Ask a journalist

Are you a writer whose new year’s resolution is to branch out into journalism? Women in Journalism Scotland is here to help. We are kicking off 2026 with an online session, run in conjunction with the Scottish Book Trust, to guide non-journalists through the process of getting their words into newspapers, magazines and websites.

A couple of years ago Rebecca Smith, author of Rural, was in exactly this position. She now writes for The Guardian among other titles and has found a way to double-track journalism and longer-form writing.

She will be joined on the session by Anna Burnside, the co-chair of Women in Journalism, who has been a commissioning editor as well as having a long career as a feature writer. 

Together they will cover the practicalities of identifying suitable stories, finding a hook, choosing a target publication and pitching, all while keeping a big project on the go at the same time.