Rosie Cammish, from Media to Man vs Machine
Rosie Cammish graduated in 2010 with a degree in Media. Since then she has continued writing, and successfully published her debut novel Man vs Machine on Amazon. She was recently spotted by independent publisher, Britain’s Next Bestseller, who have published Man vs Machine in paperback.
Rosie Cammish
Where are you from and where do you live now?
I grew up in Filey and now live in Scarborough.
What do you do in your spare time?
Far too much! I like to stay active, walking, lifting weights and practising yoga. Unsurprisingly I love getting creative too, writing (no surprises there), sewing, knitting, crocheting. I also love reading books and watching films.
Do you have any goals for 2021?
Glad you said goals rather than resolutions, it always seems much more positive to try and cultivate growth than drive yourself loopy with resolutions.
Anyway… After a few years of writing books (I have managed a book a year for the past 3 years) I have started writing a sitcom, my hope is to have a 6-episode series completed by the end of the year.
What is your favourite book/genre?
I tend to read quite a hodgepodge of genres; I never read 2 books from the same genre back-to-back. But my favourite has to be science fiction, I just love escaping into other worlds, but thrillers come a close second – I cannot resist with the words ‘unputdownable’ emblazoned on the cover of a novel.
A York St John Student
Why did you pick York St John?
I looked at a few Universities in the area and really like York St John, it was close to home, had a course that interested me, and it looked like Hogwarts – always a bonus!
What was your favourite part of studying with us?
I really enjoyed exploring the world of cinema. I had started the course thinking that I would end up pursuing a career in advertising but, from the first lecture, I fell in love with film and never looked back.
What’s your favourite YSJ memory?
I met some great people. After looking a bit further into film, I got to know some of the students on the film course (I was studying media) and helped them out on a small film project. It was such an amazing experience and something that I will never forget.
Where is your favourite place in York from your student days? Is it still your favourite place now?
Unsurprisingly, given the above, I am a big cinema fan. I used to go along to City Screen in York City Centre in my free periods, where my mind was opened by a spectrum of films that I never knew existed. Nowadays I still love a trip to the cinema but visit my local screens at Hollywood Plaza and Stephen Joseph Theatre – worth a visit if you’re ever in Scarborough.
From student to supporting the NHS
What was your first role after you graduated, and what did that entail?
I graduated in 2010, deep in the midst of The Recession. Unfortunately, this meant that jobs were few and far between, but I ended up gaining a role at The Post Office working on Network Transformation. If you’ve noticed your local Post Office getting a refurbishment in recent years, that was the work of my colleagues and I.
Not one to give up easily, I have continued to write alongside all of my days jobs.
What do you do now?
I have been working in an administrative role for the NHS for the past 5 years, so it’s been a pretty busy year for me. It’s lovely working for such a great organisation, and nice to know I am contributing to something bigger.
What does a typical workday look like?
I work part-time. My mornings are spent answering emails, filling out forms, completing reports and working with spreadsheets. Then, in the afternoon, I get to writing. I try and write most days, and find this helps me keep the ideas fresh in my mind.
Man vs Machine
What made you start writing?
I did 2 script writing modules at York St John, which sparked my love for writing. After that I started writing articles. I had played with the idea of writing a novel a few times before but kept putting it off. Finally, in 2018, I set myself the goal to write some more fiction.
What inspired you to write Man vs Machine?
It all came about because I thought Formula E was essentially a game of Scalextric (I am now aware this is not the case- though it does sound quite fun, doesn’t it?). Anyway, I figured if robot cars could race around a track why not humanoid robots-things sort of escalated from there…
When did you start writing it, and how long did it take to get it into its final form?
I started writing at the start of 2018 and envisioned it to be a short story. The story got out of my control, and I just kept writing, but the end of 2018 I had written and edited to first draft of my debut novel.
Did you have a writing routine?
In the week I write for about ½ an hour after dinner and spend the rest of the day daydreaming about what will happen next for my characters. It doesn’t sound much, ½ an hour, but things quickly add up.
How did you initially publish it, and what did that entail?
I initially wrote to every publisher and agent I could find. Several months later, with an inbox full of rejections, I decided to give up on traditional publishing and give the novel a go as an eBook.
Was it difficult to format your document into a book for the e-publishing software?
No, the lovely people at Amazon have software that you can use for free to transform your manuscript into an eBook.
You caught the attention of a physical publishing house. What happened next?
I literally jumped up and down in the street – I can only imagine what those passing by must have thought!!! Then came a lot of back and forth, editing the book etc. The book was due to be released in 2020 and then Covid-19 hit…
Things got a little of track with the pandemic, but the book was finally published in May 2021 – cut to me jumping about again.
Are you writing anything else right now?
Yes, I don’t think I will ever stop writing. Since completing Man Vs Machine I have written 2 more novels, yet to be published, and am now working in a script for a science fiction sitcom.
Have you been published elsewhere?
I have previously written article for local publications including The Dalesman, and some websites. I think the logical progression would be to start writing short stories and then go on to novels, but things didn’t work out that way. I’ve learnt just to go with the flow and do what feels right for me.
Tips and Tricks
Do you have any advice for budding writers?
Get writing, write anything, write about your day, write about your thoughts, just get something on the page. You can always edit down anything you write, but you can’t edit a blank page!
Would you recommend e-book publishing as a good way of getting your work ‘out there’?
Absolutely, I think it’s a great invention and something you should look into if you want to write. Though, I must confess, nothing will ever compare to holding a paperback in my hands.
Do you have any general advice for recent graduates?
Keep open minded. You might not get your dream job right away, but you’ll no doubt learn interesting things and meet awesome people along the way.
Is there anything else you’d like to say?
I don’t know who needs to hear this but, never give up on your dreams. Don’t ever let people think you are silly for wanting to go off and write or paint pictures or whatever it is that you love. Follow your heart, follow your dreams, and don’t ever let anyone stand in your way.
You can buy Rosie’s book on Amazon and follow her book focused instagram to follow her writer journey.
