I’m back with more musings about life under lockdown. Having survived the first week, I began week 2 with a strange mix of optimism, boredom and blasé. Day 8: a bit of blur The days are starting to run together. It’s harder and harder to distinguish them apart. The big event of the day was…
Category: French society
50 shades of lockdown: part 1
We haven’t (yet) been locked down for 50 days. Although it does sometimes feel like it! But, as I have more free time, I decided to jot down a few of my own nuances from the confines of my apartment. I’m not promising big statements or revolutionary solutions to any of the problems generated by…
A Brit in the banlieue
Obviously, Covid-19 is on everyone’s lips and keyboards at the moment. Once of the advantages of being stuck at home is having more free time… although with a freelance job and a 3-year-old the hours only stretch so far! In one of those rare peaceful moments, I started thinking about the city I live in…
When an English Copywriter becomes French
In the past, I’ve written quite a few articles about copywriting from explaining SEO to the impact of Artificial intelligence. So, I thought it was time to share a few more personal insights from a Brit living (near) Paris. Against a Brexit backdrop Given the uncertain context created by the long, painful and seemingly never-ending Brexit process, I…
Christmas adverts: understanding a very British tradition
When I first moved to France, one of the biggest shocks to the system was Christmas. It was suddenly so understated, elegant and didn’t even start until late November. It was a world away from the all-out glitzy blitz from October onwards in the UK. It seemed that I could forget crackers, mince pies, carol…
English Copywriter in Paris: the French art of striking and protesting
Strikes from air controllers, train drivers, metro workers, teachers and students mean things have been grinding along at an excruciating pace in Paris in recent weeks. The latest instalment involves blockading oil refineries to disrupt petrol distribution! And, in many cases, patience is wearing thin among the famously strike-happy French who feel that they are being…
English Copywriter in Paris: A little less English?
I recently applied for French nationality. Partly in a reaction against Brexit. Partly because (nearly) my whole life is based in Paris now: my clients, my apartment, my partner and now my soon-to-be-born child, who will be educated in France and feel more French than British. This decision got me asking lots of questions. Does…
English Copywriter in Paris: How to freelance for a French company
I was recently asked the best way to find freelance work with French companies. The London-based freelancer in question wanted to know the secret to breaking into the French copywriting market. This got me thinking about how I find work and whether cultural differences are at play when hooking new clients. Before starting though, I’d…