My blog entries haven’t exactly been plentiful this week. That’s because I’m in vacation mode. I’ve been living in a lovely beach house all week, just steps from the Pacific Ocean and I’ve been taking every advantage of this fantastic opportunity to walk on the beach and just sit and watch the waves. I also enjoy watching the wildlife—porpoises, terns, plovers and even the seagulls. I love this lifestyle. I’ve discovered a small neighborhood fruit and veggie stand where you can find unusual and luscious produce and even home-baked bread. I walk up occasionally to the local coffee house and enjoy a pumpkin spice latte. It has been a wonderfully relaxing week and we even had great weather. But all good things come to an end and I’m leaving today, taking with me a whole bunch of lovely memories.
How did I manage to enjoy this week of luxury and adventure? It came about because I’m a writer and editor. No kidding. I’ve had some amazing experiences simply because of my profession. In this case, I was offered the beach house in exchange for some editing work. It was a bartering situation.
I think some of you know that it was my writing that got me a trip to Dubai—yes, in the Middle East. The organizers of the Toastmasters annual convention in that region wanted a woman keynote speaker that year (2006). They were accustomed to seeing my byline on articles in the Toastmaster Magazine and liked what I had to say. So they invited me, all expenses paid, including the first class flight. Wow! What an experience!! (Read more about this trip in my May 2006 blog entries.) I’ve also written a book on the subject. It’s showcased at
http://www.matilijapress.com/dubai.html
I’ve met interesting people as a result of my writing—professionals in all areas of expertise, amazing individuals making big marks in the world and well-known authors (David Morrell, Maxine Hong Kingston and others whose names escape me). I’ve met inventors, corporate CEOs and animal rescue volunteers. I interviewed a man who built a million dollar exercise machine business from scratch, celebrated psychologists, outstanding artists, speakers who draw $thousands for one keynote and a Miss America.
And the experiences you have as a freelance writer and author…I was allowed inside a cage with Pallas Cats at the Denver Zoo before visiting hours to photograph these unusual and shy animals for Cats Magazine. I’ve been wined and dined by interview subjects who could afford high living and hoped for a positive slant on the story I was writing. I’ve watched birds of prey being trained, toured cat rescue facilities, had a free sailing lesson and even sat inside a simulated flying saucer.
Because of my writing, I’ve traveled to cities and states I may never visit otherwise—Wisconsin, Nashville, Atlanta, Hawaii, Jacksonville, Seattle, Phoenix, etc. And I’ve met new friends in each new place.
As a freelance writer, author and even an editor, I’ve had more interesting and unusual experiences than I can mention in one blog entry. And they seem to keep coming.
Are you open to the potential new experiences out there? Do you recognize them when you see them? Can you reach out to enjoy them? Let your natural writers’ curiosity pull you out of your comfort zone. Begin exploring the opportunities available.
And if you don’t know how to get a freelance business going or you need help producing or marketing your book, be sure to explore my array of books for writers and authors at http://www.matilijapress.com
In particular check out, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (for any hopeful or struggling author at any stage of their publishing project), A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles (for freelance writers and authors who want to promote their books through article-writing), The Successful Writer’s Handbook (for any writer or author who needs guidance and encouragement).