Well hello to you my reader chums! I've run a freelance writing business for just over a year now and have loved every minute, even during the harder times. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, however, through the obstacles and hard moments, I've learned many lessons about running a business and made many mistakes.

If you're new to freelancing and looking for some advice, here are my tips on how to build and retain a freelance writing business. 

How to build a freelance writing business 

Work on your personal brand

I say this all the time, but your personal brand is vital for your business. A personal brand showcases who you are, what you stand for and what you offer as a freelance writer. Your personal brand can be shared on whatever channel you'd prefer, whether it's on LinkedIn, Instagram or Tik Tok. With your personal brand, you should choose a couple of things you want to stand for and talk about. For instance, I speak about lessons I've learned as a freelancer, mental health advice and tips for copywriting and social media. Once you've chosen what you'd like to talk about, you can begin creating content. The key is to show up consistently, from once a week to three times a week.

Build up your portfolio

A portfolio is necessary as a freelance writer as it helps potential clients see the quality of your work and how you present yourself. Starting out as a freelance writer can be challenging as you won't have any client work. However, you don't need to work with clients to build a portfolio. You can start a blog like this one or write up mock content, such as blogs, website content and newsletters. The main thing is to showcase how good you are at writing and how you're able to make copy sound good.

Network as much as you can

Networking has been key to growing my business. Without meeting some incredible people along the way, I don't think I'd be where I am today. Going to local networking events can be incredibly challenging and daunting, yet it can open up your world. You can meet other local business owners and freelancers, who could be future leads or great long-term business pals. Speak to as many people as possible as it could be the start of word-of-mouth recommendations. 

Contact previous employers about outsourcing work

Finding work at the beginning can seem impossible, but trust me when I say it, it's out there for you. A first port of call is reaching out to people you've worked with and see if they're interested in outsourcing copywriting work. You never know who will be looking for freelancers and how much work they may have to outsource. Also, digital marketing agencies can be a big win for freelance writers as sometimes they're very busy in-house and need to outsource work.

Look on freelance websites and pitch work

Another way to find jobs early on is to search on freelance websites, such as Upwork and Fiverr. Jobs generally are at the lower end of the pay scale so be prepared for that. However, as you build up work, you can find higher-paid roles and pitch work for higher rates.

Continue learning every day

Learning is part of any business, especially as a freelancer, because it's not just learning your craft, it's learning how to run and manage a business, market yourself and organise your workload. There are plenty of skills to learn and develop when you run your own business. 

How to retain a freelance writing business

Follow up on previous connections and clients

Building up a business and gaining work is one thing, retaining it is another. I can't really pick which is harder as both have their challenges. One way to retain work is having continuous communication with previous connections and clients. Whether that's someone you met at a networking event or a business you've worked with, stay in contact with follow-up emails to book future work and projects.

Build up your reviews and case studies

Reviews and case studies are key to sharing that you're great at what you do and help when retaining work as you can prove your value. Building up reviews can be hard but this is where constant communication will help you gain that work. 

Look for longer project/retainer clients

You need to always be planning ahead with your business and that means searching for work on a long-term scale. Whether that's 3 months to 6 months or regular work per month, find work that'll match your business model and plan.

Build up a buffer of work

A buffer of work is what's going to keep you going when projects and one-off jobs aren't coming in. This could be x amount of blogs per month or a monthly newsletter for your client.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When did you start out as a business owner?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm still reminiscing about my time in Lake Maggiore as I can't believe the sheer beauty I witnessed during my 3 nights there. I wish I spent longer than 3 nights as there's so much of the lake to explore and endless lakeside towns with residential charm.

If you're planning a short or long trip to Lake Maggiore, here is everything you need to know on your first lake trip.

Lake Maggiore is a huge lake/area

Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland, divided between the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy in Italy and the Swiss region of Ticino. As it's a lake across Italy and Switzerland, it makes for an easy way to experience two countries in one trip, travelling from Italy to Switzerland by public transport. Due to its sheer size, there are plenty of spots you can choose to stay from the south to the north. On my trip, we stayed in Laveno as it was easy to travel from Parma and experience some of the lake's highlights. The further north you go, the clearer the water of the lake becomes.

You can travel between different towns 

As Lake Maggiore covers two countries, there are many hotspots and places you can choose stay, depending on what you'd like to see. Some renowned towns include Stresa (an easy port destination for boat trips), Lesa, Annobio, Cannero, Ascona, Luino (market town), Laveno and Arona. Wherever you choose to stay, travelling between the towns is easy. Depending on which side of the lake one town is, if the same side, there are train and bus options to choose from. To the other side of the lake, many towns have their own ports to choose from.

Trains in Italy are a dream

Travelling by train is a dream in Italy as you witness many gorgeous sights, whether that's the countryside or the coastline. Reaching Lake Maggiore is simple to get to by train, especially if you're coming from major cities, such as Milan or Bologna. As I've mentioned from single sides of the lake, you can catch the train, travelling to more northern or southern areas of Lake Maggiore.

The climate can vary

Due to the mountainous location, you can expect a mild and slightly cooler climate all year round in Lake Maggiore. May to September are the most popular times, though rainfall peaks in spring and showers are generally short. Temperatures rise in the spring into the summer with highs of 28 degrees Celsius. I visited in early June and the temperature was in the early twenties, with some thunderstorms.

It can be quieter than Lake Como

One of the reasons I chose to visit Lake Maggiore is because I knew it would be a quieter lake location than Lake Como. My predictions were correct and in early June, the lake wasn't bursting with visitors, it was a lot quieter, making it easier to enjoy boat rides and go to attractions without mountains of crowds. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a ghost town, Lake Maggiore was still popular but not overwhelmingly so, a good amount of tourists. 

Off-seasons can mean experiencing the lake when it's very quiet

I always say when it comes to travelling that you're better off going in the off-season to experience milder climates, fewer crowds and lower prices. This is especially true with Lake Maggiore as I experienced a gorgeous taste of lake life without the crowds and the warmth of summer in Italy. It was honestly a dream and the scenery was everything.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning to visit Lake Maggiore?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I left a part of my heart in Parma; there's something about the city with its charm, gorgeous cuisine and characteristic buildings that I fell in love with. Parma is the home of the best Italian food, from freshly made pasta, including tortellini, cured meats and gelato (especially hazelnut). 

If you're visiting Parma for the first time, here's my travel guide on what to see for 3 days exploring Parma, Italy.

Day one - Get a taste of the city

Wander around the city and cute piazzas

Parma is a small city and it takes little time to roam around, however, the streets are cobbled, quaint and colourful with plenty of hidden gems. I loved walking around the streets, seeing the restaurants, cafes, piazzas and sights I could find along the way, absorbing all the charm. My favourite piazzas included Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi, Piazza della Pace and Piazza della Steccata. Honestly though, whatever piazza you stumble across, the beauty will shine. 

Parma Cathedral

Visiting cathedrals is one of my favourite things to do in European cities and the Parma Duomo was as beautiful as I imagined, and the entry is free. The Parma Duomo is exquisitely detailed inside with paintings across the high ceilings and large arches. Honestly, it's such a beautiful place to visit. 

Chiesa San Giovanni Evangelista

You're never short of incredible churches in Italy and San Giovanni Evangelista is just that. The unique exterior adds to the interior's beauty. I loved witnessing this spectacle of the church and appreciating the architectural details.

Day two - See the main sights.

Day three - Day trips from Parma

Parma is in a brilliant location to explore many northern Italian cities and towns, whether you're looking to see more of the north or go to a town for a specific reason.

Bologna

Many of you know how much I adored Bologna a couple of years ago. To this day, it's up there with one of my favourite Italian cities, due to the wonderful food scene, authentic culture and beautiful sights. Bologna is a rather large city with enough things to keep you occupied for a few days. However, a day trip there will give you enough time to explore the highlights, such as Piazza Maggiore, Torre Degli Asinelli and Basilica di San Petronio.

The train ride from Parma is just over an hour, giving you most of the day to soak up the sights, visit local markets and eat your weight in fresh pasta, ragu, cured meats, tortellini in broth and gelato. 

Modena

On my trip to Parma, I took a trip to Modena for the day as the journey was only 30 minutes on the train. Modena is a stunning city, with vivid, colourful buildings, cobbled streets, and home of the balsamic vinegar and Ferrari. The city isn't massive, even smaller than Parma, however, you can visit the Modena Cathedral, Ferrari Museum, Mercato Storico Albinelli and Torre Civica. The beauty in Modena is roaming around and enjoying the more residential feel and sampling the dreamy balsamic vinegar. 

Milan

As the heart of fashion, design and the shopping scene, if you love all things glamorous, a trip to Milan can be a great spot to visit. Likely, you'll either be flying in or out of Milan if you're visiting northern Italy on a budget, but if you fly directly into Parma, then Milan is between a 45-minute to 1.5-hour train journey from the city. Explore sights such as the Milan Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Teatro alla Scala.

Where to eat in Parma 

Trattoria del Tribunale 

The restaurant scene in Parma is elite! I'm still dreaming about these restaurants and would love to go back. Trattoria del Tribunale served the biggest portions of prosciutto with bread and a truffle pasta dish I want to eat over and over again. This restaurant did offer big portions so be warned that the food may be so incredibly good but you can't eat it all. The pasta here is freshly made too - an absolute delight.

Sorelle Picchi Ristorante

I could rave about this restaurant all day long. Honestly, I had to initially eat the food slowly here, ensuring I savoured every bite. The prosciutto here was top-notch and the homemade tortellini was out of this world. The Italians make simple dishes taste so good - and plus, Parmesan in Parma is next level.

Gallo d'Oro

Another raving restaurant served delicious tortellini, ragu and cappelletti pasta - not to mention all the Parmesan you could eat with toppings.

Gelaterias

Gelato is a necessity on an Italy holiday, especially in Parma as the gelato is of premium quality. Some of my favourite gelato shops include Gioelia Cremeria Italiana, Gelateria Ciacco and Gelateria La Romana. Every one of them has a range of quality gelatos on offer, my favourite always being hazelnut and dark chocolate.

Breakfast and lunch

Bar Caffeteria Rustici - For a more local breakfast, this coffee shop sits on the outskirts of the main hub with plenty of baked goods, such as flavoured croissants, coffee and hot chocolate.

Frank Foccacia - Sandwiches in Italy hit differently, especially in Parma with amazing and fresh cured meats on offer. Frank Foccicia was affordable with filling and delicious sandwiches I'd love to have again.

Bombe - For a grander bakery with artisan baked goods, this one is for you with its range of pastries and patisserie items.

Where to stay in Parma

Parma is a very walkable city and even if you stay out of the main part, you can walk there within a short distance. I stayed with my partner in an apartment, about a 10/15 minute walk to the city's bustle and for us it was perfect. Incredibly affordable, had all the amenities we needed and a short walk to the attractions. The train station was about a 20-30 minute walk overall. When choosing a place in Parma, it depends if you prefer to be in the centre of the action and pay a little more or stay slightly on the outskirts for a cheaper rate and quiet appeal.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning to visit Parma?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know, Italy is my favourite country and I love to visit, as much as I can. The food, the warm and inviting culture, the characteristic buildings, the cobbled streets and the friendly locals make it a trip of dreams. One place I've always wanted to visit is Switzerland, but due to how expensive it is, I've steered away from visiting, picking cheaper locations to travel instead.

One experience I wanted to have in Switzerland was the train journey between northern Italy to Switzerland, witnessing the mountain scenery along the way. If you're keen to explore northern Italy and the mountainous villages with Switzerland's best lakes, here's my 2-week itinerary to Italy and Switzerland. 

3 days in Parma, Italy

Parma is a gorgeous destination you'll fall in love with and you can either fly from London to Milan and get the train to Parma or fly directly into Parma. The beauty of Parma is the incredible food scene; I can assure you everything you eat will be heaven, from the fresh tortellini, cured meats, parmesan, and gelato to ragu. 

Parma isn't a massive city, however, you can see all the best sights in two days, from the Duomo, Palatine Library, Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata, and Baptistery to the quaint piazzas you can roam around. The city also has some quiet green spaces to lap up the sunshine and read a book, from Parco Ducale to the green space around the Palatine Library. 

As Parma is renowned for its food, ensure you spend those days eating as much fresh pasta, gelato, cured meats and parmesan as possible! Restaurants, classic cafes and gelaterias come in the bucket load across this city.

3-5 days in Lake Maggiore, Italy

After the wonders of the city and exploring the highlights, it's time to relax in the glory of Italian lakes. You have two options Lake Maggiore or Lake Como. For this itinerary, I'd recommend Lake Maggiore as one, it's quieter and has plenty to explore and two, it's an easier route to the locations in Switzerland I've laid out. 

Lake Maggiore is huge and has plenty of towns scattered from the south to the north, as the lake weaves into Switzerland. You have your fair share of locations to stay at but I'd recommend Laveno or Stresa, depending on what you're looking for. Laveno is smaller and quieter but a key location to visit other areas in Lake Maggiore and head over on boat trips. Stresa has a more direct port to the iconic island destinations across the lake, yet is a lot more touristy.

The train journey from Parma to Lake Maggiore takes over 3 hours with a couple of changes but is easy to follow. You'll travel from Parma to Milan Central, Milan Central to Milano Bovisa Politecnico and then the third train to Laveno. 

Lake Maggiore is one of those destinations where you could spend weeks mooching around different lake towns, going on boat trips, eating good food and generally relaxing. We only spent 3 nights there but I could have happily done another two, hence saying 3-5 in the itinerary. In Laveno, the town doesn't have loads to do but you can spend your time roaming around the lake and going on the Funivia del Lago Maggiore Cableway.

The other days in Lake Maggiore, take a day trip to the Borromean Islands, visiting Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori. From Laveno, you can take the boat over to Stresa and get a hop-and-hop-off pass to visit each of the islands, Isola Bella and Isola Madre are the largest with beautiful palaces and gardens to explore. Spend the rest of your Lake Maggiore days, exploring Cerro and the beaches there and Luino, the famous market town. Embrace lake life, the sunshine and fresh seafood. 

2 days in Spiez, Switzerland

After a week in the land of gorgeous food, phenomenal scenery and lake life, you can experience a memorable journey between Italy and Switzerland on the train. I kid you not this train journey, when leaving Italy into Switzerland will amaze you in many ways. From Laveno, there are different routes, I took the train to Sesto Calende, a bus from there to Domodossola and then a direct train to Spiez. The journey takes 4-5 hours but is completely worth it and you can spend a lot of time, especially on the last train, peering out of the window at the views.

Switzerland has endless lakeside towns to explore, however, my picks are Spiez and Brienz as Spiez sits on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, on Lake Brienz, giving you the chance to explore both lakes. I fell in love with Spiez from the moment we came out of the station as the views were like a postcard. Spiez has a slightly residential and village feel which I adored and enough exciting activities to keep us preoccupied for two days.

Spiez has the famous Mount Niesen and honestly, getting the funicular up here had to be my favourite experience in Switzerland! There are no words to describe the beauty of the view. Other highlights include Spiez Castle, lakeside walks, swimming in Lake Thun and the vineyard adventure trail.

2 days in Brienz/Interlaken

From Spiez, Brienz is easy to reach taking under an hour to get there with breathtaking views along the way. Brienz is a lot smaller and there is less to do, however, it had the typical Switzerland village architecture I expected and it was incredibly gorgeous to roam around, especially the lake. Brienz is lovely to roam around and visit the Giessback waterfalls nearby. This town is also next to Interlaken which many people visit and this town certainly has a more 'land' feel than the other lake towns. You can enjoy a classic chocolate fondue, explore the shops and do all your souvenir shopping here, and there are more food options.

2 days in Zurich

The last stop on this itinerary is the beautiful Zurich as that's the destination you'll be flying back from. From Brienz, the train takes around 2 hours to reach, you'll go from Brienz to Luzern and Luzern to Zurich.  Zurich is a beautiful city with plenty of sights to witness, from the Lindt Museum, Lake Zurich, the quaint old town and endless chocolate shops to eat as much Swiss chocolate as possible.

I hope you enjoyed this guide! When are you planing your trip?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to my reader chums! As many of you know, I've been a full-time freelancer for just over a year now and I'm loving the journey and everything it's teaching me. Although freelancing is everything I dreamt of, being my own boss, choosing my clients and developing a business, it's incredibly challenging.

Freelancing is more than doing the doing, it's building a business, finding clients, retaining clients and all the admin in between, such as accounts, emails, calls, marketing and much more. As a freelancer, I try my best to stay as positive as possible but when low periods hit, it can be tough, especially as often, it feels like a personal attack. 

If you're a freelancer and struggling to stay positive, here are some methods you can use to help stay positive as a freelancer.

The first step to this piece of advice is to search for freelancers and befriend them. Whether that's in your local community or online, I can assure you freelancers are everywhere and it's easier than you think to connect with them. Once you've gained those connections, ensure to retain them through regular chats, either texting, calls or video chats, whatever works for you. By building those relationships, you'll have someone to vent and chat with when you're feeling rough. As I can assure you, every freelancer has felt what you're feeling right now and they can provide encouragement and reassurance.

Running a business is hard work and we all need to let off steam and throw our energy into activities or projects that fulfil us without them actually being a form of work or monetary gain. Having these passion projects can give you something exciting and positive to put your energy into when you're not feeling great. Whether that's making a new dress, writing a book or running a blog like this, whatever fills your heart up, ensure you take the time to slot it into your week.

When you're feeling down, positive words can be revolutionary. I've recommended a positivity log time and time again, however, if you haven't made one, reading over the reviews and feedback you have is vital. If it's on your website or social media profiles, take a read as it'll give you the boost you need that you are good enough.

It may seem like the simplest piece of advice but being proactive does wonders for your mental health. Get out and about regularly for a walk, run errands or make social plans, encouraging positive energy into your day. You'll feel much better for it, even if you go for a drink in your favourite coffee shop.

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I can't believe I've just turned 28, I'm still 25 in my head and sometimes feel even younger than that. It's wild to me, I'm closer to my thirties than the start of my twenties, but every day I'm incredibly grateful for how wonderful my twenties have been. I'm blessed for all the travels I've experienced, concerts, theatre shows and endless moments with loved ones. I'm also grateful for the lessons I've learned and how much I've grown over the best part of a decade.

Whether you're new to this blog or have been following for a while, here's my insight on turning 28 and a reflection on my twenties.

When I first turned 20, I had a plan in my head of my life at 28. Like any 20-year-old, the stereotypical life of being married with kids, owning a home and thriving in my career. It's strange seeing how naive and close-minded I was at the beginning of my twenties, and how things evolved for me.

I unexpectedly fell in love with the travel way of life and have spent the past 8 years travelling as much as possible, falling in love with the world and making memories with loved ones. I'm privileged for everything I've experienced in my twenties so far: the holidays, backpacking trips, concerts, day trips, theatre shows, new restaurants, and most importantly, spending quality time with loved ones and developing the connection further.

Although, I've had an incredible amount of highs and life experiences, my twenties so far have certainly been full of lessons, heartbreak, finding myself and dealing with the first decade of adulthood. This I can assure you hasn't been the easiest of rides, though it has helped me evolve, set boundaries, develop my self-love, self-care and work on being a better friend, partner and person by looking inward. Learning more about my emotions, triggers and traumas has helped me find coping mechanisms and work on my personal development more.

I found being more self-aware has helped me with gratitude, look on the more positive side of life, enjoy every day more but also work towards being my best self, and accept I'm not perfect. And, accept nothing can be perfect - and it's about finding beauty in imperfection.

Turning 28 - how do I feel?

I have to admit, 28 is a bit of an interesting age because, being a woman, societal expectations are hitting a little harder than ever before, and I also find myself thinking, I'm starting to prepare for that stage in my life: having kids, buying a house and engagement. The thought excites me more than it ever has, I love the idea of owning a home and creating a space that's mine and my partner's.

I've always dreamed of having a family and being a parent. Aside from being a published author, being a mum is the one thing I've always wanted and I cannot wait until that day comes.

Despite the excitement of these life big things I want in my future, the pressure is a lot more intense in myself and in my mind, I'm gearing up more for the upcoming years. I'm not entirely sure if it's a pressure I'm putting on myself or if it's more because I see everything happening around me, but as I know it's something I want, the pressure is higher if you get me.

Also, in the same breath, 28 doesn't feel too different from 27. It's strange being even closer to 30 than twenty but things haven't changed too much. I think I'll be set at the age of 25 and I love that - you're only as young as you feel. 

The older I get, the more comfortable I feel in who I am, and the more appreciative I am of the lessons I've learned, the experiences I have and who I'm growing into being - and who I have around me.

Here's to 28 - let's see what it brings!

I hope you enjoyed this post. What age are you?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Caring about what people think is part of being human. We're constantly comparing ourselves to everyone around us, thinking we could do better or be better. Honestly, it's a waste of our time, especially when it comes to caring what other people think of you. I can assure you, that nobody cares or thinks as much about your life as you do.