Just recently I was explaining a crazy idea I had to someone close to me and they laughed at me like it was ridiculous. Actually it felt like they were laughing at me like I was ridiculous, which was even worse. They took a pin to the balloon of my optimism and burst it, just like that.
The thing is, when we change and grow, and step into new possibilities, those who have known a version of us for many years cannot always see what we can see. They don’t always understand how our perspective has shifted, or how delicate our dreams are. Some people simply aren’t used to looking up and outside the boundaries of the narrow track they live their own life on. Of course if they are happy living that way that’s fine, but it doesn’t mean you have to follow that same track.
Surrounding yourself with people who get it, who get you, and will give wings to your dreams is perhaps the single most important thing you can do if you really want to do what you love.
We are all human. If we keep getting told “You can’t do that”, “Your dreams are too big”, “It’ll never work”, then of course it’s natural that at some point we’ll start to believe those words instead of the truth inside ourselves, the knowing that actually we can do it.
If instead you have conversations about possibility and potential, options and choices, then you start to see and navigate life in a completely different way. That’s why I made this video to encourage you through those hard times when people you love are treading on your dreams. I hope it helps.
Tired
Really tired
Uninspired
Inspired
Sad
Bored
Anxious
Happy
Scared
Depressed
Excited
Motivated
Not motivated
Lost
Unsure
Sure
Full of energy
Have no energy
Too busy
In the mood to write
Not in the mood to write
Some days you’ll feel like writing; other days you won’t.
You need to turn up through all of it.
On the days that you feel great, well, that’s great. Write for as long as you can and enjoy it.
But what about all the other days?
If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll waste most of your time waiting. Instead, you need to write when the conditions are not perfect (most of the time) as well as when the mood strikes you.
Turn up anyway. Cast your net. See if you can catch a few words.
You need to be able to turn up whatever, because the only certainty is that, during your time as a writer, things will change.
Your mood will change. Conditions will change. The weather will change. How much time you have for writing will change. How you feel will change. What your writing needs today will change.
Some days there’ll be the unrelenting glare of the sun. On other days there’ll be wispy clouds and life will seem easy.
You’ll need to keep writing through all of it.
Don’t wait for inspiration or the right mood before you turn up. Do it the other way round. Turn up and start writing, and words and ideas will arrive.
When you feel tired, for example, turn up, but alter your expectations. Give yourself some leeway. Do the easy bit. Be kind.
What will you find?
You might dig all day and find nothing. But when you come back the next day, you realise that you’ve prepared the ground for ideas to grow.
Another day, you might write, uninspired, for an hour. Then … 63 minutes in … there it is … the glint of something promising.
Scatter words. Plant ideas. Give it time.
Cross the start line
What if we thought of writing in a different way?
What if we thought about writing a book like we think about running a half marathon?
They’re both huge challenges. They take training, practice, stamina and time to achieve. In each case, you have to deal with psychological barriers, and they’re daunting prospects.
But our attitude and approach to them – in general – couldn’t be more different.
I fancy running a half marathon. I think I’ll give it a go. I’m not an elite runner, but it’ll be a good challenge. It might even be fun. I’ll have to train, but I’m prepared to put in the hours. I’m under no illusion that it will be easy. It will be great to say I’ve done it.
I’d love to write a book. Maybe one day. I couldn’t, though … not right now.
There’ll be crowds along the route – they’ll cheer me on – even the people who don’t know me. They’ll help me cross the finish line. The atmosphere will be great. I’ll tell everyone I know and raise money for charity.
I won’t tell anyone. They’ll laugh. They’ll think I’m ridiculous for trying this. Who do I think I am? I’d love to write a book, but … I can’t give up my job. I’ll wait for retirement. I haven’t got time anyway.
Wait for retirement? Are you kidding me? I’m fit and healthy now. I’ll dig out my trainers. I’ll run before work on Monday. I’ll run at lunchtime on Tuesday. We get an early finish every other Friday and I’ll run then. I’ll run one day at the weekend. I’ll be tired, but it’s only for four months. I know I won’t regret it. I’ll set myself a time target. I’m going to go for it …
Who am I kidding that I could write a bestseller? The critics are really cruel – they’d tear me apart. I couldn’t take it. What if it was no good? I’ve just taken on that new project at work, anyway. I think I’ll leave it for now. I enjoy reading. I’ll just read.
One day …
Win? Are you joking? Don’t you know that everyone gets a medal?
I suppose I could do it for the challenge. I guess if I practise I’ll get better. Maybe I could write on a Wednesday evening. I could do this Saturday morning. Maybe I will write a book …
Write. Jog. Build up the miles.
Go at your own pace. Do it for the challenge. Cross the starting line.
Make it fun
We get it as kids – the wonder of being able – suddenly! – to craft letters, tell a story, write a message in a magical script.
We can’t understand why everyone isn’t running around with crayons writing their names again and again.
We fill piece of paper after piece of paper with our marks.
Then our marks get marked. Our writing gets judged. And that wild adventure ends all too soon.
Writing is meant to be fun. But it’s easy to forget that.
You can tell when you’re taking writing too seriously. It gets heavy. You start being hard on yourself, demanding more while giving your writer less. Far from it being fun, you have no sense of humour left at all.
Sometimes all it takes to get back on track with your writing is to recapture the fun.
A test of fun
What if, instead of a test of whether your writing was good enough (or whether it was a bestseller, or what the critics said), writing was a test of fun?
Do you play with words?
Do you enjoy writing?
Does it feel like an adventure?
Often, the point at which you need to make it fun again is exactly when you feel too pressured to do so. You’re simply too busy or overwhelmed to do something “silly” or “childish” or “frivolous”. But if you get used to weaving fun in to your writing all the time, when you need it, it will be there.
Try these tips:
20 ways to keep writing fun
Don’t rush it; don’t push it.
Write a story with someone else. You write the first bit, then pass it to them. They write the next bit, and pass it back. No discussing it!
What are you tired of writing about? Sticking with writing what you know is safe, but once your enthusiasm for it has gone, it will take more and more effort, and it will drain you. Let yourself write about something different (even though that’s scary).
Start with an ending.
Pass on a message in an unusual form.
Scribble. Doodle.
Test how excited you are about your writing project. Talk about it to someone supportive. Can you hear the excitement in your voice? Can they? If not, what are you really excited about writing? This method is useful if you’ve got so many ideas you don’t know which to choose.
Write something in the middle of the night.
Write nonsense. Robert Louis Stevenson carried what he called his “Book of Original Nonsense” to make notes in. You don’t have to be serious to be successful.
Go to a new place.
Write on an old typewriter.
Go for a walk and look for words on signs, pieces of paper or shop fronts. What are these messages signalling to you?
Do something you enjoyed as a child that you never do any more – for example, trampolining or singing.
Use playfulness in an ordinary piece of writing. For example: in an email, note or list. In a letter Charles Dickens wrote in 1863 to the clockmaker, Sir John Bennett, about a broken clock, he writes that since the clock was cleaned it has gone “perfectly well, but has struck the hours with great reluctance, and after enduring internal agonies of a most distressing nature it has now ceased striking altogether”. Every piece of writing – however mundane – holds an opportunity to play with words.
Borrow a writing style. For example: a train announcement, diary entries, a shopping list.
Don’t think about how little you can get away with giving your writer, think about how much you can do to support them.
Make up a word.
Learn how to write your name in hieroglyphics.
Start an inspiration box. Write down things you’d like to do, cut sections out from magazines, pick up flyers for events. Put them in your inspiration box. Include anything that you’re curious about or want to try. When you’re in need of inspiration, choose something from your box.
Imagine you owned an ideas bank that you make ideas withdrawals from and deposit fun in to. Do you need to add more fun before you withdraw more ideas?
I have never been as nervous about writing a post for you as I am today. Why? Because after seven years of helping creative people like you share their souls with the world, it’s now my turn.
How do I know? Because it has completely changed mine.
You see, it’s not just any book. It’s a book about one of the most important quests we can ever undertake – the quest to feel free.
The only way I could write this book was to live it – to recognize that somewhere along the line I had gone wrong, and I had built a life that was actually trapping me.
That’s kind of hard to admit when your company is called ‘Do What You Love’, but like so many of us I got lost in the everyday busy-ness, the overwhelming workload, the many competing demands for my time and attention, and I completely lost any sense of who I really was.
I had to find a way to escape the cage I had built, and learn how to fly again. In doing so I realised that feeling free is the Holy Grail.
Freedom Seekeris an invitation to seek freedom in every corner of your life.
It’s about living more, worrying less and finding a way to do what you love every day.
It sounds simple, and in some ways it is, but when you are trapped in a cage with broken wings, freedom can seem like a far away deeply buried treasure. I know, because I’ve been there.
My personal story isn’t a dramatic one of hitting rock bottom. That’s not how it happened. Mine is one of a slow ebbing of joy from my days, of stemming that flow and finding myself again, the present-day version of me, in love with the life I’ve got.
In Freedom Seeker I also share the stories of people whose cage doors have been slammed in their faces, the darkness pushing them right to the edge, before they had no choice but escape. Theirs are high- velocity, adrenalin-pumping truths about how freedom seeking saved their lives.
Deep down we all know that freedom is a choice and a human right. Yet millions of us don’t feel that truth. We feel trapped by our circumstances, relationships, social pressures, financial status and education. Caged by our expectations of ourselves, and others’ expectations of us, and by our beliefs, doubts and fears.
We allow ourselves to be held back from living our fullest lives. Individually it is heartbreaking. Collectively it is a colossal waste of potential. Together we are going to change this. In finding the courage and confidence to escape our cages and shine, we will help others do the same.
It is with equal measures of trepidation and pleasure that I can say those words you never really think you’ll hear yourself say: “My book, Freedom Seeker, is available for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and from all good bookstores!”
I have lived every page of this book. In the writing of it I have danced and tumbled, laughed and crumbled, cried, shrunk, grown, travelled thousands of miles, talked to strangers, looked deep inside myself and rediscovered my own stories. I have centred myself and fallen apart, many times over.
I have screamed at the noise and revelled in the silence. I have followed the sun, howled at the moon, and sent thanks to the stars. I have talked to hundreds of women and a good number of men who have shared stories I will never forget.
I hope I have gathered the best of it all, the most powerful lessons and inspiring tales to show that if I can do it, and they can do it, then you too can do it.
The writing of this book has made me feel more deeply connected, vital and alive than I have in years.
I hope in reading it, and in the living of it, you too find a way to inhale the magic and mystery and beauty of your own life, and finally feel truly free.
Please, buy Freedom Seeker and read it, because if it does for you what it has done for me, it will be the one of the best investments you ever make.
And if you have a friend who is feeling trapped, stuck, lost in the greyness, get a copy for them. It would be a precious gift indeed.
PPS Over the coming months I will be creating a host of opportunities for us to talk about freedom seeking, and share the journey – with Facebook Lives, events, features, podcasts and all sorts. But the first step is to read the book, then to apply the tools in your own life, and see how much more free you feel right away.
This post is written by Louise Gale, a member of the Do What You Love Team and British mixed media artist who spends her days creating, running creative workshops and assisting other creative souls with their businesses.
You have probably heard the term dream board (or vision board or vision map) many times before as it’s a wonderful tool for manifesting your desires.
A dream board is basically a board — of any size — onto which you collage pictures, words and other items that inspire you. The idea is to help you clarify and maintain focus on a specific life goal by creating a picture — a vision — of what you want to attract into your life. It could be a place you’d like to visit or live, changes you’d like to make to your relationship, work environment, home life or career, or on a mental, physical or emotional level, how you’d like to think, act and feel.
Why are dream boards important?
A dream board serves as your image of the future — a tangible example, idea or representation of where you are going, your dreams, goals, and vision for your ideal life. In today’s modern world we spend so much time rushing around, being distracted by technology and generally looking to the outside world rather than into ourselves, that it’s easy to forget who we are and where we are going. Creating a dream board is a great way to reconnect with your true, authentic self and get clear on what you really want from life.
This was the dream board I created for 2016. Images have a greater impact on the subconscious mind than words but words trigger a more emotional response so I use a combination of both.
Do dream boards really work?
Absolutely! I have harnessed the power of these beauties many times over. In fact, they have helped me:
– to leave my job and reconnect with a creative life I desperately craved (201o)
– to manifest a move to a home with studio space (2011)
– to start living a simpler life (2012)
– to overhaul my life completely and move to Spain (2013)
– to focus more on how I want to feel in my life, to slow the pace and to find the money to make a trip to Morocco (2014)
– to reconnect with nature, spend more time creating and enjoy my life by the sea (2015)
– to nurture my mind, body and soul (2016)
Now my boards are all about how I want to feel and the life I want to lead rather than specific goals I want to achieve.
The great thing about dream boards is that each one is unique and special to you. Our lives are constantly evolving, and so are our goals and dreams so creating new boards on a regular basis is a fantastic way to keep focused on what you really want. I keep all my boards close by as there are still things manifesting on some of them.
A Full Moon dream board to help you harness the power of NOW!
Many people create a dream board at the start of a new year, or when they are focusing on a specific event or life goal (such as getting married, moving home, or changing careers) and this is a great way to plant seeds of intention for what you wish to manifest. In addition to a yearly board, I also like to create ‘Full Moon Mandala Dream boards’, which are circular collages that draw on the power of the Full Moon each month to help me dream bigger, be more creative, and attract new people, experiences and opportunities into my life. They are a lot of fun to make too!
Every phase of the Moon creates a certain energy which affects us, and everything on Earth. Like the Moon, we too move through phases and by creating a Full Moon Mandala between the New and Full Moon, we are using its power to gather, grow, learn and get focussed for the weeks ahead.
The New Moon (28 January ’17) is a time to begin new things and be spontaneous, optimistic, and hopeful. It’s the perfect time to start gathering inspirational images and words to create your board.
Waxing Moon – (right now!) is the time during which the moon goes from new to full and it’s about building, accomplishments, creativity, strength, growth and learning, and positive transformation. It’s the ideal time to create your own Full Moon dream board.
The Full Moon (10 February ’17) is a time for fruition and fulfilment so it’s a greattime to unveil your board and put it up where you can see it often.
Here’s how to do it…
My full moon mandala dream board
Materials you will need…
Thick card or a poster board of any size
A variety of magazines (you never know where inspiration will strike!)
A photograph of yourself (smiling/looking happy)
Glue – I use acrylic medium or modge podge (I use these in my mixed media creations and I find they don’t ripple the pages like elmers does and it lasts longer than a regular glue stick)
Scissors (optional)
Music – something restful to help your mind be quiet and open. I like soft classical or spa music without singing so I don’t get distracted by the words
White sage, candle or incense (optional)
Before you begin, follow a simple ritual to centre yourself:
Find a space where you won’t be interrupted. Or plan an dream board event with family and friends and be creative together!
Burn some white sage to purify the air and cleanse the environment around you. If you don’t have sage, burn a white candle or incense instead.
Put on some uplifting or relaxing music and breathe deeply. Centre yourself.
Set your intentions by asking, ‘what do I want from this?’
Close your eyes, focus on what you would like to invite into your life and ask the universe to support you for your highest good.
Collecting for my dream board
Create your dream board in 5 easy steps…
Sift through your magazines and start collecting images and words that resonate with you (don’t glue anything yet!). Don’t rush, this is a powerful exercise to attract your visions. Then grab the images and words you have collected.
Start laying your images out on your board. This is highly intuitive part of the exercise so feel free to move them about, and take out ones that no longer feel right. You may see a theme starting to emerge.
Next position the photo of yourself right in the centre showing how happy you’ll be when all these things you’re dreaming about start happening.
When you are ready, glue your images and words onto the board and draw pictures/write additional words on too.
When you feel you have completed your board, hang it somewhere where you can see it every day, like the bedroom so you see it as soon as you wake up.
Other types of dream board
I have created many different types of dream boards over the years. The three I use most often are:
1. The inviting, allowing and opening up to the Universe board
Create this dream board if…
You are not sure what you want
You need to lift your spirits after feeling lost, down or uncertain about life
You want to make a change but you’re just not sure what, or how to go about it
How to create your board:
Start to go through your magazines and simply tear out images that speak to you, don’t ask why, just enjoy collecting images and words that you’re drawn to. Once you’ve finished, look through and ask yourself what this image or word might mean for you. If you are not 10o per cent sure, but really like the image or word that’s okay, put it onto your board. Look at your board and ask yourself what messages it’s giving you. The answers to your questions will present themselves soon enough if you let your heart and intuition guide you.
2. The “I know what I want from my life” board
Create this vision board if….
You know what you want to invite into your life
You are ready and willing to change your current situation, environment or circumstances
How to create your board:
Go through your magazines and look specifically for images and words you know you want to manifest or bring into your life. For example, if you long to live in the country, own a dog and grow your own vegetables look for images of your dream country house, a dog you’d love, and fresh vegetables, etc.
3. The themed vision
Create this vision board if:
There is a particular area of your life that you are looking to work on – like your career, health, relationship, etc.
You are starting a new creative project, redecorating your home, or buying new clothes and want inspiration, clarity and focus
You are planning a big event like a wedding, party or holiday
How to create your board:
Go through your magazines and choose images and words that align with the vision you are trying to create. For example, let’s say, I want to makeover my balcony so it looks beautiful all year round, creating a themed board – also called a mood board – is a great way to gather inspiration and spark ideas. Pinterest is great for this. You can also inject an extra tactile element by adding physical objects (like photos, objects from the garden, textured materials, and colour swatches) to your physical board so it becomes a piece of mixed media art, and starts to tell a richer more detailed story.
It’s important to remember that there’s no right or wrong way to create a dream board. Just go with your instincts and be open. You may be surprised by what comes as a result! I hope you enjoy creating your boards as much as I do and that you begin to see the power of them as your dreams start coming to life.
You can find more information on full moon phases, mandalas and dream boards here.
***
Louise Gale is a British mixed media artist, with a passion for colour, nature and mandala making. She spends her days creating, running creative workshops and assisting other creative souls with their businesses. Louise is also a member of the Do What You Love Team.
Louise spent 8 years living the USA, just outside of New York City where she found the courage to leave her windowless office corporate job and pursue a life filled with more creativity and freedom.
Her artwork has been featured in The New York Times, Amulet Magazine, and Inc. Magazine amongst many other books and publications. Louise is also one of the co-authors of “Mandala for the Inspired Artist: Working with paint, paper, and texture to create expressive mandala art” (Walter Foster) published in 2016.
This post is written by our Senior Editor, Rachel Kempton.
Do you remember how wonderful Christmas felt when you were a child? I don’t know about you but come December, there was always a special kind of magic in the air: a feeling of wonder and anticipation. Every year I couldn’t wait for the Christmas decorations to come out of hibernation, to count down the days on my advent calendar and to play my (never-so-leading role!) in the nativity play. At school we’d gather unwanted gifts to give to patients at local hospitals and I’d go round nursing homes with my friends and sing Christmas carols to the old folks. Christmas was about giving, as well as enjoying precious time with family, laughing, playing games, eating far too much – and of course the joy of opening the goodies Santa had left in ours sacks and stockings.
As we get older, and the pressures of daily life take over, it’s not surprising that Christmas can lose its sparkle, especially if we find ourselves overwhelmed by to-do lists, exhausted by social obligations, and swept up in the commercial side of things. In fact according to the results of a survey*, Christmas is up there with divorce, moving house and changing jobs as the sixth most stressful life event. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Here are our top tips for ensuring Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year!
1. Embrace the spirit of giving
Spread some love and joy by focusing on what you’re grateful for, and what you can give. If you look around, there are kindness opportunities every day and in any situation – writing a card, helping out a friend or carrying someone’s groceries. Here are some more great ideas for giving something back:
donate a toy for underprivileged children
take a bag of unwanted gifts or clothes to your local charity shop
spend an hour in your local hospital talking to someone who doesn’t get any visitors
help out a homeless shelter
organise a charity Christmas collection
volunteer your services at your local Christmas concert or Carol Service
invite a neighbour who’s alone to join you for Christmas dinner
start a “Pay-It-Forward” chain (for example by paying for a coffee for the person behind you in the queue at your local cafe) to spread some holiday cheer.
Need inspiration? Try out this ‘Acts of kindness generator’ created by Shari’s Berries. With over 50 ideas to inspire your next thoughtful gesture it’s sure to make you to feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing you’re making somebody else’s Christmas all the more special.
2. Keep it cheap – or free!
Christmas doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact you don’t necessarily have to spend any money at all! The Do What You Love team love the idea of a ‘free’ Christmas, and last year we only gave gifts which were:
hand-made (like a scrapbook, a piece of furniture, or a wooden toy) although we were allowed to pay for materials/ingredients!
second hand (like a vintage typewriter or sewing machine which we no longer used, or books which were gathering dust on our bookshelves or which were so brilliant we just had to pass on)
items we had received and never used like a gift voucher, products that we got as part of a deal such as ‘buy one get one free’, or something we’d bought with a gift card we had previously received)
we were available to give freely ourselves thanks to our personal skills/talents/businesses (i.e. a free e-course course, a healing or beauty treatment, a tarot card reading, a business mentoring session, or gardening/babysitting/DIY services)
bought/acquired as a result of selling/trading online or at a car boot or mother and baby sale, for example.
Image credit: dotcomgiftshop
Gifting ‘free’ presents worked well because it felt good to really think about the person we were giving to and we also received some lovely thoughtful gifts ourselves too.
3. Bring back the traditions you loved
Remember those things you and your family did every Christmas without fail? Whether it was writing a letter to Santa, making snowflakes for the windows, baking gingerbread men, playing games after Christmas dinner, or leaving out a mince pie, carrot and glass of sherry on Christmas Eve… childhood traditions are precisely the things that make Christmas so special and unique. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t really have any traditions; it’s never too late to start new ones!
These days, whenever I start to feel anxious, overtired, or angry, that’s usually a trigger for me to slow down, take a breath and ask myself: “Am I thinking and acting out of fear and stress, or am I thinking and acting in a state of love and gratitude?” I challenge you to try it.
If you want to fully experience the Christmas magic, you have to embrace the festivities (yep, I’m wearing my Christmas jumper and reindeer socks as I type!). Whether it’s filling your playlist with Christmas songs, watching some Christmas classics, organising Secret Santa at the office, or hosting an intimate gathering with friends and family, there are loads of ways that you can spread good cheer and ignite the festive spark in everyone around you too.
Image credit Kelly Hoppen
6. Do something different
As children, part of the reason why Christmas is so magical is because everything is new and exciting. We get swept up in the mystery of Christmas – the sights, the sounds, the smells and the atmosphere. Recapture that sense of wonder this year by visiting somewhere you have never been before or doing something you have never done. Depending on your budget you could head off to Lapland for the ultimate festive experience, visit a Christmas market in a location you have never visited before, try a festive activity such as ice skating, carol singing, going to a local panto, or baking Christmas treats. Trying something new and exciting this Christmas and we guarantee it will be one to remember.
Image credit: Next
* Results from a survey of over 3,000 people conducted by MemoriseThis.com – the UK’s largest on-line gift giving company.
This is a guest post by Alastair Humphreys. Alastair is an adventurer, blogger, author and motivational speaker whose expeditions have included cycling round the world, walking across India and rowing the Atlantic. Alastair was named as a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for his pioneering work on the concept of micro adventures. He has also written five books about his adventures. Find out more here.
I get asked regularly about how to publish a book, and whether it is best to find a publisher or to self-publish your story.
Today we speak to Laura Knight, a lady who has combined her three biggest loves – travel, motorbikes and writing – to make the world her office. Laura has been riding motorbikes for over 10 years, a passion which has opened her up to many life-changing experiences and inspired her to give something back to the travel industry.Here she shares her story and top tips for making it as travel writer…
A few months into a great job at a hedge fund, I decided to pack up my New York City life into a tiny orange R.E.I. backpack, sublet my cosy bedroom, and hit the road. I didn’t know where I was going or what I’d end up doing to stay fed and sheltered, but I knew that working a desk job just wasn’t for me.
Fast-forward three months and here I am: writing this from a vegan coffee shop near my new digs for the week – my travel friend’s apartment in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Working from coffee shops around the world – that’s what’s in store for you as a travel writer. And, to be honest, the Wi-Fi in Cambodia is spot on!
So… how did I get here?
I love to travel. Meeting people from cool places, sampling new cuisines, and experiencing some of the most beautiful places in the world are all things that I want to do. Every. Single. Day.
As a motorcycle travel writer, I get to ride roads like this, then write about them. Then I get paid. Why would anyone want to work in an office again?! But the starting wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies…
Until I found myself in Bangalore, India, I hadn’t really given the money issue much thought. I have a brain and can string coherent sentences together, so I figured (all too nonchalantly) that I’d just be a freelance writer.
One slight problem – you need contracts if you want to get paid for writing freelance. And those contracts don’t just materialise the instant you decide you want to write for money. Only now, after working my butt off, I’m finally earning enough to support myself (albeit in Southeast Asia, which is an incredibly affordable place to live).
Here are a few things I wish I’d known before I launched my new writing career…
Starting out
There are two ways you can slice this pie. You can:
go full out sink-or-swim, quit your day-job and book a flight (like I did). The advantage here is that you are really putting yourself in a situation where you MUST succeed. No ifs, buts or maybes. No procrastinating. For those of you who are motivated by pressure like this, take the leap!
keep your job and slowly start to build out a portfolio of work and develop a few long-term clients that will sustain you once you finally get to the flight-booking stage.
Either way, you’re going to have to do step number two, it just depends on how much pressure you want to throw into the mix.
Plan… a bit
When I left the States, I had about $1,000 in my savings and checkings combined, as well as a credit line of about $4,000 left for emergencies only.
The money disappeared fast and looking back, I wish I’d concentrated on building up my client base and generating an income before making any big travel moves. I should have made time to actually sit down and look at the daily cost of living in the places I wanted to go, and then doubled it (or at least added on a few bucks) to come up with my daily budget.
If you are ever in a situation where you are running out of money, my advice is to be an adult about it and don’t bury your head in the sand. Find a cheap hostel (or better yet, someone to host you on their couch via CouchSurfing), then put on some tunes and rock out those job applications.
Decide on your niche
As a travel writer, you still need to come up with a more defined notion of who you are in terms of your voice and target audience. This is the topic you’ll be writing about day in and day out, and you’ll have to adjust your content to match.
I write about two things, both of which I have firsthand experience – motorcycle travel and cycling travel. The motorcycle travelling pieces are easy and fun, I just tell my cycling adventures in written form and throw in a few buzzwords and the writing is good to go.
Using your own travels as inspiration and getting paid for it is one of the coolest parts about travel writing!
But, at the end of the day, if you are travelling and writing, you need money to continue to travel and write about your travels. So, I also write some career consulting and resume advice columns. While not travel-related, these are my chance to maintain well-paid and consistent contracts which allow me to fund more travels and write more about the topic I love… travel!
Do some research and figure out what options exist for you
Look into websites like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, and even Craigslist for job opportunities. I rely entirely on contract work through Upwork, and it’s enough to keep me going from Vietnam to Cambodia to Thailand, and beyond!
There will be highs and lows
Don’t get me wrong, there have been lows. My biggest was the day I realised I had only $15 cash left in my pocket and nowhere to stay. I had spent the week before lounging around on a beach hammock in Koh Rong, an island off the coast of Cambodia, blissfully unaware of the financial impact taking a week off work before developing a steady flow of writing jobs would have.
By the time I realised it, I had only enough (almost to the cent) for a night bus to Siem Reap, where old travel friends were willing to host me until I could earn enough to keep moving. Fortunately in this instance, good luck and timing were on my side but I won’t make this mistake again in a hurry.
At the same time, being a digital nomad can bring the highest of highs, especially when you aren’t expecting them. My biggest high came out of the blue one morning when I was scheduling my full day’s work as a “professional” person. I suddenly realized that I’d actually done it: I’d created a life where I could be self-sufficient, save a little, and travel around some incredible places. This was the moment I knew I’d done the right thing by taking a risk and quitting my life in NYC. My new life was totally worth it.
Don’t give up.
Yes, I know it’s the most clichéd advice anyone could give someone making a bold career move or a life change, but SERIOUSLY, do not give up. All too often I meet folks who tried their hand at freelancing and travelling only to not make it in the first few months, pack up their backpack, and return to their cubicle.
Working from the beach is so much nicer than being stuck in a cubicle all day. Stay focused and this could be your workplace, too
If that’s what truly makes you happy, by all means, work from cubicle to corner office. But if it isn’t, and for many of you reading this, it probably isn’t, stick tight to your dream.
Over the course of a couple weeks, when I was living entirely off my dwindling savings, I applied to 10 jobs per day. At certain points, I was sending out nearly 50 applications every two days only to hear back from two potential clients.
In my experience, Upwork is brilliant for allowing you to work when you want, where you want, and it offers any type of job you can think of. I enjoy writing about things that interest me, so I use it to apply for travel and career-related writing gigs.
My only advice is to do a bit of background research before sending out your first job proposal as a cover letter on Upwork is a little different to a full-on professional cover letter.
Beginning to land contracts on Upwork is interesting. My first day I landed a $35 contract writing a travel guide on an island in the Philippines that I had never been to.
It wasn’t until I started receiving more regular contracts, where I could be certain of additional work coming in after I turned in each article, that I started to really feel a bit of financial security and even excitement about the work! Instead of spending all day proposing to new jobs, I was able to just continue on, writing about topics I found interesting. But as I learned, you won’t get there overnight (or even in a few weeks). Patience, grasshoppers!
You’re your own boss now!
Don’t make excuses. The thing that nobody realises when they are getting into freelance, especially when you are transitioning from a 9-to-5 office environment, is that you are your own boss. You need to stay motivated, apply to jobs, meet your deadlines, and turn in high-quality work. Being the very best you can be is the key to gaining more contracts (especially the challenging ones that you’ll learn and grow most from!).
Dream on…
Whether this travelling, writing and wandering lasts or not, there have been a few things that I’ve learned about myself from diving right in to a new life as a freelance travel writer.
First and foremost, that balancing savings and spending (that’s getting to a point where I earn more than I spend) takes a huge amount of dedication, discipline, and willpower.
That you do have to plan ahead, be organised and work really hard.
Ultimately, that whatever I end up doing in the future, whether it’s continuing to travel the world, or settling down with a hoard of cats, I know that I have the brainpower and the chutzpah to make it.
Good luck fellow wanderlusters, may the Wi-Fi be speedy and the coffee be plentiful and locally ground, wherever in the world you are!
In addition to her work as a freelance writer, Laura has also created MotorManner.com, in which she shares the best information about motorcycling and travelling to help people get the most from their adventures. Visit her blog for useful motorcycle travelling gear reviews and helpful travel tips.
As we come to the end of the year, it’s only natural to reflect on what has gone before. Did 2016 turn out how you wanted? Did you get closer to your dreams? As the founder of a company called Do What You Love, I am often asked what is the single most important factor in doing what you love. And you know what? I think it’s commitment. Perhaps not the sexiest answer, but it’s the truth.
But what if I don’t know what I want to commit to? You might ask… I hear you. That’s a tough one, right? Well, actually, early on simply committing to stepping forward in the direction of your dreams, is as important as committing to one specific idea. Because those early steps are where the dreams are shaped.
So if your 2016 was frustrating, or depressing, or simply another year of not very much, seeing your friends have the things you want for yourself, then I invite you to join me in committing to making 2017 different. And here are three simple steps you can take to do that:
“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
Happy Wednesday!
Friday is fast approaching but if you’re feeling the midweek blues you’re in the right place to be inspired!
Today the Do What You Love team is sharing what they’re up to and what is motivating them at the moment. We hope their thoughts get you thinking about what lights you up and how you can get more of this into your life…
I’ve been meaning to brush up on my sewing skills for years but since becoming a mum it’s a creative dream that’s fallen to the wayside… until recently! Through Hagglers Corner, a creative community of makers and doers, I was introduced to Running With Scissors, a business which runs small craft workshops, and it has inspired me to make time to make. It’s been over 10 years since I last used a sewing machine so I’ve carved out some ‘me-time’ and booked myself onto a beginner’s sewing course. Being a beginner can be scary so it’s good to know that I’ll be amongst others who are also there learn the basics. I hope that my new-found knowledge and skills will give me the confidence to experiment with interesting tools and techniques and that (one day!) I’ll be making all sorts of gorgeous gifts for my family and friends and giving my home a truly handmade feel.
My thought of the week: Maybe you feel stuck. Or bored. Or frustrated. Or maybe you quite like the life you live, it’s just that you suspect there’s something more. Some greater sense of meaning or excitement. New connections. New adventures. New possibilities. Well possibilities are always within reach. You may not be able to quit your job or develop new skills by osmosis, but every day brings new opportunities, dictated by the choices you make. Sometimes even the smallest shift in thinking or doing can create the biggest opportunity and set the stage for positive life changes. Nourish your mind, body and soul today by making choices that make you feel most alive and give your creative dreams a boost by living them. How can you give yourself time and space to create today? Do you have any passion projects right now? What creative dream are you going to start working on?
As soon as I wake up (and before logging onto my computer!), I head down to the beach for my morning walk. This is such a great way to start the day as I take time to appreciate a quiet moment in nature and sink my feet into the sand to soak up the earth’s healing electrons. This time of year is perfect as it is quiet and the sun is rising over the sea which sends beautiful reflections across the water. Spending time in the great outdoors is so good for us all, whether it’s a walk on the beach or through a local park on the way to work. Taking time to do this first thing in the morning sets me up for the busy day ahead, and leaves me feeling inspired, motivated and positive.
Louise’s thought of the week: Leading naturalist and author of the nature Principle, Richard Louv, is right when he says: “We can be happier, healthier and smarter if we weave more nature into our lives.” You can read more about why nature does good things in this article.
How can you strengthen your connection with nature today?
Fiona Duffy explains why her work always feels like ‘me-time’
I recently joined the team at Do What You Love to help Beth with the launch of her book Freedom Seeker, to be released in April 2017. I’m lucky that more often than not I feel very energised in the work I do. On reflection I realise that is because I always try to set myself realistic and personal goals that are super-aligned to the work projects I’m a part of. Doing this means that ‘work’ actually feels like ‘me-time’ as I can clearly see how my job is enriching my life on a daily basis.
For example, whilst the team here supports Beth with her book launch, I plan to use the stories and exercises within the book (lucky me, I get a sneak peek!) to identify exactly what it is that makes me feel free, and introduce more of it to my working day, and life.
Fiona’s thought of the week: I’ve found that choosing fun and uplifting locations to work from, like cafés and co-working spaces, and jazzing up my home office to make it an inspiring place to hang out, makes me feel creative, free and ready to take on the day.
What changes – small or big – could you make to enhance your workspace today?
We’d love to hear what is inspiring and motivating you this week so please do share your thoughts in the comments below.
With 2017 on horizon, now is the perfect time to invest in yourself. Whether it’s learning a new skill, developing yourself personally or professionally, tapping into your creativity, hiring a coach, or taking a break before the Christmas festivities start, making time for yourself is a powerful thing to do.
Nurturing yourself and your dreams sends a strong message into the world: I’m listening to the voice of my soul. I’m willing to give myself the time, energy, and space I need to develop and grow. I want to be the best possible version of myself.
When you say yes to exciting new opportunities, doors start to open as if by magic. Just try it and see!
Whether your inner voice is calling you to start that business, take up yoga, write a book, or do a digital detox, here’s our pick of the best upcoming festivals, retreats, and events across the globe to take you a step closer to your dreams.
A BIT ON THE SIDE: START A BUSINESS AND KEEP YOUR JOB
When: TONIGHT! November 7, 2016 @ 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Where: Frederick’s Place, London, UK
Cost: £60
Organiser: Escape The City
More info & to book: https://blog.escapethecity.org/event/a-bit-on-the-side-start-a-business-and-keep-your-job-3/
Are you sitting on a business idea but don’t have the time, money or resources to start it? Are you curious about the new world of startups and freelance careers? You’re not alone in wanting to branch out and create something on your own. This workshop will give you tools, tricks and inspiration from those that have set up businesses whilst remaining in employment. It’s ideal for: anyone who wants to learn what small steps can help them to explore their business idea alongside their day job; community lovers who want to build a network; advice hunters and doers who want practical tips to help them get started. You’ll hear from people that have done it – both those that have transitioned into their startup full-time, and those still in full-time employment but running a business on the side. Most excitingly – you’ll get started on your business, right in the room, surrounded and encouraged by your fellow attendees!
THE WRITER’S WORKSHOP 2016
When: November 19 – 20, 2016
Where: The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK
Price: £279
Organiser: Hay House Publishing
More info & to book: https://www.hayhouse.co.uk/lectures-events/writers-workshop-london-2016
Are you a writer with a great book idea and a strong desire to be published? Do you just need the inside scoop on how to perfect and publish your book? Then this is the workshop for you! This is your chance to publish a book with Hay House UK and become a bestselling author – one participant will be awarded a publishing contract with Hay House and a £5,000 advance! Join this special two-day workshop with some of Hay House’s finest speakers and authors – many of whom have firsthand knowledge of creating and writing bestselling books. Learn from Michelle Pilley, the Publisher and Managing Director of Hay House UK. She will offer key advice learned from her 30 years of successful publishing experience and expert knowledge of how to nail a publishing deal.
THE HAPPY START UP SCHOOL CANVAS
When: November 22, 2016 @ 5pm – 7.30pm
Where: Wagner Hall, Brighton, UK
Price: £22 (+ £2.07 booking fee)
Organiser: Brighton & Hove Social Enterprise Network in partnership with The Happy Startup School
More info & to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/startup-the-happy-startup-canvas-tickets-26284104464
This inspiring workshop will help you to clarify if your idea is a social enterprise and support you, as budding social entrepreneur, to go from idea to action fast, and learn techniques for validating your idea with customers without the need for big budgets. It will give you the knowledge and tools to help you to tap into the growing trends that will affect how your business operates and start to bake happiness into your DNA.
DIGITAL DETOX WEEKEND
When: December 8 – 11, 2016
Where: Finland
Cost: £1,159
Organiser: The Flash Pack
More info & to book: https://flashpack.com/adventure-trips/finland-digital-detox/
If you’d love to swap your mobile for a snowmobile and indulge yourself with a short and energising recharge ahead of the Christmas festivities, this digital detox weekend in Finland delivers. Designed for solo travellers or small groups of friends, it a chance to unwind by immersing yourself in Finnish culture, cuisine and adventure. For four days you can switch off from modern life and sink into the wonderful Finnish snowscape. Go trekking, skiing, husky sledding, ride a reindeer sleigh, relax in the sauna and spend evenings watching the Northern Lights or warming yourself by the fire in a cosy inn straight out of a Christmas card.
Torassieppi Wooden Cabins, Muonio
OSHO WINTER FESTIVAL: LIVING FROM THE HEART
When: December 8 – 11, 2016
Where: Osho Leela, Dorset, UK
Cost: from £129
Organiser: Osho Leela Community
More info & to book: https://osholeela.uk/events/osho-winter-festival-2016/
Dive deep into the roots of your being and fly high on the wings of love and connection. This festival will warm your heart, heal you from the inside and expand your vision. It is a fun and nourishing celebration in beautiful countryside setting – perfect for winter rambles. Innovative and playful workshops include things like Shiatsu, singing, tantra, art, Biodanza, ageless vitality, discovering your inner child, self-enquiry and comedy. There’s also a full meditation programme including satsang with live music from band Satvaa, evening meetings, dance and live performances followed by an Osho video discourse.
THE INSTANT PAUSE
When: January 14, 2017
Where: Berlin, Germany
Cost: £140
Organiser: Life by Danielle
More info & to book: https://www.lifebydanielle.com/retreats/instant-pause/
In this one-day workshop, led by Nicola Moss, you’ll get time and space to think about you and your life and bring yourself back into balance. The Instant Pause workshop helps you look back to move forwards. You may be at a point of transition in your life; considering where to go next in your career, feeling burnt out from corporate life, or you may run your own business and are in need of some time and space to ensure you’re focusing on the right things. Your focus might be personal – life may be nudging you right now to stop and take a pause. Whether personal or career, this day away will create space for you to slow down, reflect and focus on what’s important.
WANDERLUST GREAT LAKE TAUPO
When: February 2-5, 2017
Where: Wairakei Geothermal Valley, Great Lake Taupo, New Zealand
Cost: $70 to $480
Organiser: Wanderlust
More info & to book: https://www.wanderlust.com
Unplug from the ordinary. Adventure awaits. Wanderlust Great Lake Taupo is an all-out celebration of mindful living. Bringing together a remarkable group of yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, speakers, artists and chefs for a transformational retreat this is an experience that will get into your mind, body and soul. Regardless of what starts you on your path, Wanderlust is an experience that will leave you different than when you came – with new ideas, new friends, newly-discovered abilities, and greater peace. Find your true north.
ENVISION
When: February 23 – 26, 2017
Where: Uvita, Costa Rica
Cost: $298.00
Organiser:
More info & to book: https://www.envisionfestival.com
Want to venture to new lands of self-discovery? This festival has one of the biggest line up lists, and a mixed bag of eco, spiritual, yoga and development courses and classes on its menu. A celebration dedicated to awakening our human potential, Envision provides a platform for different cultures to co-exist in sustainable community, and inspire one another through art, spirituality, yoga, music, dance, performance, education, sustainability and acknowledge our fundamental connection with nature. Definitely worthy of a trip!
BALI SPIRIT FESTIVAL
When: Mar 19 – Mar 26, 2017
Where: Ubud, Bali
Cost: Early Bird full pass: $575 until February 1, 2017
Organiser: Co-Founders Megan Pappenheim, Kadek Gunarta, and Robert Weber
More info & to book: https://balispiritfestival.com
Seated in the spot of Elizabeth’s Gilbert reinvention from Eat, Pray, Love, the Bali Spirit Festival is an energy-charged event that will be sure to spark your soul. From music, yoga, health and wellbeing to eco and social change it has all the elements you need to learn, grow and develop a holistic lifestyle. You’ll spend the days on lush terraced lawns with open pavilions, and at night the party moves to an outdoor stage for a world music concert like no other on Earth.
Disclaimer: We are not affiliates of or involved in the running of any of the suggested events. Please contact the organisers directly with any questions or queries.
My full moon mandala dream board
Collecting for my dream board
Louise Gale is a British mixed media artist, with a passion for colour, nature and mandala making. She spends her days creating, running creative workshops and assisting other creative souls with their businesses. Louise is also a member of the Do What You Love Team.
Image credit: Heatons
Image credit: dotcomgiftshop
Image credit Kelly Hoppen
Working from coffee shops around the world – that’s what’s in store for you as a travel writer. And, to be honest, the Wi-Fi in Cambodia is spot on!
As a motorcycle travel writer, I get to ride roads like this, then write about them. Then I get paid. Why would anyone want to work in an office again?! But the starting wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies…
Working from the beach is so much nicer than being stuck in a cubicle all day. Stay focused and this could be your workplace, too
Torassieppi Wooden Cabins, Muonio