Like many readers of this magazine, writing started out as a hobby, but over time I’ve been fortunate to turn my love of the written word into a full-time job.
However, in the space of a week, I received a double blow. First, a magazine I’d been writing monthly columns for announced they were ceasing publication. I was shocked and disappointed. I’d thoroughly enjoyed working for them and hadn’t imagined it stopping. Then I received notice that another magazine I regularly write for was also closing. To make matters worse, I’d just finished a commissioned article for their winter edition only to find out there wouldn’t be a winter issue.
When I spoke to the editors, they partly put it down to the effects of Covid. They just about survived and increased subscriptions had helped them through. But, post-Covid, subscription numbers have fallen again and, together with an increase in printing costs and dwindling footfall in
