How to (Barely) Make a Living as an Expat Writer, One Freelance Gig at a Time

The dream of traveling and writing for cold cash.

Let’s set the stage: you’ve packed up your old life, thrown some questionable scarves and overly optimistic walking shoes into a suitcase, and moved abroad with dreams of being the Hemingway of your generation. But there’s a catch — writing doesn’t quite pay like it did back in Hemingway’s day. Now, you’re an expat trying to make it as a writer in a world where “exposure” is the currency of choice and “SEO keywords” might haunt your dreams.

As someone who’s been there, let me walk you through the highs, the lows, and the shockingly tiny paychecks of expat writing life. It’s the lifestyle everyone thinks they want until they try it — and then suddenly the idea of a steady job and health insurance starts looking a little more romantic.

1. Step One: Pack Light, and Include Snacks

First rule of expat writing life: don’t rely on local groceries to keep you nourished during long writing sprints. Remember, local delicacies might sound charming in theory, but when you’re staring down a deadline and the only snack within reach is dried fish chips, you’ll wish you’d brought a granola bar from home. Sure, living abroad expands your…