Her Story
About Helena
Helena Winterbottom serves as Assistant Editor at Campus News, a free New York City newspaper funded by advertising, a position she advanced to from staff writer since joining in 2022. In this role she collaborates with her publisher on feature ideas and works to build recognition for the paper amid challenges facing print journalism. She primarily focuses on poetry and nonfiction essays, posting frequently to her Substack, and practices fine art photography, recently offering free photo shoots for social media portfolios. Winterbottom attended Kenyon College, where she received the cinematography best director of photography award at the film festival, before transferring to Skidmore College; she is currently taking community college classes to prepare for returning to a four-year college. She attributes her professional achievements to becoming a born-again Christian and maintaining sobriety, which she describes as foundational to turning her life around and sustaining her career. In her work she values consistency, timeliness, and careful revision to ensure high-quality output.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Helena
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to becoming a born again Christian. My life just turned around for the better after that. My sobriety and faith have been foundational, as my career would not be anything without prioritizing being sober.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
A friend told me to never underestimate the significance of someone being there. The real answer is always forgive. There's a verse in the Bible that says if you are looking to forgive someone, don't forgive them just once. Forgive them all the time because you don't know what's going on with them.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just keep writing. Write until you feel comfortable writing more. There's a quote from the Paris Review that you can't teach someone fiction writing. It has to come naturally, and you have to just write and write it until you get that. It's like practicing or exercising a muscle. It really takes practice. I always knew I was a gifted writer but never had the stamina until a personal challenge with my grandmother's cancer diagnosis motivated me to start writing with pen and paper.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
You have to be consistent, you have to be on time, consistent in terms of making the work good, and revise if you write something. Just make sure you get the work done and make it good.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.