Rosie Bell is a location-independent freelance writer, editor, and author of Escape to Self. She writes for publications on both sides of the Atlantic, including Condé Nast Traveler, BBC Worklife, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Traveller, Atlas Obscura, Lonely Planet, Hemispheres, and Fodor’s Travel. She has appeared as a travel expert on the likes of ABC News, NBC News, South China Morning Post, and Business Insider. She is also the founder of Discovery Sessions, which teaches travel-loving rat-race escapees about location independence.
How did you get started traveling?
I never knew a world without travel. My father was a diplomat and my first international trip was to Namibia where he was posted for work when I was three. I have been a digital nomad since 2017 and currently split my time between Mexico (in winter) and Spain (in the summer). My British passport can attest to prolonged stays in Panama, Brazil, Argentina, and Nigeria (you’ll find me wherever it’s warm).
How did you get started writing?
Becoming a writer was my dream as a child. However, I was encouraged to follow a more structured path with greater promise of riches, respect, and stability. I knew I wouldn’t thrive in an overly stuffy corporate job though so I looked into what I believed was the next best thing—working at an ad agency. That way, I could be creative, have variety, and crucially, never ever have to wear formal attire.
I cut my teeth in London’s advertising scene for a while until it broke me and I took a career break to figure out what I needed out of my professional life. I ended up going in a completely different direction thereafter and started my own swimwear brand.
I ran that fashion company for roughly four years on my own, teaching myself everything from pattern cutting and web design to PR and video production. Along the way, I noticed that the part of the job I enjoyed the most was writing travel articles for the brand blog. In a very roundabout way, I was back to my first love: writing.
When I shut down the swimwear line, I swapped London for paradise in Panama and decided to finally try my hand at a writing career. A friend who I shared my intentions with forwarded a link she saw for a World Nomad’s call out for Panama travel writers which I successfully pitched for. Once I realized that I could get paid to write about my life and my travels, the rest was history.
What do you consider your first “break” as a writer?
After living in Panama for a few years and contributing to a variety of local blogs, I developed a reputation as a Panama expert, and eventually, Lonely Planet and Forbes Travel Guide came calling for my expertise. This was a “pinch me” moment when I felt that I had made it.
A few years later after publishing my second book, The Art & Business Travel Writing: Pitch, Pen & Get Paid, a BBC Travel editor reached out to me for some story ideas which felt like such a dream come true. This definitely opened up other editorial doors for me.
As a traveler and fact/story gatherer, what is your biggest challenge on the road?
Trying to shut out the rest of the world while being present on a trip is no easy feat. Whether it’s other deadlines I have on my plate or my burgeoning inbox, I still sometimes struggle with being in the moment. A press trip can last anywhere from two days to two weeks, which is a lot of time to be away with the rest of your life somewhat on pause no matter how incredible the experience is.
What is your biggest challenge in the research and writing process?
I am a bit of an excessive cataloguer which means I end up with hours of recordings, hundreds of photos, and countless indecipherable notes scribbled hastily. Post-trip transcription isn’t the most enjoyable but at least I know I cover all bases and don’t miss crucial tidbits.
What is your biggest challenge from a business standpoint?
Imagine freelance travel writing as running a nightclub. A club operates smoothly because various people handle different tasks. There’s a DJ to play the music that patrons enjoy (the writing); a bouncer to keep out the troublemakers and ensure security (insurance); promoters to hand out flyers and spread the word about the club (pitching); and admin and finance staff to track suppliers, manage money, issue and chase invoices, and ensure everyone gets paid. As a freelance writer, you are usually that entire well-oiled machine all by yourself.
Have you ever done other work to make ends meet?
I created a location independence education platform called Discovery Sessions where I help rat race escapees travel, work online, and thrive via blog articles, 1:1 mentoring, and courses like Travel Writing 101, into which I am happy to have welcomed hundreds of students. I also host online travel trivia for corporations and individuals, I have done Spanish to English translations, and also content writing for companies in the travel space. I wear many hats and have my fingers in several pies.
What travel authors or books might you recommend and/or have influenced you?
Not a travel book per se but I found great comfort in Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living by Roger Housden. I picked it up just before embarking on my first solo journey to the Central American tropics. One chapter in particular, “The Pleasure of Doing Nothing Useful,” caught my attention. This was something that felt utterly foreign to my perpetually hectic life in London.
What advice and/or warnings would you give to someone who is considering going into travel writing?
Travel journalism is not a path you choose for wealth. There are quicker and simpler ways to become rich. At times, the pay is so meager it almost feels non-existent, even in the case of high-profile publications. Approach this profession with open eyes. There are indeed pitfalls and money is certainly one of them.
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
One of the most obvious benefits of this job is that you can do it from anywhere. You can escape winter forever if you feel like it and choose to get lost in Bali, Bonaire, or Bangkok. Mondays lose their gloom when you might find yourself in Lisbon tapping away at an airy coworking space or enjoying a refreshing Mai Tai in Mexico. The required ingredients for this job are a laptop, an internet connection, and unwavering curiosity. There are reasons why some call it the greatest job in the world.
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