John McInnes Magazine and newspaper features – backgrounders, profiles, personal experience pieces. Books – especially trout fishing stories. Newsletters, brochures etc. More than twenty years freelance experience! Can work outside local area: For on-site jobs Wellington only, but anywhere in the world via e-mail. Media Experience Print

Biographical Note
These days, John, in his late-60s, is semi-retired and limits the work he does. But he is always open to interesting assignments.

General journalism. John has been a ‘contributing writer’ for North and South and wrote some features for The Evening Post, Wellington’s abandoned evening daily. He was the Wellington correspondent for a rural community newspaper, The Bush Telegraph, based in Pahiatua. For some months recently, he wrote for two community newspapers in the greater Wellington area. He is adept at interviewing and at turning the information gleaned into publishable text.

Commercial work. John has produced publicity – newsletters especially – for community groups and several Wellington businesses. He's particularly interested in writing for community, environmental and charitable organisations. For them he offers discounted rates.

Books. See Published Writings, below. A new book, Cast Lightly – 'further stories from a New Zealand trout fisherman' has been completed and a publisher is being approached.

Many miscellaneous assignments have come John’s way over the years – press releases, cvs, leaflets, brochures, application letters, advertorials, articles for computer magazines, auditing other writers, judging writing competitions. Over the last five years he has edited several books.

John has for many years led adult community education writing courses at Onslow College, his local high school – e.g. Meet the Writers 07. He has also taught writing courses elsewhere, for agencies such as REAP.

John grew up in Dunedin in the 1940s-50s and completed an Otago University BA in Philosophy and Political Science, with some additional theology. Then he became a high school teacher before taking up administrative work in 1972. He began freelance writing in 1983. But he has always been a writer – from the time he was first published in the New Zealand Outdoor aged 15! Nowadays he is also a percussionist – playing mainly Celtic music. Fishing and croquet are passions and he writes about them. He has lived long term in Ngaio, Wellington.

Web links to particular interests.
Celtic music, especially percussion – http://www.ceolas.org/instruments/bodhran/  
Croquet – http://www.croquet.org.nz
Iona Community – http://www.iona.org.uk/ 
Ngaio – http://www.ngaio.org.nz/ 
Trout fishing – http://www.fishandgame.org.nz  

Published Writings
Books
Christian thought
The New Pilgrims, ‘living as Christians in the technological society,’ Albatross Australia, Lion UK 1980; Ronald N. Haynes USA 1981
Trout Fishing
Tread Quietly, John McIndoe, Dunedin New Zealand 1983
Look Closely, Random House Auckland New Zealand 1992

Other
Short and long features plus photo journalism for North and South, a glossy New Zealand monthly.
Various articles for The Evening Post, one of the precursors of The Dominion Post, Wellington's daily. Features for one or two other newspapers and magazines here and overseas.
Regular columns and other stories for the The Bush Telegraph and more recently two local community newspapers.
Commissioned daily bible reading notes for Scripture Union.
Outlines and handouts for his writing courses.

Contact Details
4 Kenya Street, Ngaio, Wellington, New Zealand, 6035.
Phone: 64 4 479-5710
johnmci@wnc.quik.co.nz

Last updated 25 Oct 2007

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