As a natural introvert, the thought of writing an entire page all about me is daunting to say the least. But I’ll give it a go. You want to know who you’re working with, after all.
Hi, I’m Abigail. Originally from Middlesbrough, North-East England (you might detect the faintest hint of a northern accent), I’ve lived in the UK and the Netherlands and now call York home.
🎓 I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature from Goldsmiths University in 2017.
🇳🇱 Not done with researching and writing essays, I moved to the Netherlands a week after my graduation for a Master’s in North American Studies. I lived in a tiny little city, Leiden, for a year, and completed a thesis on demythologising gender constructions in 21st century American literature. You can read it here.
🖊️ In September 2018, I moved back to London, where I started working in content and editorial. Turned out my research and writing skills were a great fit for content writing, and I worked full-time in the city for over two years across business education and travel writing.
In 2020, I was made redundant (the travel sector was not the ideal place to be in a pandemic.) I was already working freelance for a number of clients and realised that this was my chance to do it full-time.
Since then, I’ve worked across multiple industries – a cardinal sin according to some. But I’ve always found it satisfying to delve into complex areas, tease out threads, and then create genuinely readable content.
In an ode to my university days, I most enjoy working on long-form content and editing – give me a brief for a 2,000 word article or a blog that needs meticulous editing and optimising and I’m happy.
I’m usually typing from a coffee shop in York.
Some personal interests
Languages
I can speak Dutch and I’m learning Korean.
Reading
My favourite author is Paul Auster, but I love fantasy and sci-fi too.
Travelling
I usually travel to the Netherlands at least once a year, but you’ll also find me exploring other locations in Europe. I once made a solo, 8-hour return trip from Berlin to the Polish border to visit the filming location for Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel. It was worth it.
Abigail Joy Lister 