Bianca Nogrady is a freelance science journalist and author with more than a decade of experience as a full-time freelance writer for outlets such as ABC and BBC, Nature, Australian Geographic, the Australian, Scientific American, and Ecos. Bianca works from home in the Blue Mountains and wouldn’t give it up for any office job in the world.
You’ve been a full-time freelancer for 10 years. How did you start out?
I was trying to work part-time as a medical reporter and freelance on the side, but soon realised there were so many opportunities in the freelance world. So I took the full-time plunge into freelancing.
You’ve written for a wide variety of publications. What’s one of the most surprising topics you’ve written about?
One of many reasons I love writing for ABC Science Online is the delightfully wacky stories they occasionally give me, such as the discovery of the oldest fossilised Neanderthal poo, a guide to sexual positions for people with low back pain, why penis size matters, and why being moody has an evolutionary purpose.
What’s one key tip you have for writers looking to seriously expand their freelance opportunities?
It’s hard to limit it to one: find a writing niche and own it; make your editor’s/client’s life as easy as possible by delivering to the brief and on time; approach freelance writing as a business, not a hobby; and think outside the newsagency.
Learn How to Succeed as a Freelance Writer with Bianca on Saturday 29 April, 10am-4pm at the NSW Writers’ Centre.