Archive - Annie Ridout

The Writer: Rosamund Dean, journalist and author

"I’m always baffled and surprised when something’s a success, failure feels more normal. Which is lucky because a big part of being a freelance writer…

Jul 11 •

and

A ceremony for letting go

Following a particularly challenging motherhood chapter, I decided to have a 'letting go' ceremony. Here's the story, what helped me through the hardest…

Jul 9 •

This matters more than a book deal

In light of the literary exposé in this weekend's Observer, revealing the real story behind The Salt Path, it feels increasingly important to nurture an…

Jul 7 •

The Writer: Anna Whitwham, author and lecturer

Anna Whitwham is the critically-acclaimed author of the novel Boxer Handsome and a more recent memoir, Soft Tissue Damage. Here, we talk about finding…

Jul 4 •

Writers need to be entrepreneurs.

It's always been this way.

Jul 2 •

June 2025

Why haven't I told you this already?

The weekly essays I write centre around my work-life and home-life and yet I've made a glaring omission. I'm here to tell you what it is.

Jun 30 •

The Writer: Ellen C Scott, author, journalist, editor

Stylist's digital editor, Ellen Scott, is also the author of Working on Purpose, writes a Substack under the same name and freelances as a journalist…

Jun 27 •

and

If I can succeed on Substack, so can you

Lessons I've picked up from my 17-year career as a professional writer that extend from journalism to Substack and have helped me to become a…

Jun 25 •

Will I lose friends if I stop drinking?

On alcohol, escapism, sobriety and friendship.

Jun 24 •

The Writer: Poorna Bell, author and journalist

This new series of author interviews launches with Poorna Bell who started in journalism, writes across fiction and non-fiction and has a brilliant…

Jun 20 •

and

How it feels to be 40

On my birthday, people kept asking how it felt to be 40. Here's my answer.

Jun 18 •

Tricking the Substack system is not a solid strategy

Not for longterm, sustainable growth, anyway.

Jun 17 •

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