Introduction
John Young is a writer, researcher and editor.
With a wide range of published work in many fields, he is available to write books such as Just Imagine, the award-winning book on an Eastern Cape windfarm which encompassed the rich history of the land and its people, the tale of an activist entrepreneur and the successful completion of a complex project.
Apart from writing books, the other services offered include editing and proof-reading, research, training and advising on manuscripts. These options are as listed below.
I have academic qualifications in Journalism, English, History and teaching and considerable experience in all of those fields. I have been a writer and editor since 2008 and have published books and articles on a wide variety of topics.
I have done extensive research, both for my own writing projects and for other writers such as Professor Andre Odendaal. I can advise and mentor on writing and research and I was a cricket coach for many years, including a decade working for Bob Woolmer Coaching.
My first area of specialisation as a freelance writer was cricket. Since 2008 I have written extensively on business and investment, both in South Africa and Africa. Renewable energy is another area of particular interest and I have travelled to Denmark several times on study trips.
My wide range of interests is reflected in the subject matter of the books and articles I have written.
I offer my services as a writer of non-fiction books, articles and reports.
For Jacana Media I edited Rory Riordan’s book on the key years of struggle against apartheid in the Eastern Cape, Apartheid’s Stalingrad: How the townships of the Eastern Cape defied the apartheid war machine.
I am a qualified and experienced researcher, and I would be glad to consider research in any field.
Training, mentoring of writers and cricket coaching
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Articles
Apart from the books I have written, several freelance articles have dealt with historical themes. There is often cross-over between my writing on history and sport and travel, for example, on the village of Mandela in Italy.
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Researching and writing South African provincial investment journals for Global Africa Network has given me insight into most economic sectors. Likewise writing for Opportunity and The Journal of African Business. I have also written for the Financial Mail.
My travel writing ranges from an election in Guyana (and interviews with presidential candidates) and an Italian waiter thanking me in Afrikaans because of the deeds of South African soldiers in WWII, to an analysis of Denmark’s obsession with chairs.
My freelance career began with cricket (and its history). I have since written about South African rugby (for Australia’s Inside Sport), the business model of sevens rugby (Financial Mail), and hockey and golf (on a Welsh hilltop and in the Karoo).
Recent articles
The scroller displays articles I have done recently or that I think are fun or interesting.
