Emma Forrest began her writing career at the age of thirteen when she wrote a story on Madonna for the London Evening Standard. A column in a national newspaper followed and so did the job title of full-time writer. Her 'Generation X' column for the Sunday Times saw her leaving school to tour the world with various Britpop/indie bands reporting on their 'on the road' antics. The vanished Manic Street Preacher member Richey Edwards was the first person she ever interviewed. The actress Minnie Driver was said to be a fan of her mid nineties newspaper columns.Emma has also worked for such publications as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper’s Bazaar, Time Out, The Guardian, NME, Interview and Blackbook where she has interviewed celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Brad Pitt.

Emma is represented by Bloomsbury Publishing House and has written three novels: Namedropper (1998), Thin Skin (2002), Cherries in the Snow (2005). She has been dubbed by critics as ' The Jane Austen of the techno-generation'.In 2001 Emma contributed to an anthology on the writer JD Salinger titled Love & Squalor where her essay spoke of the impact of Salinger's influence on current young writers.In 2007 Emma co-wrote and edited her first non-fiction book, Damage Control - Women on the Therapists, Beauticians, and Trainers Who Navigate Their Bodies, which was an anthology of essays of the emotional pain women suffer for their own physical wellbeing. The book features contributions from an assortment of many well-known women, including Helen Oyeyemi, Marian Keyes and Sarah Jones. Emma is currently working on a memoir, Your Voice In My Head, due for release in 2011.

A screenplay penned by Emma about the life of the late musician Jeff Buckley Becoming Music was bought by Brad Pitt's production company 'Plan B Entertainment' in September, 2000. She is currently listed on Variety Entertainments 'Top Ten Screenwriters to Watch' (2009). Another screenplay Know Your Rights is currently in development with Film4. Another screenplay is being added to her credits titled "How Could You Do This To Me" which is as of now starring Miranda Cosgrove.

Her American mother, Judy Raines was also a writer, mainly for British television.