for free-range meat and dairy. Many vegans and vegetarians also make more than diet changes, opting to live a vegan/ vegetarian lifestyle across all aspects of their lives.
The vegan and vegetarian diets have a smaller carbon footprint, one of the main reasons why they have become so popular recently. …
Which one is better for me?
In November 2020, I participated in NaNoWriMo. At the end of the 30 days, not only had I written 50, 000 words but I had the first draft of my first novel.
I’m now in the middle of the editing process, catching spelling mistakes, adding chapters, developing characters and overall improving my first draft into a better second one. I have mixed feelings about it all at the moment. It’s hard than it seems but that’s a different story for a different day.
What I want to do with my novel when I’m finished editing it (no matter how long…
They’re not all intimidating
Classics are considered by some to be the best of the best of literature. This may be true for some authors like Charles Dickens, who wrote at least 21 novels including A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations.
Many people are put off by classics. Many classics were written in the 19th century and people struggle with the language or are incredibly long. One of my favourite books is War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy which is 1225 pages and a whopping 587, 287 words. Classic books also have a reputation for being confusing. Again, with War and Peace…
Help tackle childhood obesity and eating disorders
At school, my favourite subjects were English, history, IT and in my last two years at high school, textiles (aka sewing). On the other hand, my least favourite subjects were P.E, maths and science, even though I was pretty good at maths. At the very top of the list was P.E.
I hated it, from primary school through to high school. I have never been particularly sporty and as I didn’t have a locker to store things, the logistics of carrying a P.E. kit at school with me all day was a nightmare.
In the last few years, as I’ve…
War, racism, and identity
Reading books is one of the best ways to learn about anything, no matter the subject. Reading fiction is a great way to be introduced to, learn and explore our feelings and opinions about more difficult topics such as war, race and identity.
The books in this list are for children between seven and 18.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Judith Kerr is most famous for her books about Mog the cat, and The Tiger Who Came to Tea, both are childhood staples in the UK at least.
However, before Judith Kerr became a successful children’s author, she lived in Germany. As her family were…
My friend’s ten-year-old daughter has decided to give up meat and fish for Lent this year. From the 17th February to 3rd April, my friend’s daughter won’t eat pork, chicken, beef, bacon or gelatine. It’ll be interesting to see if she can manage it, and how well she manages it, especially given that I’m vegetarian myself.
I have been vegetarian since I was a baby. Almost 30 years now, which surprises a lot of people when I tell them. I don’t know why.
After 30 years though, I have a lot of advice and knowledge on how to move to…
