First time here? Welcome!

“Your blog is, on the surface, about writing and travel, but on a deeper level it is you exploring the life you want to live and building a career on your own terms.”                                                                                                           — Andrea James

This blog began as a place for me to chronicle my experience writing my first book, a travel memoir about backpacking solo through Africa.

But it has morphed into its own beast, like good blogs do. So while I focus on writing and social media and travel and journalism, a lot of my posts touch on life’s bigger issues, like taking leaps and following dreams. Because whether you’re jumping into a career break or book project or some other unknown, we often share the same fears.

Before you read any further, consider:

• Subscribing to this blog via RSS or email

• Signing up for my free newsletter about how to take your next Leap

• Enrolling in Solopreneur Secrets, a weekly letter about finding freedom in your career

The word “travel” usually evokes images of visiting foreign countries. And yes, I love seeing remote corners of the world! But like each of you, I’m also traveling through life, looking forward to what’s ahead. In addition to working to publish this book, I’m creating a career on my own terms and figuring out how to fit adventure into my life. Who knows where life will take me next?

Mali's Dogon Country

Newbies may want to check out these posts:

On writing:

• What I wish I knew before I started writing a book
  

  An African batik inspires me in my writing space.

• Why you should reveal embarrassing details in memoir

• Self-editing: 10 ways to tighten your copy

• Writing for twenty-seven readers

• How to find and apply to writers’ colonies

On social media:

• How to use Facebook to — shhh — promote your book

• How to use social media to look for a job

• The challenge: build community around your blog

• Because publicity IS your job — social media for authors

• Why writers should use Twitter — and another good reason

• Why your biz or book needs a Facebook page, not a group

• 6 easy ways to make your blog SEO-friendly

On traveling:

• A dozen tips for independent travelers

• Tips for blogging from developing countries

• The myth of getting paid to travel

• 9 tips for women traveling solo

On journalism:

• Five cool ways news organizations are using social media

• Considering journalism school? My advice.

Popular interviews with writers:

• Mira’s List of grants, fellowships and residencies

• Dani Shapiro on Devotion, memoir and evolving as a writer

Other awesome stuff:

• A Hambidge Love Story and an update on the Hambidge dog, Cooper

About me & my projects:

• Overview of my book

• My bio

• My guides and courses