About MeWhen I was eight, I won a writing competition in New Zealand's national Sunday broadsheet (ironically, the same one I now scribble for). The judge said my short story "showed promise".
So I'm not sure why I thought studying law was a good idea. That, as you can imagine, lasted five minutes. Which is as it should be. Instead, I swapped out the LLB for a BA in English Lit, and chased that with a journalism qualification from Auckland University. Since then, I've written about everything from politics to soft furnishings and fashion to currency rates. I also spent five years working for the BBC in London, a year for TVNZ in Auckland and another for the NZ Press Association in the world's southernmost capital city (represent, Wellington). I'm happiest writing profiles of interesting people, interiors (I LOVE nosing around other people's houses), personal essays (who doesn't love writing about themselves?) and travel. A couple of years back, I won the Cathay Pacific Travel Writer of the Year Award and since then, I've been lucky enough to nail lots of lovely media jaunts around the globe. I'm also a frequent visitor to the 'dark' side of PR and copywriting. But with every comms strategy I write, and every piece of corporate copy I edit, I get a little closer to the dream of escaping to a wee place by sea. . I'm addicted to green tea, collecting stamps in my passport and running (aka dragging my sorry butt around the Wellington waterfront). But nothing comes close to my love for my two boys - the furry one (Bristol) and the upright one, Martin (aka the Animator). If you're in the market for compelling, concise copy that cuts through like no other, I'm your girl. Contact me on sharon.stephenson2@gmail.com |
What they're saying about me....
Sharon was one of my go-to freelance writers for Kia Ora. Her work was always spot-on and I commissioned her for travel stories, restaurant reviews, culture and business features, all of which she delivered with aplomb. Her writing style suited the magazine - intelligent, insightful and a clever turn of phrase. She also saved our bacon on several occasions when I needed a story filed urgently, for which I'm eternally grateful! |
Publications• North & South Magazine
• Kia Ora (Air NZ inflight magazine) • Woman Magazine • Sunday Star Times/Sunday Mag • NZ House & Garden • DISH Magazine • Your Weekend Magazine • NZ Life & Leisure • Canvas Magazine • Haven Magazine . |
Awards• 2013 Cathay Pacific Travel Writer of the Year
• Category wins in the Cathay Pacific Travel Writing Awards every year since 2009 • North & South Magazine - Places in the Heart Winner 2012 |
Copywriting Clients• Air New Zealand
• Antipodes Nature • Trade Me • Xero • Honda • ANZ • Rodd & Gunn • NZ Post |