Melissa's Blog

My first article as a scuba diving journalist
When I started out as a scuba diving journalist, people told me travel writing was too competitive and I wasn’t likely to get very far...
Melissa in dive clothing sat on a boat looking out to the ocean doing Pre dive meditation
Scuba yoga in Grenada
Scuba yoga in Grenada: I headed to Grenada to discover scuba yoga - would it be the perfect mix of my two hobbies or just a fad?
Image of a paradise beach Nevis from the water
Nevis: Paradise with a black eye
An eventful week in Nevis - from the ultimate in luxury to coping with a shiner from mask squeeze and the unexpected sight of human bones.
Dragon Moray
Kushimoto Diving
A review of the diving in Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan - would these little known dive sites live up to the renowned Okinawa?
Underwater Photography: Tips
Brand new to underwater photography, I was overwhelmed when I first picked up my camera. From one beginner to another, here are my top tips.
Shark attacks? All these things are more deadly…
Many people think sharks are terrifying. But here are a few things that are more likely to kill you than an encounter with Jaws.
Whale shark swimming in the ocean
Madagascar’s new whale shark hotspot
How Melissa helped the Madagascar Whale Shark Project get an important new study on the global news agenda.
Man skubba diving in the ocean swimming under a shark
The mysteries of pregnant whale sharks
How Melissa helped Galapagos researchers make a media splash about their efforts to unlock the mystery of whale shark pregnancies.
Whale shark swimming in the ocean
Ocean giants
How Melissa helped MMF generate widespread press coverage and increase global awareness of its conservation work.
women laying on a beach in a blue bikini
Quick wins for slow fashion
How Melissa helped MAGDAKINEDESIGNS generate press coverage to raise awareness and boost interest in its sustainable products.
Graphic of arabic conservation literature
Communications materials copywriter: Diving into asset development
As a communications materials copywriter, Melissa helped Reef-World audit and hone its strategy for more effective global outreach. Here's how.
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No good cause unfunded
How Melissa and her team helped JustGiving create widespread media coverage about its incredible fundraising campaigns.
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Hello green hosting
Melissa has made the switch to a green hosting provider so her website hosting service is now powered by renewable energy from UK wind farms!
Lifeguard looking out over the sea at Tofo Beach, Mozambique
Impact: Melissa’s sustainability steps
As a freelance consultant working in the sustainability and for-purpose sector, Melissa is dedicated to tracking her impact over time. Read more.
Manta ray painting with paints and brush
World Ocean Day Giveaway
Join the Baleen pod and be in with the chance of winning some amazing goodies from Under the Sea Art
Aerial photo of someone surrounded by papers, a phone and a computer while they are planning to illustrate the best app for different productivity and ethical needs
Recommended: best apps and tools
I use certain apps for freelancers and eco-minded businesses to be more productive and more sustainable. Here, I share my favourites.
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What are the UN’s SDGs?
If you’re not sure what the UN's SDGs are, don’t worry: here’s a quick overview of the Sustainable Development Goals to get you up to speed.
Melissa holding a ginger cat and standing on a wooden balcony with the blue ocena behind her
Getting to know me
Melissa is a sustainable comms consultant, copywriter and diver. Here are a few facts to help you get to know her a bit better.
Birds eye view of a cappucino, glass of water and a laptop to illustrate Melissa's daily freelance life
A day in the life of a freelance writer: UK edition
Going behind the scenes and giving you a glimpse into my working day as a freelancer.
Typewriter with a piece of paper in there saying 'news' to illustrate the PR process
What is PR?
Ever wondered what is PR and why is it so important? In this post, I explain what PR is based on my 12+ years' experience in the sector.
Picture of a hand turning green at the fingertips and holding a plant to represent how I'm working to meet theSustainable development goals and become more green within my business
How I’m meeting the SDGs
How I'm working to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through my communications and copywriting services.
Kate from Cherry Blossom Management standing in front of a cherry blossom tree with a polka dot shirt and pointing to the Canva logo
Canva and your marketing
Kate Browning from Cherry Blossom Management explains why Canva is such a great tool to support your marketing efforts.
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Green website: step by step
Outlining my commitment to improving my website from an environmental perspective and track my progress over time.
Alexis with pink hair, sunglasses and a striped top smiling at the camera
Making your social media content inclusive
Alexis Bushnell from Social Media for Humans shares some fantastic insights into how to make your social media more inclusive and accessible.
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Melissa’s pledge to be an ethical copywriter
Read how Melissa pledges to be an ethical copywriter, as per the guidelines set out by the ethical move (a movement for ethical marketing).
Melissa holding a ginger cat and standing on a wooden balcony with the blue ocena behind her
Ways of working
I wanted to share a few of my preferences it terms of ways of working to give you a glimpse into how I like to work and why.
Genaye standing in front of the ocean and smiling at the camera
Conservationist showcase: Genaye Domenico, MMF
An interview with MMF's Genaye Domenico about her love for the ocean
Whale Shark with a snorkeller swimming alongside it
Conservationist showcase: Dr Simon J. Pierce, MMF
Guest post from MMF's Dr Simon J. Pierce about his career protecting the ocean and marine megafauna.
Cass Hebron smiling at the camera
Social media for climate action
Cass Hebron suggests 7 ways to use social media for real climate action
Donations image on typewriter
Building your fundraising communications strategy
Sarah Browning York shares how to create a successful fundraising comms strategy
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What Is Your Brand?
What is branding and how can it improve your marketing and work for your business? Spark & Bloom's Jeanne has more...
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The #COP26 roundup
Ahead of COP26 in Glasgow, I share a roundup of the best articles and blogs explaining what the COP is and why it's so important.
Reusable bag and phone with a recycling symbol displayed on screen
A sustainable business A-Z
After a brilliant chat with the Being Freelance community about green-lancing, I was inspired to make an A-Z of sustainable business.
Beautiful sunset over the ocean
Pro bono requests
An overview of requirements for charities and good causes looking for pro bono PR and copywriting support from Melissa.
Jessica Haines standing in front of the ocean and some green trees
Conservationist showcase: Jess Haines, The Manta Trust
Interview with Jessica Haines, Project Manager of The Manta Trust
Bonnie wearing her hair up in a bun and wearing a grey sweater
Make your small business more sustainable
Bonnie shares four ways you can make your business more sustainable.
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3 steps towards a more ethical marketing strategy
Claudia from Translate Digital Marketing shares her bugbears about some marketing tactics
Lady standing on a balcony wearing a brown coat and reading a newspaper. Photo by Ono Kosuki from Pexels
What is a press release?
A quick overview of what a press release is, what to include and other considerations for organisations new to doing their own PR.
Close up view of a Mac computer on a wooden desk with orange walls in the background. Photo by Tom Swinnen from Pexels
Promote your brand voice with a style guide
Emma Hewlett explains how to create a style guide for your business, no matter its size.
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PR: easy as ABC
A taster of Melissa's communications glossary which helps you get to grips with PR terms you might not be familiar with.
Birds eye view of neatly stacked magazines taken by Kaboompics .com from Pexels
How do I get press coverage?
One of the most common questions I hear is "how do I get press coverage?" Here are a few tips
Hand holding a blue pen and writing in a notepad. Photo by picjumbo.com from Pexels
How to make a great press list
Making a great press list is an important part of doing your own PR - but it can be a challenge. Here are a few tips to help.
Dark blue rolling ocean in the foreground with an orange sky and the sun setting in the background. Photo by Sebastian Voortman from Pexels
Motion for the Ocean’s PR Power Hour
In this session, Mel helped Emily with messaging, target media and empowering ambassadors to spread the word about the Motion for the Ocean.
Plastic bottle lying on the grass, photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
How to avoid greenwashing in your communications
Heather Davies explains what greenwashing is and how to avoid it in your communications.
Emily standing on a beach wearing an orange Marine Conservation Society tabbard and holding a clipboard, next to her is George Eustice who also wears an orange tabbard and holds a litter picker and trash bag for their beach cleanup
Conservationist showcase: Emily Cunningham
Marine conservationist Emily Cunningham shares some brilliant insights on how we can all protect the ocean.

About

Melissa's logo shows a squid sprawled across the page with its mantle in the top left corner (the subtle shape of a fountain pen nib at the top) and its arms and tentacles curling off the page on the bottom right. The text reads: The Ocean Writer.

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Giving back

The Ocean Writer Ltd. Registered company number: 14772669

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Certified Carbon Literate logo
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Black text on white background reading I Declare A Climate Emergency next to 1.5 degrees on white in a black circle
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I support Project Seagrass by donating 1% of every cleared payment from my services via Work for Good

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N.B. I do not work with the fossil fuel industry. If that's you, please look for support elsewhere. Thank you.

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Banner readers ABSW (Association of British Science Writers) member 2023