Picture this – one week you are working by the beach in Thailand and the very next week you are working out of a quaint café in Prague. Sounds exciting, isn’t it?
Many may jump at the thought of living such a fascinating life because who wouldn’t want to travel the world and work as per their schedule while on it. However enviable it sounds; a traveling freelance writer’s life is not always rainbows and butterflies. It requires immense discipline, serious planning and patience.
There will be instances when your clients will need a paper written quick or will ask for an urgent press release while you’re in the middle of your backpacking trip – so plan well and be prepared!
Still want to go want to break away from your mundane life and fulfil your traveling dreams? We get you 5 tips to help you get started and become a successful traveling freelance writer –
Identify your Skill
Before diving in, the first question you should ask yourself is that what area of writing do you specialize in and are willing to offer your services in. This can stem from your past experiences or even your passion for writing that you always wanted to pursue.
From copywriting and article writing to press releases and research papers – there is a lot one can freelance in. So, start with listing down all the kinds of writing that interest you and figure out what can be turned into a profitable freelancing career.
Once you identify that, work on your resume, get onto freelance writing job portals and start the hunt.
Plan Finances
Being a traveling freelancer, you need to be doubly careful about your finances. As your finances are likely to vary every month, make sure you set yourself targets when it comes to saving and spending, and keep track of your monthly spends. There will be months when there is no dearth of work, but you need to be prepared to tackle those lean months as well so ensure you plan well.
As you spend a lot of time traveling, it is advisable to get yourself a travel insurance just in case you find yourself in the midst of an emergency.
Be Well Equipped
Whoever said all you need is a laptop and a reliable Wi-Fi connection to be a digital nomad was wrong. As you are literally on the go, you need to be well equipped with all the possible freelancing tools such as power banks, universal adapters, hard drives and Wi-Fi dongles.
Do not make the mistake of relying on hotels for all this. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a deadline and poor Wi-Fi connectivity. So, be well equipped and prepare yourself for the worst.
Given your nature of work, you should also consider investing in a VPN for a secure internet connection and cloud storage service to maintain a back-up of your work.
Keep a Schedule
Being consistently on the road, it is easy to get distracted and get enamored by all the new places you visit and the new people you end up meeting in the process. While it may seem like you are perennially on vacation mode, you know you aren’t.
At the end of the day, you need to be persistent and work hard to sustain your travels. So, enlist your deadlines, maintain a schedule and plan your days accordingly.
If you are the types who works best in mornings, devote the first half to work after which you can spend the other half doing all the touristy stuff – guilt free! You are your own boss so create rules for yourself and stick by them in order to succeed.
Keep the Hunt On
Getting complacent after finding a few assignments is out of question here. While corporate jobs give your more stability, a freelancer needs to be prepared to accept the unpredictability it comes with.
Given the erratic nature of work, you need to be persistent in your job hunt because you never know what tomorrow might bring. Always try to secure long-term clients and building lasting relationships. It is a good idea to devote an hour every day to just hunt for new writing projects. So, keep networking and make sure your job profiles and portfolios are regularly updated.
