Why I Chose Travel Writing As My Retirement Career

I like to work, discover new potentialities, get out of my consolation zone, stay a full and thrilling life, and hang around with my husband. I selected journey writing as my retirement profession so I may take pleasure in all these issues and stay an excellent life.

1. Journey With My Husband

My husband retired at 67 after 42 years of working with the identical firm. He grappled with the choice for a number of years earlier than really setting a retirement date. Whereas he was making an attempt to determine his timeline, I used to be busy engaged on mine.

We knew we wished to take pleasure in journey alternatives collectively, and being 5 years youthful than him, I didn’t wish to wait till I reached my full retirement age earlier than leaving my 9 to 5. Touring was the driving think about what sort of job I wished for my third act. It needed to enable us to journey collectively anytime we wished, to stay in hotter climates when chilly New England climate set in, and to take pleasure in touring whereas we had been each nonetheless in our go-go years.

For sure, work within the journey trade turned the entrance runner. After I added up all the talents and causes listed beneath, I knew that journey writing can be the right job for me to work in my retirement.

Professional-Tip: I labored my journey writing aspect hustle for 2 years whereas my hubby was nonetheless working full time. I wished to ensure I may make the transition with out impacting my earnings too severely.

2. Make the most of My Advertising Background

My skilled background is in Advertising. I used to be an Development Director for a personal college. The vast majority of my work centered round writing and elevating the annual fund. I wrote correspondence, annual appeals, newsletters, web site content material, advertising collateral, the annual report, and extra.

Having a background in advertising that required writing compelling compositions was the right coaching floor to put in writing compelling journey tales.

Professional-Tip: Whereas I used to be working full time, I made certain to economize that may cowl me for the primary six months after I left my common day job. I wanted that safety to assist me transfer ahead comfortably.

3. I Will All the time Work

I’m a workaholic. I like to work (more often than not). I don’t ever see myself not working. I selected my retirement profession figuring out that I may work properly into my later years.

Now, I anticipate I received’t be cranking out journeys and clips on the tempo I at present do, however journey writing will all the time give me one factor — a terrific cause to journey.

I’ve so many journeys on my bucket listing that I anticipate to journey and create tales at any age, even properly into my 80s.

Professional-tip: Working retains your thoughts energetic and artistic; it provides you a cause to get off the bed within the morning. Discover one thing you like to do as a result of now’s the time to like your work.

4. Set My Personal Schedule

Setting my very own schedule is an enormous cause why I turned a journey author. After working within the growth world the place you might have networking conferences at night time, weekend conferences with potential donors, and the day-to-day common work stuff, it’s simple to get burnt out. I resented the time my work took away from my household.

As a journey author, I largely get to set my schedule. I’m in my dwelling workplace each morning writing, planning, and pitching journey write-ups. It’s my dream job. After years of writing, I don’t imagine in author’s block. Have you ever ever heard of engineer’s block? Or nurse’s block? No. You simply have to get began and go on from there.

When I’m on press journeys, the general public relations (PR) staff tells me the place and when to go. However, finally, I get to determine if the journey is true for me. On a current journey to Puerto Rico, a vacationer board consultant led us across the central mountains. That is nice since you don’t must plan or assume, you simply comply with alongside.

Professional Tip: You have to put aside time daily to put in writing. Even when you don’t have an project. Writing is what makes you a author. It’s what makes your desires come true.

5. Journey Bills As Enterprise Bills

That is one in every of my favourite perks of being knowledgeable journey author. Many instances, my journeys are coated by PR corporations, however generally they’re out-of-pocket bills. When these journey bills result in a journey story, they could develop into enterprise bills.

Professional-Tip: Focus on your journey enterprise together with your accountant. They are going to assist with all of the paperwork you’ll want to be compliant.

6. Nomadic Life-style

The pliability my semi-nomadic life-style brings to the desk is liberating! I discussed chilly New England winters — so over that. We get to plan our winters in sunnier locations. This previous 12 months, we spent a number of weeks in Hawaii after which a month in South Carolina. It was so good to not bundle up each time I went out the door.

For instance, as I’m scripting this story, I’m visiting Cooperstown, NY, for a narrative on the Baseball Corridor of Fame. I’m sitting on the porch on the charming Cooperstown B&B. Yesterday, I used to be at a two-day, luxurious glamping retreat at Gilbertsville Farmhouse working towards goat yoga. Who’s retired? Not me — retirement is the most effective job ever.

Professional Tip: Deadlines nonetheless have to be met, nevertheless, if you end up sprucing up a narrative about Maui whereas sitting on a beautiful Maui Seaside, it’s not dangerous.

7. Press Journeys And FAM Journeys

Press Journeys and FAM (familiarization) journeys are one of the simplest ways to make your effort and time pay extra.

Once you attend a press journey with a bunch of writers, you’ll be uncovered to insider data that most of the people doesn’t usually have entry to. This lets you write from extra attention-grabbing and weird angles. FAM journeys can generally be simply journalists or they are often you and a touring companion.

Discover your area of interest. Decide three or 4 phrases that describe your writing chops. Maintain your bio constant — “I’m a journey author with a give attention to 50 plus journey, native delicacies, and enjoyable libations. Tales and content material creation from the U.S. and past.”

Professional-Tip: Begin domestically with press journeys. Get to know your native vacationer board. This can help you construct up clips and credentials.

8. Seeing The USA

I’m a Boston-based author and I write about what I do know. These are the best articles to plan, pitch, and write. New England has been my playground for years. So, I typically write about all of the fantastic locations to eat, issues to see, and experiences to have in and round New England.

My purpose is to see the USA. I’ve about ten states and some territories left to discover. Retaining these states in thoughts as I plan journeys helps me fulfill my purpose of visiting all of the states and territories.

Professional Tip: Maintain it easy and write about what you already know.

9. International Nation Exploration

I really like Europe. I attempt to go to a number of instances every year. As with amassing states, exploring new nations and areas are vital to me. I am keen on the meals, tradition, and historical past of Europe. That’s my factor. You have to discover your factor.

Professional-tip: Discover what’s vital to you and pursue that dream.

I Love Being A Journey Author

That is undoubtedly my favourite job ever. I by no means would have been capable of pursue journey writing whereas elevating my household, however now that it’s simply me and hubby, it’s my happily-ever-after job. Turning into a journey author gives me a freedom that I haven’t skilled for a lot of, a few years. It’s liberating, it’s attention-grabbing, and it’s extra enjoyable than you’ll ever think about.

“Oh, the Locations You’ll Go!” mentioned Dr. Seuss