From food to fashion, from aircraft to actors, I've covered some territory as a journalist. I've written about changing names for The Sunday Times and left-handed offices for The Guardian; I've written regular features about JPs for The Magistrate and legal issues for Manchester Justice. My most recent commissions have been on crime writer Cath Staincliffe for Chapter and Verse and how to find an agent for both Writing Magazine and Freelance Market News . Press the link to see the full article. Tear sheets of published articles are available on request. See the sub-pages on the right for articles on Menton and life in a left-handed office (50 Connect and The Guardian.)

Press the Features button on this page to see some publications and features written.

My writing background

How did I begin? I started writing as editorial assistant with TV Times in the swinging 60s, then moved to Paris. There, I worked on the English edition of the UNESCO Courier and publicised their Cultural Voyages. I led groups round developing countries like Iran, Mexico, India and Nepal to see the work UNESCO had done there and worked in Madrid and Colombo.

Back in England, after a career in public relations, I returned to writing and launched the women's pages for The Advertiser newspaper group, then worked for Eddie Shah on the Bury Messenger newsdesk, covering news and features. When Shah sold the paper, I was transferred to the Stockport Messenger, where I was senior reporter, theatre page editor, aviation and health correspondent. I launched and edited the Messenger Group's women's pages but left to freelance while studying at Manchester Business School.

I edited Call Boy, a show business magazine and wrote for The Daily Telegraph, The Stage and  dozens of features for national magazines, like Family Circle, The Lady and Wedding and Home. I was regional correspondent for Adline, an advertising trade magazine and wrote a monthly column for Lady Gossip magazine.

Interviews to remember

My most memorable interviews were with Barbara Windsor and Dora Bryan. I won't say why. The nicest celeb I ever interviewed was Bonnie Langford - probably the most talented, too. Writing for The Guardian was the most frustrating because they kept losing my faxes and when I suggested an article about Jodrell Bank, one of the world's largest radio telescopes, they at first rejected it because "why would we want to feature a bank?" Why, indeed?

 

To discuss editorial commissions, please email me at diane@keywordeditorial.com or phone/fax on 0161 445 0159