“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” –Oprah Winfrey
Almost two years ago, I was at the proverbial crossroads of life. Newly divorced, approaching a milestone birthday, and questioning where I wanted life to take me next, I decided to set out on this path to pursue my writing goals.
Maybe this sounds familiar. Maybe you can relate.
At the time, I knew two things: I wanted to travel and I wanted my next career to involve writing stories. My career for the last 26 years has been as a massage therapist, massage educator, and small business owner. I needed to craft a way to bridge my dream of writing into a new career… while still earning a living with my old one.
Enter Great Escape Publishing. While scrolling through Facebook, I very serendipitously stumbled upon an advertisement, “Live your dreams and be a Travel Writer.”
I took the plunge and signed up for GEP’s travel writing course. Excited, eager, and full of enthusiasm, I dove into the material which, in turn, fueled my desire.
However, while I was reading about the best ways to pitch a story and follow up with editors, there were still bills to pay and groceries to buy. Everyday-life continued on as I learned the ropes of becoming a travel writer. As a single mom, I didn’t have a cushion or second income.
I realized I was investing in building a brighter future, because I was investing in myself… yet there were days when the juggling act proved nearly impossible. Those days may be where many give up… but I held a different vision for my life. Some might call it tenacity or some might call it determination.
And that steadfastness worked for me. Now I’m getting articles published! And, I’ve even been on my first press trip—a complimentary “Breaking Bad” tour in New Mexico!
Tomorrow, I’ll share some of the steps I took, and still implement, to keep moving toward my goals.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” they say. My will has finally carved my way.
[Editor’s Note: Learn more about how you can fund your travels and make an extra income with travel writing in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel. Sign up here today and we’ll send you a new report, Travel the World, Sell the Story: A Quick-Start Guide, completely FREE.]