Well hello to you my reader chums! Being a freelancer is one of my favourite things; I love working with clients and on various projects, which I adore, plus the flexibility that comes with it. I've worked part-time as a freelancer for nearly a year now and there are many things I've already learnt, and things I've done to help me succeed, and find clients. 

If you're keen to start freelancing and don't know where to begin, here are my tips on how to start out as a freelance writer. 

Set up a LinkedIn profile

I'm in love with LinkedIn and have found some of my best clients via the platform. I've been on LinkedIn for years but have only really made good use of it in the past year for connecting with those relevant in the industry and prospective clients. It's a great resource to share all of your experience (and list out your previous jobs), interests and skills. 

It's also a place to build up a personal brand. I've seen many freelancers sharing their tips, experiences and advice on being a freelancer, and you can do that too - and create a personal brand for yourself. We all have different experiences and perspectives, and LinkedIn is a tool you can use to share expertise. 

Feedback and testimonials are key to creating a strong reputation as a freelancer. On Linkedin, you can ask for clients to write you testimonials on your profile, which means, when new potential clients find you, they can see what other people have said about you.

Set up an Upwork profile

There are many platforms available to help you search for freelance opportunities such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com. If you have no idea about how to find work or pitch for it, one of these sites is incredibly helpful. You can set up a profile, a similar way you do with Linkedin, listing your experience, skillset, rates and a summary of the type of services you offer. Then, when you pitch there, potential clients can refer back to your profile and see your list of experiences. You can also be paid through the platforms and as you agree to contracts with clients on there, if a client doesn't pay, they can help you out legally.

Build a portfolio

Many potential clients will want to see your work and your skill level, which can be tricky if you're new to the freelancing world. If you've created work such as blog posts in previous jobs with your name on it, you can link to that. However, if you're in a position where you have no bylines, the best way to create a portfolio is either writing a blog or creating work on your own accord. For example, writing up example blog posts you'd do for a specific client or mock-up web pages. It may not ever be published, however, it will show potential clients how you write and your skill level.

Create a pitch template 

Pitching isn't the most exciting part of freelancing I have to admit, which is why I've created a pitch template. This helps when I'm pitching for various freelance openings on different platforms, whether it's Upwork or directly through emails. The template basically is a rough outline of what you need to include and then you can fill in all the gaps for the specific project or role at hand.

Pitch away to jobs you're passionate about

When you're accounts are created, you've started a portfolio and have your template, this is where the pitching fun begins. Search for jobs you love the sounds of and even go for the ones which don't thrill you as much. As a newbie freelancer, you want to build up a log of work for various clients to show your flexibility and adaptable skills when it comes to writing. When you're more experienced and have a stack of clients behind you, then you can start searching for clients you really adore - as you're more likely to land the position.

Contact people, you've previously worked with

It's never about what you do, it's about who you know. Connections in life are a huge key to success. It's usually the people we know who help us find our big breaks or boost us up when needed. This is why, as a new freelance writer, contact all the people you've previously worked with. It could be old bosses, colleagues or organisations you're affiliated with. You never know who needs a new writer on board.

Work on your skills

Freelance writers never stop learning, like with any other job. When it comes to writing, never stop for work or pleasure. The more you write, the better you become. Invest in courses, read relevant articles, attend webinars and listen to podcasts. The more you know will help you in the long run.

Show up every day 

Consistency is key to success and as a new freelance writer, you need to be showing up every day. You'll have good days and bad days, and it's even more important to keep pushing through on the harder and hopeless days. Freelancing isn't an easy ride let me tell you, but building a successful career in what you love is the greatest reward.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Italy is my favourite country ever, it's like a second home to me and a country I'll forever return to. I've been lucky enough to travel to many destinations throughout Italy and I'm eager to see more locations and experience more of the incredible food scene.

If you're a newbie to Italy and unsure what to expect, here are 10 things to know before your first time in Italy.

Don't order a cappuccino in Italy afternoon

Italians are massively passionate about their coffee. Coffee is a way of life for Italians and this means when ordering yours, abide by the coffee rules of the land. Italians generally begin their day with a cappuccino and pastry, and this is consumed before 11am. It's frowned upon to order a cappuccino in the afternoon especially so avoid doing this.

Learn a little bit of Italian

It's never essential to learn a language when heading abroad, however, it's always helpful to get around. When it comes to Italy, I would recommend learning a few words as Italians can find it quite rude if you don't know the general Italian phrases to greet them.

Be prepared to dine later

Italians eat late at night. They don't generally dine in the evening until about 7pm onwards. If you spot a restaurant open before then for dinner, it's typically catered for tourists and mean, the food is less likely to be authentic. With that in mind, prepare to dine a lot later at night, even as late as 10pm/11pm at night. Dinner time is a huge social occasion after all.

Remember to validate your train ticket

Train travel is an absolute dream in Italy and one of my favourite ways of venturing around the country. Not only is it cheap, but it's also efficient, and simple and all train journeys offer great views. If you're not a fan of driving or flying, it's a fun way to explore Italy. Although one thing to remember is to validate your ticket before getting on the train, otherwise, you can get in trouble with the guards.

Coperto charge

The coperto charge is the norm in a lot of restaurants throughout Italy, which is typically around 1-3 euros. The charge covers the bread, olive oil and vinegar they provide you with during dinner or lunch.

The north and south are completely different

I didn't realise how different the north and south of Italy were until I visited them both and compared them. The north and south food are completely different, with influences from its neighbouring countries in the north, whereas the south is influenced by Mediterranean cuisine. For example, the north is all about cured meats and ragu, whilst the south is about pizzas and arancini. The north is richer and has a more industrialised vibe, whilst the south is a lot more laid-back and welcoming.

 Well hello to you my reader chums! In a world where everything is constantly loud, moving and the constant pings of social media, it can be hard to find a moment of peace and quiet, and really, slow down from the buzz.

Over the past few years, I've learnt to appreciate slowing down and finding moments of calm. It has helped with my mental health, practise gratitude and appreciate the things around me a lot more. If you're struggling with a busy life, here are 5 activities you can do to slow down.

Get arty with painting and crafts

I used to be one of those people that thought 'I don't want to paint as I'm not good at it', however, we don't need to be good at all things we try, that's the fun of it. I've found dabbling in the world of art very therapeutic. From painting to drawing and decorating pottery, there are many ways you can get involved with different art activities. I've found it helps focus my mind and makes me feel at peace and be present in the moment. I'm not thinking about rushing off or doing something but focusing on the creation at hand. With time as well, my confidence in art has gotten a lot better.

Sewing/making clothes

I used to do this a lot when I was younger, mainly because it was a way to create clothes out of what I already had, rather than buying new things. In a world of masses of fashion waste, it's also a handy skill to do for that reason. Sewing or creating clothes can just be fun. There are so many resources to teach you online, that you can easily teach yourself the basics. I would suggest finding things in your wardrobe you'd like to amend and roll with it. For example, turning a dress into a top or jeans into shorts.

Journal your thoughts

Many mindfulness experts and therapists will tell you journalling does wonder for the mind, and it's a great way to help you slow down too. Journalling at whatever time of day allows you to release your thoughts from your brain. You can talk about what has happened in your day, write down the positive things you've experienced, what you're grateful for and even some of the things which made you angry/upset. Writing the good and bad can help you get out the thoughts, reflect, process and heal from them all. Plus, it's a great way to note down exciting memories as well.

Sit in a coffee shop and read

I'm a massive bookworm as many of you know and I adore visiting coffee shops so put them together and it's my favourite pastime. There's something about the bustle of a coffee shop that I find soothing, whether it's quiet or busy. Watching the flow of customers coming in and out, overhearing conversations and enjoying a slice of cake as I immerse into a good book. If reading isn't your thing, you could journal in the coffee shop too or draw. Any type of quiet activity works well in this setting to help you slow down, appreciate what you're doing and the surroundings.

Watch the sunrise or sunset

I'm obsessed with sunrise and sunset. Despite the many I have sat and watched in my lifetime, it really doesn't get old and there's such a beauty in greeting a new day or seeing one come to an end. Watching either a sunrise or sunset can be from anywhere, whether that's at the beach, your local park or from your window. Taking that time to appreciate nature's beauty will suck you into the present and be grateful for how glorious the world is.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What else would you add?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know, working on my body confidence and body acceptance is something I've been doing for years and I wouldn't say it's something I'm 100% therewith. Similar to self-love, improving your body image is a constant process and learning curve, and a journey most of us go through in our lives.

If you're looking for tips to improve your body confidence, here are some things which have helped me.

TW - Talking about eating disorders.

Know your body does so much for you

This point is probably something that has helped me the most. On the days when I'm feeling the least body confident, I remind myself of all the wonderful things my body does. It keeps me going without me having to do anything, it naturally heals, it's a defence barrier and ultimately, it's my shell. It's a part of me. Instead of focusing on the things you hate, think about what your body has done for you.

Dress for your figure

I cannot stress this point enough. The number of times I've tried to wear clothes I used to adore and when they've not looked right in the present, I got angry. But bodies change, it's all part of life. And that's where an exciting shopping trip can fit in. Buy clothes which compliment your figure. Choose an outfit which makes you feel good and confident. There are so many body types and once you learn how best to compliment that, you'll be a new person.

Don't put yourself down for changing weight (it's normal)

This is something I wrote about recently, how body changes are normal. Now being 26, my body has changed a lot in the last year and the constant reminder of 'this is normal', has helped me a lot. I'd say it has helped always but that's a lie, however, it does give me reassurance when I need it. Cellulite is normal. Gaining weight is normal. Growing boobs is normal. Getting curves is normal. It's all part of growing older. Embrace it.

Your body is the least interesting thing about you

A favourite point of mine and one that has done wonders in my journey. We are so much more than our bodies. We are our unique personalities. We are our passions. We are our goals. We are our dreams. We are who is around us. Focus on those elements and the things you're grateful for. It'll do wonders for a mindset change.

Compliment your body

Affirmations are key to switching a mindset and this includes when it comes to your body. Set up daily affirmations to practise that and say good things about your body. Try and compliment it when you can throughout the day. From complimenting your outfit, to hyping up the natural skin you're in, the more compliments, the better.

Avoid clothes you're not comfortable in

You are not designed to fit in clothes, it's about finding the clothes which fit you and your body type. Avoid clothes which make you feel uncomfortable or don't accentuate your amazing body. Instead, focus on the items which you can rock with confidence.

Eat what makes you feel good

Eating can be a trigger for many people, especially those who have eating disorders, or disordered eating or have experienced either in the past. I'm not going to talk about eating disorders because I'm not trained in any sense to. However, what I mean by this point, for those who don't have issues around eating is to eat what makes your body feel good. If you find chocolate is making you feel sluggish but a hearty bowl of pasta boosts up your mood, choose the pasta. It's all about finding the foods which complement your mind and body.

Delete people on social media who affect you negatively

We all know the negative impacts of social media on our bodies. The picture-perfect people we're all shown constantly aren't great for our own body image. Normal bodies are more common than we think and what you should focus on. Delete the people on social media who make you feel bad about yourself and follow those who boost your confidence and promote normal bodies.

Stop comparing your body to its younger version

I can't be alone in saying I've done this way too many times. As I've mentioned, bodies change and that's okay. Avoid fixating on what you used to look like and appreciate what you look like now. It's important for us to grow and evolve and that's the same for our bodies too. We're grown-ups now and our bodies match that.

Accept you're going to have good and bad body days

Working on your body image isn't easy. There will be days when you feel kike you've taken a few steps back and days when you'll zoom forward. This is all normal in any healing process. Embrace it and know you're going to be okay. Your body is gorgeous just the way it is.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What other tips do you have?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I love the author Taylor Jenkins Reid; both of her books Malibu Rising and Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, I absolutely adored in every way. She has a beautiful way with words and can tell stories like a dream. I picked up One True Loves as it intrigued me and honestly, it's a book, I couldn't put down.

If you're looking for a new and obsessive read, here is my full review of One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

Plotline

The book follows the tale of high school sweethearts, Emma and Jesse who fall in love with the travel way of life, move away from home and build a life and chase every single adventure in their path. Three-hundred and sixty-four days after their wedding, Jesse heads to a job and his helicopter goes missing and suddenly, he is gone. Years later, Emma is back in her hometown after experiencing grief and learning to live again, and she falls in love. However, at one family dinner, she receives a call and it's from Jesse, he's alive.

With both a fiance and husband, it's a heartbreaking decision for Emma to make. But, does one true love exist?

Characters and relationships

The most iconic relationship to talk about is Emma and Jesse. Their bond encapsulates everything a first love is all about. It's innocent, adventurous and special. All they know is each other and how to express what love can be, it's exceptionally special. Emma's fiance Sam is another bond which warmed my heart. Theirs is a mature kind of love, one where you know truly who each other are and you celebrate their small quirks of them. 

Another bond I loved to see grow was Emma and Marie. The sisters didn't have a strong bond growing up, however, when Marie moved home, they came together. They build a sister and homely relationship, one their parents wanted for them all their life. 

Overall thoughts

Overall, I loved every part of this book. It was a beautiful novel describing every part of what true love feels like. The romance, the adventure, the small moments and the weird quirks we all come to adore. I love how it shows different types of true love, from young love to falling for someone you've known your whole life and how that love can grow. It's a special book full of twists, turns, wholesome characters and a true narrative about it. It's fast-paced but also paced slow enough to feel every emotion and moment love offers you.

Ending

I'm not going to lie, I thought the ending was going to be completely different than it actually was. Although, how it ended warmed my heart, it felt right and made sense to the journey Emma has been on. I'm still not sure if we experience more than one true love, but, I do think there are many types of love we experience in life.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your current read?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! Being in a relationship is a wonderful experience; it's amazing having someone as your partner and your teammate.  

Whether you're new to a relationship or thinking of putting yourself out there, here are 5 things to do before getting into a relationship.

Set expectations from what you want in a relationship

We all want different things out of life, whether that's where we want to live, family goals, career goals or different perspectives on values. Getting into a relationship, you're then on a path with that new partner of yours and because of that, you'll want to have similar expectations. This is why it's good to have a rough idea of what you'd expect out of a relationship, For example, the journey you're looking to in your life and how that partner fits in with that.

Figure out what your love languages are

We all show love in different ways and we all experience love in different ways. Knowing what your love languages are can help you communicate the best ways you feel loved by your future partner. There are five love languages including quality time, words of affirmations, acts of service, physical touch and receiving gifts. I would suggest ranking yours and using your top two as the ones you communicate to your partner. Then likewise, you can do the same for your partner too.

Learn to love your own time

Alone time is crucial for our growth and development because it helps us gain self-dependence and learn to love ourselves. Alone time is an opportunity to explore the things you love to do, discover new hobbies, be with your thoughts and stand strong on your own two feet. That independence is important to bring to a relationship because your partner is there to support and grow with you, but not be the entirety of your support and growth. You should be able to grow together and grow separately at the same time.

Become self-aware

Self-awareness is something I think we should all work on to live better lives and experience healthier friendships and relationships. By being self-aware, you'll be in sync with your emotions, and understand how you're feeling and the effect it has on you and those around you. This is why it's important to check in every day mentally and assess how you're feeling and the cause of it. Self-aware people can be a lot more emotionally mature which helps build the foundations of a strong relationship with strong communication.

Fall in love with yourself and learn to express your true self

I talk about self-love all the time over on my blog as I truly believe it's the crux of living our best lives. We all deserve to truly accept who we are and love that we're unique individuals. Entering a new relationship can be a worrying territory as we're unsure if that person will love who we are, but that's the whole point of a relationship, to be unapologetically you and see if you're the right fit. I don't think you need to be fully in love with yourself before a relationship, but I do think it plays a huge part in feeling confident in yourself and the relationship when there is a degree of self-love.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What else would you add to the list?

Thank you for reading <3