Mountains

Get to know me

Mehdi on the beach

As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a writer.

Okay maybe not quite so far back as that, but I have loved writing for a while. I don’t know how common it is, but I find it quite wonderful that I can pinpoint the reason for my entire career path on one single object. A pack of Top Trumps. I loved Top Trumps as a child, and I still have a shoe box with a couple dozen packs in my family home’s loft somewhere. But this particular one is special to me.

It was a horror themed pack, with well-renowned characters like Dracula, Dr Jekyll and King Kong as well as somewhat lesser known names like The Flaming Man, the Witch Doctor, and the Mad Butcher. A life-long horror fan, I wrote some short stories using those cards that ignited my imagination, and this in turn started my passion for creative writing.

Sadly those stories were and still are lost to this day - but the love for writing remained strong. I chose to study creative writing at university at both BA and MA level, and sandwiched between each degree was my first full-time position at an agency called agenda21 digital. This was almost a bootcamp at times. I soon discovered that writing for the internet was a world apart from fiction, with personal finance proving to be the most difficult subject for me to master. However, I do enjoy a good challenge.

My first role following the postgrad was at MoneySuperMarket, and it was here I really found my feet in finance. After over five fantastic years and two promotions, the time was right to move on. I worked at a start-up called Intent for a year, this time writing about remittance, before taking the leap and starting my career as a freelance writer - which brings us to today.

Walking for hours

I could walk for hours, and in fact I often do. Whether some of the walks I’ve done would come under the category of ‘hiking’ is up for debate, but truthfully I love doing either. Sometimes I’ll listen to music, sports on the radio, podcasts or audiobooks; sometimes I’ll force myself to be alone with my thoughts.

The only thing that could get me out of bed early is the prospect of a long walk. Or a holiday, on which there would be multiple long walks.

Reading on the tube

Before writing, there was reading. I used to have a little reading lamp in the shape of a golden snitch, absorbed for hours past lights-out as a child. These days, I like reading on the tube - it gives me something to do besides looking awkward.

I like travel literature, with particular nods to Levison Wood and Simon Reeve; I've always been fond of thriller and horror novels too. A bit of history always goes down well; why did I find it so boring as a child? Even the Tudors are interesting when David Mitchel talks about them

Watching sports with disappointment

I was born in London, so naturally I support Manchester United. I’ve lived in England my whole life, so of course I cheer Pakistan’s cricket team on like my life depends on it.

Both of these teams bring me plenty of discontent. I can’t really complain about football, it’s become a farce of a sport in any case. Cricket feels less tribal in most cases, unless you’re watching Pakistan. Against any other team. Especially India.

More about me

Mehdi school photo as a child
  • Sometimes I wonder myself. I suppose it comes down to feeling a sense of accomplishment. What I really learned at MoneySuperMarket was putting consumers first - it’s quite fulfilling to dissect complex topics and make them digestible and sometimes even enjoyable to read about.

  • I try to! I have a few ideas kicking around, and now that I’m not working nine-to-five I’ll hopefully have more time to focus on them.

  • My dream would be to journey across the world and write about it for different international travel magazines.

  • I’d love to walk the Inca Trail in Peru, trek to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and go backpacking in Abel Tasman National Park in New Zealand.

Get in touch

Contact me to book a free 30-minute consultation call and we can discuss what you need and how I can help. Here’s how you can reach me:

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My Professional Career

  • I began consistently freelancing in August 2022 with my first client, Aira. Currently I also contribute regularly to USAToday and MoneySuperMarket, primarily writing personal finance and small business copy.

  • I took on the role of Lead Writer and Editor at an agency called Intent, and was given charge of a remittance service comparison website - MoneyTransfers.com.. Key responsibilities included content writing and editing, commissioning graphics and data tables, analysing data sets, editing work from freelancers, and long term strategy. Accomplishments improvements in rankings and traffic, and a successful content migration to a bespoke CMS..

  • In my capacity as Content Manager of Insurance, I owned the content production process from briefing to publication. This included conducting in-depth research into key SEO metric to create a strategy, commissioning content pieces to in-house and freelance writers, editing work to high standards incorporating the brand’s unique tone of voice, mentoring junior writers, and uploading content to site using our bespoke CMS. Key responsibilities included commissioning, writing and editing copy, including guides, articles, meta copy and long-form projects, working with datasets to find content-worthy stories and collaborating with designers to produce graphics, creating a bespoke content tracking document to manage workflow for the team. managing in-house and freelance writers, and accomplishing goals innovatively through connections and resources not specified in the job role. Accomplishments include consistent ranking and search traffic improvements across multiple channels, nominations for performance- and team-related awards, and life-long connections superseding professional relationships

  • After a year at MoneySuperMarket I was offered a permanent role as a staff copywriter. Initially this was a continuation of my previous role, however I proved myself more than capable of going above and beyond the job description. Key responsibilities included content production, commissioning graphics and data tables, analysing data sets, tracking content production and performance in a monthly report, editing work from freelancers and junior writers, and leading the team in short-term absence of a line manager. Accomplishments include consistent ranking and search traffic improvements across multiple channels, nominations for performance- and team-related awards.

  • As part of my continual professional development I took on an opportunity that gave me more of a lead point in SEO content. I was responsible for creating the overall digital strategy, taking into consideration the challenges that come with a website that has a low domain authority and no paid support. Key responsibilities included leading content strategy planning and implementation and producing SEO-focused copy. Accomplishments include integrating an SME into the modern digital environment, and improving rankings through researched SEO goals.

  • After finishing an MA I came back to copywriting in a contractor capacity, quickly earning recognition on both a professional and personal level. I vastly exceeded the expectations of the role, taking on multiple duties ahead of more experienced copywriters due to my ability and enthusiasm. Key responsibilities included producing SEO-focused copy and researching keyword metrics and competitor content to inform production. Accomplishments include consistent improvements in ranking and traffic, and promotion from contractor to fixed-term contract, later to permanent.

  • At agenda21, I specialised in content production for a variety of clients, including The AA, Equifax, Jurys Inn, The Hotel Collection, Air New Zealand, and Essilor. Key responsibilities included producing press releases, news articles, guides, and long-form content including a digital cook-book, and Collaborating with graphic designers to produce infographics. Accomplishments include consistent ranking improvements and increased web traffic, and a client described my work as “The best copy they’d ever had written for them”, which was nice to hear.

  • My first editorial role was at my university’s student-run newspaper, Le Nurb (see Brunel, backwards), and my contributions earned me an Editor of the Year nomination at that year’s Media Society Awards. Key responsibilities included collating articles from third-parties, including athletes, coaches and media heads, and building a network of sport-related news sources across the university. Accomplishments include a nomination for Editor of the Year award.

My Education

  • MA | Creative Writing: The Novel | Merit (A in Dissertation)

  • BA | English and Creative Writing | 2:1 w/ Honours

  • A Level (x3) | History (A), English Literature (B), Chemistry (C).

    GCSE (x11 A*-B) | Including an A* in Chemistry and As in English Literature, Language, Maths, Physics, Biology