Helene Dancer talks about her journalistic baptism of fire in a trade publication newsroom
Helene Dancer
Helene Dancer specialises in culture and has written extensively about music, travel, lifestyle and business for publications including the Sunday Independent, Marie Claire, Harrods Magazine, Voyager and Notion. She helped launch and edit magazines and websites for clients such as Hamptons International and Norwich Union, and is Associate Editor of the taste-making music and culture magazine Shook.
What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always loved words and the challenge to capture an experience or emotion accurately through language. Apparently when I was about two, I asked my mother how to spell ’stethoscope’, so I guess it started early.
I remember friends at school complaining about having to write descriptive paragraphs for creative writing and I couldn’t understand why they didn’t like doing them. I had trouble sticking to one side of A4.
What was your first media job?
Rather out of character for me, I ended up in the City (London), reporting for an insurance trade publication. I’d just moved to London and it was a real baptism of fire. I remember people being chucked out of the newsroom if they didn’t have enough story leads. Even thought the subject matter was pretty dry, it honed my reporting skills for life.
Did you receive any formal training?
I have a first-class honours degree in journalism from Rhodes University in South Africa
What made you decide to go freelance?
I have lots of my own projects on the go, so wanted to freedom to be my own boss and select the work I wanted to do - and make time for the projects that were most important to me.
Where are we likely to see your work?
I write for a variety of publications including Marie Claire, Voyager, Notion, Healthy, Shook, Arise and Sublime.
Do you specialise in a particular genre?
I specialise in culture - it’s what I’m most interested in. I love music and travel, so it made sense to carve out this niche.
What are the biggest challenges of the job?
Getting paid on time… Chasing invoices is very much part of the job. It’s also a challenge to maintain the energy to continually raise my game, but I do enjoy it.
What are the biggest perks?
Travelling, listening to lots of music and writing some great features.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Writing a travel piece about Jordan and having the privilege to visit Petra. It was a very special experience.
What advice would you offer an aspiring writer?
Keep you teeth gritted and your goals firmly in sight.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a website about Londoners and their homes. It’s called Under 1 Roof and will be launching very soon.
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