Hey! I’m Emma from Where’s Ems? 👋🏼 I’ve been travelling full-time since 2023 while building my freelance writing business. Join to receive my monthly roundups: a behind-the-scenes look at where I’ve been, what I’ve loved and learnt, complete with my spending diary and income breakdown.
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Welcome to everything that happened in January.
The year kicked off with that optimistic energy that seems to power every January. I tweaked my website, drafted a stack of content and even revived my Pinterest business account.
But that burst of productivity was promptly interrupted (in the best way) halfway through the month when I headed to the Peak District to work on a few travel features for Derbyshire Life magazine.
I went underground in search of a semiprecious stone and turned it into a piece of jewellery at Treak Cliff Cavern, spent two days e-biking with PeakePedals, fitted in a few hikes and ate my way through more pub lunches than I’d like to admit. I’ll be writing more about that trip in my Becoming a Travel Writer series later this month.
I also dropped into the Adventure Travel Show in London, picked up a handful of new story ideas and listened to some inspiring talks from adventurers such as Alice Morrison and Simon Reeve.
And finally, after sharing my annual expenses on LinkedIn, I found myself all over the news, which was quite funny.
There’s been some great conversations happening in the comments over the last month. Here are a few you might want to jump into:
I’m looking for hostel recommendations for people who don’t like hostels
What questions do you have about building a travel-friendly freelancing career?
Is there something you’d like to do alone this year? Add it here.
Also in this issue:
A course you might like if you’re interested in improving your video content
A great idea for an evening out that combines learning, conversation and a drink or two
Everything I spent and earned as a freelance travelling writer
Enjoy!
🌎 Where I went…
14 nights house sitting in London, UK
6 nights on assignment in the Peak District, UK (3 nights in an Airbnb, 3 nights free for my travel writing assignment)
1 night in a hotel in Sheffield, UK
2 nights in a hostel in Galway, Ireland
8 nights house sitting in Limerick, Ireland
🌟 What I loved…
The few videos I’ve shared on TikTok in the past haven’t been terrible, which got me wondering how much of an impact I could have if I actually knew what I was doing. I’m not interested in documenting every inch of my life. What I do care about is inspiring people to travel more, do things solo and not be afraid to live a slightly more unusual existence. So I signed up to Lana Kearney’s Content Club, and I’ve been really impressed. The course is affordable, packed with everything you need to know about TikTok, and comes with lifetime access to new modules, a supportive community and the chance to ask Lana questions directly. I’ll keep you posted on how it goes once I actually, you know… start posting.
I can’t believe I’ve never made the effort to visit the Peak District before! I absolutely loved exploring the countryside, along with all the cute and quirky towns and villages like Castleton, Bakewell, Matlock Bath, Cromford and Ashford-in-the-Water. I was surprised by how accessible it all was without a car. Between trains, buses, walking and cycling, it was easy to get around. Add in some great pub food and a stop at The Old Original Bakewell Pudding Shop for a sweet treat, and I was sold.
Adventures in the Peak District I ended up cutting my Peak District trip short by a couple of days. I’d planned to go stargazing, but the weather had other ideas. Instead, I headed over to Galway in Ireland for a couple of nights and stayed at a great hostel just a few minutes from the main bus station. Kinlay Hostel has really friendly staff, clean rooms, great Wi-Fi and a decent breakfast included, all at a really affordable price.
I haven’t actually been to one of these yet, but it’s very much on my list. Pints of Knowledge in London and the US equivalent, Lectures on Tap, both run evenings in bars where you listen to short talks, learn something new and enjoy a drink or two. If you’ve been to one of these, or know of any similar events elsewhere in the world, please let me know!
💸 What I spent…
With all the travelling around the Peak District and Ireland (plus all the eating out), I thought I’d have spent way more than I did.
Here’s how January’s spending turned out: