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In order for a nomad to also be an entrepreneur, the career they choose to develop must be portable. It can’t be tied to a physical location by clients, by technology, by products, by visas, by whatever……
Writing has long been the most portable of all careers. Even today, when we think of travel and entrepreneurship the image that pops into most people’s minds would be that of the travel writer or some other type of non-fiction article or book writer or published author of some kind. Writing gives nomads the flexibility to earn money anywhere, and doesn’t tie a nomad to a specific technology – if your computer gets lost or stolen, or stops working, you can always use a pen and a notebook or a napkin or any scrap paper to write on.
(I can hear a number of you, dear readers, expressing a collective “Well, Duh!!, but please bear with me for another moment or two)
Unfortunately, new technologies provide increasing numbers of individuals with the opportunity to try their hand at this type of writing – non-fiction newspaper and magazine articles, travel writing, etc. Many hobby writers attracted by these technologies and the egocentric desire to see their names in print, will actually write for free!!! The catastrophic result is that good writers trying to break into the freelance writers market are extremely undervalued. Recent postings on websites devoted to freelance writing (eLance, Guru and O-Desk to name 3) expect outrageously large word counts for a ridiculously small fee. One recent posting on eLance expected to contract a writer to produce a well written, well researched 3000 word article for the paltry sum of $25 (USD). That barely breaks down into a few pennies per hour of wages for the time it would take to write a decent, original article with these requirements.
Fortunately, (and, yes, here is the good news), the Internet also provides the opportunity for freelance writers to spread their wings and try different types of writing – many types that actually do provide an individual (and even families) with an acceptable standard of living!!
Over the next couple of weeks, the posts here at Ageless Nomads will provide a look at some of the more financially rewarding careers that writer nomads can develop for themselves. Writing careers that will be covered will include some of the more obvious writing careers (travel writing, food writing, copywriting, web and blog content), and some of the not quite so obvious writing careers (grant writing, technical writing, online/distance education courses).
TTFN
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