Welcome to the Kiwi Freelance Writer!
Writing, editing, and travelling from the bottom corner of the world
Hi! I’m Elen. I’m a deliberate freelancer but an accidental South Islander.
I never meant to end up here. A few years ago, I was happily living in Nepal and building my freelance travel writing career around being a Nepal specialist. But then some life things happened, followed by a pandemic, and five years later I’m still here in New Zealand, with a house/mortgage and a school-going child and… a pretty good career.
Being a New Zealand-based freelance writer/editor comes with its advantages and drawbacks. Bad thing: We’re at the bottom end of the world. Good thing: We’re at the bottom end of the world (also see, pandemic). That’s what I’m going to cover in this newsletter, as well as a bunch of other interesting and useful stuff. What it’s like to be a freelance writer/editor in New Zealand, what I do (and what I can’t because of where I live), and how I make it all work. I’ve been freelancing full-time for around 9 years now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Whether you’re a fellow writer/editor (in NZ or elsewhere), a PR professional, or an editor with a publication, I’ll be popping into your inbox every couple of weeks (thanks!) to share my insights on the profession, what I’m working on or have finished recently, where I’ve been travelling, and any calls for sources or pitches that I’m seeking.
Thanks for being here! I know your inbox is busy and I don’t take it for granted that you’ve let me in.
At Dorothy Falls, Lake Kaniere, near Hokitika, last month
My recent publications
Still buzzing from the September release of my first Lonely Planet book: Experience New Zealand. This was the first print guidebook I worked on, last summer. I wrote two chapters: the Nelson/Marlborough and the Northland chapters.
“The Best Digital Nomad Destinations in Kathmandu,” Nurall. Hopefully I’ll be revisiting some of these spots later next year.
What I’m working on
Guidebook, guidebook, guidebook. I’m writing a couple of chapters of a forthcoming Lonely Planet New Zealand guidebook, which requires on-the-ground research. While still trying to stay on top of everything else that pays my mortgage.
I’m also working on a separate guide to the Marlborough region, a piece on a West Coast road trip, and lots of copywriting, content writing, and editing.
Driving the Great Coast Road between Greymouth and Westport last month
Upcoming travel plans
Next up: A weekend at the Maruia Hot Springs Resort for my birthday.
After that: West Coast road trip #2, researching for my guidebook. Starting in Christchurch, taking the TranzAlpine Train through the mountains, then going up and down the coast, from Punakaiki to Haast, for a few days.
Next month: Karamea. More guidebook research.
Next year: Queenstown, Sydney and Newcastle at Easter.
Tentative: Nepal, late 2023. Maybe a bit of Singapore and Bangkok, too. A little 40th-birthday trip to Bhutan would also be rather nice. We’ll see.
Calls for PR pitches/input
I have my West Coast travel plans pretty much locked in, but if any travel folks have suggestions for attractions I should check out or restaurants I should try (especially around Greymouth), hit me up. Not looking for comps here, at all—just ideas and personal recommendations.
What I’ve been reading
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton. The enormous Booker-prize winning novel by a New Zealand author had been sitting on my shelf for years, but all of this West Coast travel has prompted me to actually read it. I’m about half-way through and I’m enjoying it, although I’m not quite sure what’s going on yet. I’d love to watch the series when I’ve finished.
What I’ve been listening to
Ed Gandia’s High-Income Business Writing podcast. I dip into this one a lot (usually while on the treadmill at the gym!) but I found the latest episode, with Alexis Grant (founder of The Write Life and The Penny Hoarder) to be particularly interesting. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, especially at this point in my career, when I’m trying to work out how to grow now that I’ve already reached a lot of the peaks I set myself years ago. Definitely recommend this podcast, and this episode in particular, to established writers.