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Clare Emmett

Tech/Cybersecurity Writer

Freelance

Clare Emmett, a freelance tech and cybersecurity writer, combines a lifelong love of writing with a deep passion for technology. After early encouragement from an editor who helped shape her professional direction, she built a career focused on producing clear, meaningful content that clients trust. In this interview, Clare discusses how she stays current in the fast-moving cybersecurity landscape, the challenges she’s turned into opportunities, and her ambition to expand into hands-on security roles while continuing to write.

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1. What inspired you to pursue your current career path?

   I’ve always loved writing. Creating content that people want to read - and documentation that’s clear, useful, and meaningful - allows me to combine my love of writing with my passion for tech.

2. Who or what influenced your professional direction most?

   Getting to know an editor, Grant. We met on a message board back in the Web 1.0 days, and he liked my writing. Grant gave me a lot of help over the years, putting work my way and giving me tips on article pitches, etc.

3. How do you define success in your current position?

   In my current role, success is synonymous with client satisfaction. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear from a new client who was referred to me by someone I’ve written for in the past.

4. How do you continue to grow and stay current in your field?

   Cybersecurity is tremendously dynamic. You need to be intensely curious and passionate about following new developments, technologies, and threats. I stay current by keeping up with the latest news through sites like The Register, Dark Reading, The Hacker News, and Spanish-language outlets like Segurilatam. I’m also signed up to popular newsletters such as TL;DR, look for academic papers relating to cybersecurity, and participate in various online communities. To keep my hands-on knowledge fresh, I use platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box every day, and regularly follow online courses.

5. What trends are shaping your industry right now?

   Generative AI has had a significant impact, both on cybersecurity itself and on freelance writing more broadly. In freelance writing, clients have become much more discerning - nobody I write for wants work generated by LLMs, and subject expertise has become more important than ever. In cybersecurity, generative AI has made it easier for threat actors to create malicious code, craft convincing phishing emails, and manipulate agents into revealing sensitive data. On the positive side, AI and machine learning have also become more powerful and useful tools for defence.

6. What’s one challenge you turned into an opportunity?

   The biggest challenge I’ve faced recently was navigating changes in the freelance writing market. Before COVID, a large portion of my work was in travel and hospitality. When those opportunities disappeared almost overnight, I pivoted to cybersecurity - obtaining certifications and deepening my expertise so I could continue to thrive in a new niche.

7. What are you most excited about in the next stage of your career?

   I’m excited to develop my hands-on experience in cybersecurity. In the next few years, I hope to take on roles in penetration testing and ethical hacking. I don’t see myself stepping away from freelance writing - instead, I plan to use real-world experience to deepen my knowledge and become an even more valuable writer, while also applying my writing and communication skills directly within my cybersecurity work.