Author
Ghostwriter
Helen Croydon
Writing Coach
Breathwork
Here's my story,
how would you tell yours?
About Helen Croydon
Unlikely Accountant to Journalist
My portfolio career has led me to a true place of calling.
Starting with a degree in Japanese, and joining one of the then-called big-five accountancy firms (Arthur Andersen) - using my Japanese to advise ex-pats on their UK tax position, I soon discovered I wasn’t cut out for corporate life. I lasted just long enough to get a tax accountancy qualification!
Back to college I went, to put my lifelong love of writing to use with a PG Dip in journalism. There began a 15-year career in the media. I started in local radio (Cheshire's Silk FM), on a quarter of the salary of corporate life, chipping ice of the gate at 5.45am when opening the studio, ready to write and read the breakfast news bulletins. (I still have recordings. For LOL's, here's me reading the breaking Cheshire news in 2002!)
From there, I landed a job at ITN, producing and voicing networked radio news bulletins for the UK network of 200 local radio stations (Then called IRN). (Yep, still got a demo from that era too!). I got my break into TV news production from there, with the odd bit of on-screen reporting (way too cringeworthy to share).
But still, my call to write wasn’t met. So, I left the safety of employment at ITN to go freelance. That was 2009. I spent the next 10 years pitching and writing features, opinion pieces and investigative articles to newspapers and magazines. Highlights are on my journalism page.
It was in this era that I wrote three books. The first made the WHSmith annual best-seller list in 2011. The third was long-listed for The William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 2018.
Becoming an Author
Being a three-time author and journalist led to TV and radio commenting and invites for talks at literary festivals (very cool!). I became a regular talking head reviewing the papers on the likes of Sky News and BBC News Channel. I even got to go on Woman’s Hour twice! And Good Morning Britain (some best-of moments here).
After a few years, I wanted to retreat from the public eye. My main writing niche then, was relationships (thanks to my debut book - a dating memoir). My 'experiential journalism' pieces made an interesting Google search profile! As I gravitated to more wholesome pursuits like endurance sport in my personal life, I wanted more anonymity.
That's how I came to found my business, Thought Leadership PR in 2019. I figured I could switch my focus from getting myself in the media to helping others do that.
I shaped it into a PR agency specialising in personal PR and thought leadership, developing topics and ghostwriting articles for entrepreneurs and subject matter experts.
After five years, I employed six people. We were the go-to agency specialising in thought leadership content.
PR Agency Entrepreneur
Ghostwriter and Writing Coach
There's another 'but' coming...
The business consumed me. Out of everything I've ever done, running a business was the hardest!
In 2023, drained and frazzled, I went on a retreat and had a powerful epiphany.
Pondering the question,"What's the gift you're called to give?" (which hugely resonated), a word came to me during a meditation: 'Articulation'. I realised that the common thread in my careers has been helping people articulate their message.
That epiphany moved me to scale down Thought Leadership PR, to focus on ghostwriting, writing coaching and editing.
I concluded I no longer need to write for my own by-lines, nor for my own name on the cover of books. I've done that. My skill can be put to greater good by helping others people to tell worthwhile stories.
I've always been obsessed by health protocols - nutrition, fitness, breathwork, hot and cold exposure and more. Since coaching writers, I've realised this is not separate to my professional work. Wellbeing is inter-linked with productivity and focus.
I am a certified Oxygen Advantage breathwork coach, a British Triathlon level 1 coach, have competed for Team GB in age-group triathlon, and done courses in nutrition and cold exposure.
Don't worry, I won't make you take cold plunges or do a triathlon! But I do share the science behind improved productivity within my coaching, because I never met a writer who says they don't struggle with concentration and motivation.
Breathwork and Wellness
Ready to become an author too? The button to talk is right below!