‘Annie’s soul is so soothing and just encourages us to think of things differently’ – Holly Tucker, MBE
Hello, I’m Annie.
I’ve been a freelance journalist for over 15 years, writing for the Guardian, the Observer, Forbes, Grazia, Red Magazine, Stylist, Metro, the Telegraph, the Independent, the Evening Standard, Refinery29, You Magazine, Women's Health, iNews and more.
And I've been interviewed on BBC Woman's Hour, on a panel at Stylist Live, on the Sunday Times Style Secrets of the Side Hustle podcast, on Gaby Roslin's BBC Radio London show, The Jeremy Vine Show and for the Independent.
I’m also the author of three non-fiction books: Raise your SQ (Radar, 2023), Shy (Fourth Estate 2021), The Freelance Mum (Fourth Estate 2019). Plus, I’m a Sunday Times-bestselling ghostwriter for celebrities and I write poetry that goes viral on Instagram.
So writing is my thing.
But alongside writing, I’ve launched digital magazines and businesses that have boomed. Reaching 100,000 views a month; bringing in six figures a year. So I ‘get’ the online writing and business world and love sharing what I know.
There’s more on my courses, coaching, poetry and books below. But first, let me tell you about my Substack…
My Substack
Each week, on Substack, I publish personal essays, self-development tools and business tips that will get you thinking and doing.
So that might be an exercise to write your manifesto for life, an essay on being a working mother, or a business piece on growing your Substack.
I’m very honest about what’s working for me, and what’s not. I talk about my failures, as well as my successes and I keep very little behind closed doors.
I’ve started running online workshops, too. Bringing together my knowledge of writing and running an online business with my coaching skills.
My Substack is a bestseller, ranks in the global top 20 in ‘Philosophy’ and was named as one of Substack’s ‘Featured Publications’…
You can sign up here and you’ll get two/three essays a week, direct to your inbox. Plus information about my workshops.
Or, choose ‘smart notifications’ in your settings and you’ll access them through the Substack app or website instead.
By contributing a small amount (£5/month or £50/year), you'll get access to all the writing, self-development tools, online workshops and creative business tips.
Plus, we will together be proving that the real power lies in the hands of the creator.
Here’s what people in my Substack community say…
"I love reading Annie's work and often find both reassurance and empowerment in her writing" - Emma Svanberg
"Annie, your writing and work is hugely inspiring and I love how bold you are about different ways to make things work. Excited to read and connect more in your community. ✨" - Claire Venus
"Your work is thought provoking and encourages action. I love that!" - Shahidah Al-AMin
"Hi Annie Always love what you write and always inspired by your Madonna-like ability to change, adapt and flex to what you, your family and your career require. Brava! Felicity " - Felicity Haythorn
These are my most popular articles…
Back to the bio…
My non-fiction books
My latest book - Raise Your SQ: How the power of spiritual intelligence can change your life in seven days (Radar, 2023) - is full of tips, rituals, spiritual practices and coaching exercises that will help you to improve your life. I share my own spiritual journey, and interview leading figures to ask about theirs.
‘Raise your SQ is ushering in a new era where business is done on different terms, meeting needs from diverse cultures on what purpose at work means to them’ – Sharmadean Reid MBE, founder of The Stack World
Before that, I wrote Shy: How being quiet can lead to success (4th Estate, 2021). This book - part-memoir, part research - reframes shyness as an attribute, rather than a flaw that needs fixing. It has helped thousands of people to embrace this personality trait.
My first book - The Freelance Mum: a flexible guide for better work-life balance (4th Estate, 2019) - is a guide to setting up as a freelancer after having a baby. Again, it's part-memoir, and is packed with tips for setting up as a freelancer/small business owner.
Poetry
Two of my poems have gone viral - 'I've just had a baby' and 'what I want', after being shared by thousands of women around the world, including Paloma Faith - who wrote: “this is exactly how I feel” - and Busy Philipps.
I turned them into prints and books, which sold globally - across Europe, the US, Australia, Canada.
Coaching
I’m a trained and experienced life coach and on the coaching side of my career, I’ve been featured in Psychologies, the Independent, Women’s Health, Femail and Forbes, as well as dozens of podcasts.
Courses
Lastly, I run an online course business, and I love teaching other women how to launch and grow their own businesses/creative practice.
With courses: I learn, I do and then I teach. I prove that my method works and then I share it with other freelancers and business owners. Many of them go on to have great success, too.
Behind the career…
I was born and raised in north London, have lived in Somerset (twice) and Liverpool, Brighton and east London, and I’ve travelled the world.
But now I’m back in north London with my husband and our three children.
I play the piano, guitar and handpan and compose my own music.
You can find me on Instagram: @annieridout and (very occasionally) Twitter: @annieridout.
