A few weeks back Tiffany invited me to guest post here about how expats can get a career as a writer off the ground. Well, of course, I was delighted to help. After 23 years overseas myself, in five different countries, I have forged myself quite a decent career as just that – an expat writer. Then, back in 1998 I wrote the first edition of a book called A Career in Your Suitcase, about how anyone can create what I call a portable career, overseas. It just so happens that I am a writer by profession, but what I share in my book, now in its 3rd edition, can be applied to almost any career.Over the years I have tried all kinds of writing and some have been more lucrative than others. All have been enjoyable. You see, I believe that the number one, bottom line, must-have as an expat looking to create a portable career, is that the work you do must be based on how you most love to spend your time. I know that sounds a little cheesy, but it is still true. If you are to be uprooted as often as I have and to be faced with reinventing yourself and resurrecting your career in a new location over and over, then you have to love what you do. If you didn’t you’d simply surrender and go and get a manicure instead.
When I first went overseas I was a published author. I’d written a cookbook called French Tarts (though I couldn’t cook) and 13 computer handbooks (yawn). When I landed in Dubai I realized I needed to find work locally and that was when I decided to move into journalism. I had plenty of ideas and a fair bit of bravado but no idea how to write articles. I was lucky and found an editor who was willing to shout at me until I got it right. I wrote brochure copy, newsletters, training manuals and CVs and also started a writer’s circle. After a while and then in Oman, I started to teach classes in unleashing the writer within. Today, I have taught thousands of people to write books, articles, life story and blogs and have become a publisher and written a range of online programs. But let me get one thing straight – I have no formal writing qualifications. Not one. What I do have is an abundance of ideas and lots of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.
I can share here and now that it is a perfect portable career, and if you move a lot you will never be short of ideas. It can be lucrative, it can be very varied, it provides lots of opportunity to learn and it can be done from home, from your computer with an Internet connection. It is flexible enough to work for those with young children or an erratic lifestyle too. It is not, however, right for everyone.
So, what qualities and skills do you need if you too would like to become an expat writer? Here are my top tips:
Six top tips for wannabe expat writers:
- You must get out and about and meet people and do things. Inspiration can be sluggish if you just want to sit at home all day.
- You need to be brave enough to ask for favours, to ask an experienced writer to give you feedback, an editor to give you a try and the people you meet whether you can interview them.
- You need to be aware that what you actually SELL is an idea. You pitch an idea and then you write it if someone commissions you. Keep on having ideas and you will find plenty of work.
- Be flexible. Try writing articles, books, copy, PR or even CVs. Sometimes one market dries up, so try another.
- Keep learning. Read books on writing, take courses, on or offline, or both, hire a mentor, attend writing conferences. Get out there, get inspired and grow your network.
- Start small. Today, anyone can start a blog and that is a great place to begin a new career as an expat writer. It forces you to write to topic, have focus, write to length and to deadline and better still, it increases your web presence. Move from a blog to writing articles for free, and from there to writing for money. One step at a time and you will make it.
Jo Parfitt runs a range of online programs and live workshops too. She is currently based in the Hague. Her mentoring programs help new writers to write books and articles. Find out more at http://www.joparfitt.com/
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