An
island in the Mediterranean. A beach in Africa. The east coast
of New Zealand. What do all these locations have in common?
A recent call for assistance from freelance writers elicited
replies from every one of these locations. In each of these
and in many other remote places, I know of writers who are
freelancing with a fair degree of success. Indeed it is possible
for freelance writers to work from anywhere. Consider my own
recent experience. As the editor of the Worldwide Freelance
Writer web site, I publish a newsletter that goes out to thousands
of freelance writers around the world. I can recall one particular
issue in the middle of 2002. I started planning the newsletter
in the heat and humidity of Hong Kong. When the first draft
came together I was in Indianapolis, in the United States.
And by the time I completed the final copy and pushed the
send button I was at a lakeside cottage in Ontario, Canada,
with snow lightly falling outside.
Maybe you are interested in a freelance writing
career but you worry about whether you live in a suitable
location. Well, think again. Freelance writing is a job you
can do from anywhere. It is true that if your home is near
New York's editorial offices you may be able to use your proximity
to some advantage. But many, many freelance writers are working
successfully from more distant locations, and in many cases
enjoying a better lifestyle in the places where they live.
Take Ron Irwin, for example. An American,
Ron freelances from a small house on the beach in Cape Town,
South Africa. The majority of his work is still for North
American markets. Consider Vella Corinne, a native of Malta
in the center of the Mediterranean Sea. From this island steeped
in history - the Order of St John was based here and the temples
are thought to be older than the pyramids - she writes travel
and lifestyle features. Writers in locations such as these, far from
being at a serious disadvantage, can actually enjoy a number
of benefits. For a start, these writers are in an excellent
position to write about their own locations, the people and
the culture. Also, the living costs are often less expensive
than for writers in major cities. And if that is not enough,
how about fresh, clean air? Writers working from remote locations usually
live in a cleaner, more peaceful environment, and may live
closer to outdoor and recreational activities. Vella reveals
how she enjoys the warmer days: "Once I pack up my computer,
I just head to the beach. Distances are short and, the island
being small, I'm always close to the center of whatever's
happening here. I can control my own time in a way that I
could not if I lived in a busy city."
Twenty years ago writers in remote locations
were often frustrated by the slowness of communicating with
editors on the other side of the world. It would always take
months to receive a reply from an editor. Waiting for a response
to a query was about as exciting as watching grass grow! In recent years the availability of the Internet
has made it easier than ever before for freelancers to communicate
almost instantly with anyone, anywhere in the world. In my
own example above I traveled through a few countries over
a three-week period and managed to conduct my freelance work
at the same time. Many of my clients didn't even know I was
'on the move'. Little did they know that between receiving
and replying to their messages, I was fishing in the lake
and hiking through the woods. I could easily keep in touch
with important contacts, as well as write and send out my
newsletter.
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© Copyright 2003 Gary McLaren All Rights Reserved.
Gary McLaren is editor of Worldwide Freelance
Writer, a leading source of information on freelance writing
markets around the world. Discover the best publications to
write for at http://www.worldwidefreelance.com
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