Work-wise this has been a choppy but interesting year. Some of my longest-standing, most regular and best clients have had major internal shake-ups or external jolts, with knock-on effects for outriders like me, but I’ve also worked on some excellent jobs. Change and uncertainty are like pepper for a freelance; a nice pinch is good seasoning, but you can have too much.
Some highlights
Roundbuilding 2
I copyedited the new material in the second edition of Roundbuilding by Daniel Waddy and Kevin Armstrong, having been involved with the first edition in 2021. If you’re a working bartender or bar-curious, the book gives an unusual and fascinating perspective on barcraft and especially the making of cocktails. There are some recipes, but that’s not the focus: it’s about how you prepare drinks, and numbers of drinks at the same time in particular. One of my favourite insights was how you should treat water (e.g. from ice) as an ingredient in its own right that needs to be added in the correct quantity. (I drew upon Roundbuilding in my Substack piece on the Negroni.)
Roundbuilding 2021 was self-published and made a big impression in both the bar world and among amateurs, to the extent that it was picked up by Difford’s Guide, who published the revised and expanded 2024 edition.
Inspired Minds and Rathbones Review
Late winter/early spring I did some editorial work on the Rathbones Inspired Minds podcast, and then pitched a related feature article (Clever and Lazy—or Inspired?) that was accepted for publication in the 2025 Rathbones Review (digital version due for publication early January 2025, print edition mid-January 2025). I’ve also done quite a lot of editorial work on this and the previous edition of the Review. Interesting and varied projects with an excellent team.
Some lowlights
There have been a couple of farewells this year. A valued (treasured) editorial contact at one of my best clients is leaving in January 2025, while another long-standing client (regular work for nearly eight years) stopped using freelances altogether as a policy decision.
Some news
This year was my tenth as a freelance and I published a couple of posts to mark that here and here.
In May I Iaunched a Substack publication called The whole caboodle, in which I write about whatever catches my attention. This isn’t usually topical; there’s plenty of that about already. The most popular piece so far is mostly about how and why we build our characters as we grow up. The most recent is an oblique look at the English Lake District through different eyes. There are a couple of cocktail pieces if you’re looking for a New Year beverage. The Last Word isn’t the worst way to sign off from the year.
Working together
If you want to work together, drop me a line. I’m on LinkedIn if you want to learn more about my background first.
Paul Fishman 