Hello! I’m Ailsa Gillies and I’m a jack of all writing trades and a Master of one (literally!).
I’m a Jungian-inspired writer, author and workshop facilitator based in Scotland. After a pivotal dream that led me to leave corporate life to run my own writing practice, my work now explores the intersection of depth psychology, creative vocation, and inspiring a new generation of creatives to answer their calling too. From this, Ailsa Gillies Editorial was born, combining all the unique parts of my vocation…
What you can expect…
🏝️ Features on Bute: This is an ongoing project I began as a journalism student at university. During the pandemic, I had my finger on the pulse of my hometown. There was a clear influx of nostalgia; a palpable yearning for ‘the good old days’. Not only this, but Bute has long lacked in cultural and historical reporting online – so I seized the opportunity to curate in-depth articles about Bute. Some of the most popular ones include 70s Bute and famous Brandanes you’ve never heard of. Whenever I get the chance or inspiration to add to this project – I do, so keep your eyes peeled.
🌎 Cross-Cultural: If Features on Bute is the local cultural project, then Cross-Cultural is all of that, but globally. I’ve written for various music and culture publications over the last 7 years and I will never get tired of writing about the arts. This is where you’ll find all my music reviews, wider cultural essays and critiques on all things art. Unfortunately, I’ve not been able to fully launch this project, especially as a one-woman band, but I have hopes to get contributors on board to make this project possible in the near future.
✍🏼 Editorial: Everything on this website sits under Ailsa Gillies Editorial. It’s the business and brand I work under as a self-employed writer and educator. Editorial is where all my poetry, prose and personal reflective essays live. It’s the part of Ailsa Gillies Editorial that welcomes you into my inner world. It’s the place where the writing about other people’s art stops, and actually creating my own begins. Instead of writing about the culture, this is where I contribute to it. I wrote my first book at 25, a small collection of poetry and prose, which was self-published under Ailsa Gillies Editorial. You can buy Conversations with Nature here.
☕️ Coffee off the Clock: This is my weekly column, where you can keep a finger on my pulse! I’ve really ran with this metaphor now and I can’t seem to stop. Every weekend, I publish musings on my life as a writer since leaving my corporate job – the pits and peaks, the bliss and of course, the pain. There’s no sugar-coating here. It’s raw, unfiltered and I actually like to think it’s a little inspiring. It’s a really honest journey that you can follow me on and see where I end up.
👩🏫📚 Write Here Write Now: In partnership with Erskine Arts, I facilitate community writing workshops. The best part? They’re not just any old writing workshops. Fully inspired by Jungian depth-psychology and spirituality, I explore writing not just as a craft, but as a tool for wellbeing, unlocking higher creativity, exploring our inner worlds and inspiring my participants to become more authentically themselves. Here are just a few topics we’ve explored: The Inner Child, The Inner Critic, Writing as Alchemy, Archetypes & Characters, The Myth of the Tortured Creative, Writing & Dreams, Writing & The Unconscious, Life as Story, The Hero’s Journey, The Magic of Place, Writing & Synchronicities… amongst many more.
Where you might have seen me…
🎵 Music Journalism: At just 19 years old, I landed my first double-spread feature article in a music supplement within The Alloa Advertiser and with its success, I became The Weekender’s music columnist. More recently I contributed my music reviews to Discovery Music Scotland.
🎬 Fashion & Makeup: You might’ve also seen me on BBC Scotland’s The Social, doing make-up looks through the decades. Or modelling and discussing my love for 60s, 70s and 80s music and fashion in On‘s (you know the famous running shoes brand?) culture magazine, ‘Off’. That’s one my mum keeps on the mantle piece.
🕵️♀️ Local Reporting: I’m also known locally on Bute as ‘the girl that writes the articles’. That was after the investigative piece I wrote on CalMac and dared to touch a very sensitive subject of a bridge. I was actually threatened by an anonymous local for…rocking the boat (pardon the pun). Then came the 70s Bute article that I wrote for the Isle of Bute News, which, Billy McIsaac (yes, who played in Slik!) actually bought and read.
The boring credentials
🎬📚 BA (Hons) in Film, Media, and Journalism: I graduated in 2021 from the University of Stirling after exploring the cultural and sociological link between Music, Fashion & Politics as my final year dissertation.
🕵️♀️🌎 MSc in International Journalism: Because one degree wasn’t enough and you know, we were in the midst of a worldwide pandemic, I went on to complete my Masters, focusing on more broader international issues as well as the changing global media market.
🎥✍🏼 Documentary Storytelling: While working my first graduate job in Internal Communications, I took on a professional development course in Documentary Storytelling at the University College London.
🎨🎭 Art Life Coach: After partnering with Erskine Arts, I felt it was important to progress in my workshop facilitation. I’m currently working toward my Art Life Coach certificate, blending art therapy methods and looking at ways that creativity can support mental and spiritual wellbeing.
Would you like to work with me?
I’m currently available for collaborations on the following:
📚 Writing Workshops: With a strong background in delivering creative, engaging and inspiring community writing workshops, I’d be happy to collaborate with any community centres, projects and groups to support mental health, wellbeing and skill development.
🎵 Music & Entertainment Reviews: With 7 years experience of music and culture writing, I’d be delighted to support your blossoming creative career with reviews, features and profiles.
✍🏼 Freelance Writing: Did I mention I’m a jack of all writing trades? From music and culture to finance and global reporting, I’ve written and worked in various sectors over the years. If you’d like support on communications, content creation or storytelling – there’s a wee blonde lady I know who keeps mentioning jack and having fingers on a pulse.
If you have any enquiries about working together, get in touch below…
ailsagillies.com 