Important Rules for Entrepreneurial Writers While Traveling

One of the many glamorous things about being a business writer is that you can work from just about everywhere and anywhere.

All you need is a laptop under your arm and a stable internet connection, and you’re free to run your writing business from any location in the world, as you please.

It all sounds great in theory, and a lot of the time, it is.

I’m an entrepreneurial writer specializing in articles, search engine optimization projects, and resumes, but I’ve had the pleasure of working out of an apartment in Prague, a bar in Dublin, and an internet cafe in Riga, to name a few.

But working while being on the road isn’t all plain sailing like some people (non-writers) may think.

Many disturbances can come into play, like poor internet connectivity. (It can be unstable in cities or villages with poor internet signal, so make sure to send yourself an email of your draft, or back it up on a USB flash drive in case your work hasn’t saved properly.)

You also have to deal with other complications like irritating traffic noises outside your apartment while you’re trying to write (it’s almost impossible to concentrate while there are car horns honking and engines revving all day long), or producing sloppy work because you’ve got a hangover from having one too many cocktails the night before.

Warning: Do not work with a hangover! You will not produce your best work. That’s if you have the energy to even begin working on it (speaking from experience).

After all, you’re a professional writer, so you need to act like a pro at all times, even when you’re abroad or have skipped town for a few days.

This is what you should do:

• Use your journey as an opportunity to expand your reputation as a writer by learning as much about the world as possible.
• Learn about different cultures; write a blog post about your experience in the area and publish it on your website or blog.
• You don’t have to spend every second of your trip writing, so use some time to chill out and recharge to come up with some great ideas for your next blog post.

Always think ahead while you’re traveling; your business comes first.

Here are a few rules that writers should always keep in mind when traveling.

Stay on Top of the Business Side of Things

One could be excused for getting complacent with their work while out of town, or the country for that matter. All those beautiful new cities, theme parks, castles, sports stadiums, and so on are difficult to drag yourself away from.

I don’t like to sound like a party pooper, but head back to your apartment at a reasonable hour to allow yourself to function properly; throw on some relaxing tunes, boil yourself a jar of coffee, whatever it is that allows you to relax before you work, and write that piece that you promised your viewers—and yourself.

When you’re finished, you can go roam the beautiful streets, eat out at five-star restaurants, and revel in the cities’ bright lights as you please.

Stay on top of your game. Stay on top of the business side of things, first and foremost. Because when all is said and done, if there’s no money in the bank, you’re going nowhere, fast. Literally.

Work Out the Timezones

Checking the area’s timezone before leaving is imperative. Always plan ahead.

If you have a project to commit to from back home (your local time), and you’re working from five hours ahead—you’re going to miss a deadline, which might very well piss off a few people, like your clients.

They might not be as forgiving as you’d hoped for and may not ask you to do any work for them again—some people don’t forgive as easily as others.

Maybe you’ve got caught up in the moment (of venturing a new area), and missed a deadline—they’ve now found a replacement for you. You’ve given them a reason to sound one out, so don’t give them the option to do this.

This is the last thing you want to happen as a writing entrepreneur who runs their own service, website, or blog. It’s not good for business, and people may label you as “slack.”

You don’t want that black mark beside your name, and you certainly don’t want to tarnish your credibility as a writer. Always make yourself available to your clients in a timely fashion.

Google timezones of the area(s) you plan to visit before you leave, and pencil in all your deadline schedules with exact times, so you don’t have to rush around at the last minute panicking after realizing you’ve forgotten to do it before you’ve left.

Keep a reminder on your mobile phone just to be on the safe side.

Use New Experiences to Your Advantage

Use the opportunity of exploring new cities, villages, and towns as a chance to educate yourself and experience different parts of the world so that you can write about it in the present, or future.

Some people may not have traveled to the locations that you’ve had the luxury of experiencing, and plenty of your subscribers and followers will be keen to know about these areas.

Lots of tourists or holiday-goers regularly search the internet for activities, ratings, and opinions on various places and areas.

A recent article posted on the TREKK BLOG website, stated, “Travelers most frequently use their mobile devices to research activities or attractions, to locate shopping areas and restaurants, or to look up directions.”

Therefore, places you have first-hand knowledge of are where your expert analysis will be useful to them.

Jot down as many notes as you can while you’re traveling. Also, take lots of beautiful photographs that will complement your piece. These are the sort of “bits and bobs” that make a great post for your website.

You could also add in specifics such as:

• Where’s a nice spot to dine? (The best sushi bars, “pub grub,” or fine dining restaurants.)
• What’s the atmosphere like? (Is it busier during the mornings or afternoons? What’s the nightlife like?)
• Is it peaceful in parts? (Is it laid back or more suited for stag/hen parties?)
• Is it cheaper than other areas? (People like to know where they can get great value for their buck.)
• Is the weather warm at said part of the year? (Who doesn’t like a nice suntan, right?)

Every little finer detail will complement your piece and will certainly benefit your viewers who are planning to travel in the not-so-distant future.

Making It Count     

See the world. Learn about different cultures. Soak up as much knowledge as you can about the areas you have visited, and write travel blog posts based on your ventures. This can only be advantageous for your career as a writer, as it will help you gain internet traffic, followers, and clients.

Now, remember: Next time you take your remote work super remote, always …

Stick to your working schedule while you’re traveling. Never neglect it or let complacency get the better of you. Business is your priority; anything beyond that can wait.

Meet your targets as you normally would. People are relying on you to produce quality content—and of course, you have a business to run. That’s the bottom line.

Think one step ahead. Make every travel experience count. Write about it.

In the words of St. Augustine, “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”