Copywriting, Depression and Travel – 2016 Year In Review

Copywriting, Depression and Travel – 2016 Year In Review

Table of Contents

If you’ve visited my Start Copywriting blog recently, then you may have noticed that it has been over a year since I added ANY new content.

That’s right – no new videos in over a year!

So, what happened?

The truth is that 2016 was a bit of a roller coaster for me, with many changes happening in my life (good and bad). And these changes took my focus away from publishing new content on the Start Copywriting Blog.

As I look back on the crazy year that was, I decided to write this deeply personal blog post and share my journey with you. As you read the post below, you’ll learn about some of my highs and lows, which include…

  • Depression
  • Starting a TV show
  • Moving to a foreign country
  • And much more…

Now here’s the good news…

Despite my absence from posting on this blog, I really do love creating and sharing valuable content with you, my subscribers.

My goals, which I’ll share in more detail at the end of this post, include sharing a ton of new content, resources and tools to help you become a better copywriter in 2017.

So stay tuned for that!

Here is my 2016 year in review…

Web TV Show ‘Write For Business’

 

In April of 2016, I was invited to host a Web TV show called ‘Write For Business,’ in a professional studio and for a global audience.

It was a BIG opportunity and I was definitely excited.

In our first meeting, the producers of the show asked me to prepare content for twelve, 45-minute episodes. As a public speaker, I know how much time and preparation goes into creating content for just one presentation. So, the idea of creating twelve episodes felt like a daunting task.

Luckily, I was able to invite my friend and experienced copywriter Kate Toon to co-host the show with me. Kate is an amazing presenter and agreed to share the responsibility of creating content for the show. Before I knew it, we were shooting our first episode!

Kate and I had a lot of fun filming and shared a lot of laughs and banter in between takes. If you want to check out a behind the scenes video from our first day of shooting, then click here to watch the video.

Loneliness and Depression

Photo source / credit Edward Honaker

I want to talk about something that many freelance copywriters never really talk about. And that’s loneliness and depression.

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I’m generally a friendly, positive and optimistic person. If you’ve watched my Youtube videos, you may have even had that impression as well.

But if I’m completely honest, for most of 2016, I wasn’t happy.

Everyone talks about the upside of being a freelance copywriter. You get to work from home, be your own boss and choose your own hours. Don’t get me wrong – these are definitely perks I’ve enjoyed for over 12 years now.

But what a lot of freelancers fail to mention is the downside of freelancing. Some of the disadvantages of being self-employed, which I’ve personally experienced, are:

  • The isolation of working alone
  • Negative clients
  • Slow months and variable income
  • Long hours and working on weekends
  • Self discipline and motivation

Being a freelance copywriter means you’re responsible for everything that happens in your business. You have to wear many hats and, at times, it can feel overwhelming.

And even though I’ve made a good living as a freelance copywriter, for over a decade, it doesn’t mean I’m immune to the downsides that come with our profession.

I was starting to feel depressed.  

I was no longer happy spending my days working from home in isolation. I began to yearn for the social interaction that comes from working in an office environment, around other people.

Even though I lived in Sydney, which is one of the most livable cities in the world, with a population of 6 million people, I still felt alone. I worked from various cafes around the city, but I still felt bored and restless.

I was ready for a new challenge and adventure.

One night, as I shared my frustrations with a friend over a glass of wine, she asked me a question that would change my life:

“But you could work from anywhere, why don’t you live and work in Thailand?”

I’d visited Thailand a few times before and fell in love with the people, amazing food and laid-back lifestyle. I was ready for an exciting adventure, and relocating to Thailand would definitely provide that. Before I knew it, I was packing my bags and making plans to leave Sydney for the foreseeable future.

On July 28th, 2016, I flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand. It’s one of my favourite cities with its sunny weather, friendly people and beautiful countryside.

I Moved to Chiang Mai, Thailand!

Doi Inthanon in Chiang Mai Thailand – Credit Lonely Planet.com

Moving to Thailand was THE best decision I made in 2016. I went from feeling lonely and depressed living in Sydney, to feeling happier than I have felt in years!

I was so excited about moving to Chiang Mai that I recorded my first day in this video

I’ve been living in Chiang Mai for 6 months now. And while I do miss my friends and family back in Sydney, I feel much happier here. What’s so great about living in Thailand? Here are the top 4 reasons why I love living in Chiang Mai:

1. The supportive community of ‘digital nomads’

One of my biggest fears of moving to a new country was that I would continue to feel isolated. I’m excited to say the exact opposite has been true, thanks to the thriving ‘digital nomad’ community.

Chiang Mai has become the go-to destination for online business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers from around the world. This community is known as ‘digital nomads’ and there are thousands of them living in Chiang Mai.

For the most part, the community is supportive, welcoming and friendly. There are networking events, meetups, dinners and activities happening every day in Chiang Mai. I’ve met lots of like-minded people (and quite a few copywriters!) and have made quite a few friends here.

2. Friendly Thai People

Thailand is known as ‘The Land of Smiles’ because of the warm and friendly Thai people. It’s not uncommon for total strangers to smile at you on the street. I’m not sure if it’s the sunny weather, laid back lifestyle, culture or their Buddhist religion, but Thai people are incredibly friendly and welcoming people. It’s an absolute honour to be living amongst such positive people.

3. Delicious Thai Food

Thai food is internationally famous. Whether you enjoy spicy, sweet, sour or salty, there is a flavoursome dish on the menu for everyone. My favourite dishes are Pad Thai noodles, Khao Soi, and Massaman Curry.

If you get bored of eating Thai food, there are literally hundreds of restaurants serving western food as well. And the best part is, the cost of eating out is so ridiculously cheap, it doesn’t make sense to stay at home and cook.

For example, the average cost of dinner for two at a decent restaurant is usually between $5 and $8! Of course, you can always eat at fancy restaurants and spend much more.

4. High standard and affordable cost of living

The cost of renting an apartment back home in Sydney, Australia is expensive. For example, if you wanted to rent your own 1-bedroom apartment in a nice neighbourhood, you’d be looking at spending between $650 and $1,000 AUD per week.

However, the cost of renting a 1-bedroom apartment in the popular and trendy Nimman area of Chiang Mai is surprisingly inexpensive, in comparison. You can rent an apartment from as little as $150 AUD per month!

In the video above I give you a tour of the apartment I rented for 5 months. It’s a 1-bedroom, fully furnished apartment with modern amenities (air con, flat screen TV, washing machine, kitchen, etc). It’s located within a five minute walk from the Nimman area and it cost me just $550 AUD per month!

My Goals For 2017

I’ve got big plans for 2017.

My goals include sharing a ton of new content, resources and tools to help you become a better and more successful copywriter in 2017.

New Start Copywriting Website (and fresh content)

Start Copywriting feels a bit outdated and is in need of an update. I’m currently working with a web designer to give the whole site a fresh new look. I’m also editing lots of videos from various presentations I’ve given on copywriting, which I will be uploading to the blog soon. So keep an eye out for new videos and posts!

60-Minute Copywriting Software

For the last 6 months, a team of software engineers and I have been working on a brand new copywriting software program. This is something I’m truly excited about.

The software allows anyone, even people with NO copywriting experience, to create professional, engaging and unique website copy in 60 minutes or less…

I can’t say too much about it yet. But I plan on releasing the copywriting software within the next few weeks to a handful of beta testers. As a subscriber to my newsletter, you’ll be the first to know about it!

Copywriting Community

Another project I’m excited about is building a private copywriting community. It’s going to be a supportive and welcoming place where you can connect with top copywriters, business owners and online marketers. You’ll be able to share your copy and get immediate feedback and advice on how to dramatically improve it.
I’ll also be uploading new courses and training inside the member’s area, too.

What about you? What are YOUR goals or plans for 2017? Let me know in the comments below. I\’d love to hear from you and I read all comments posted here.


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About Jesse

About Jesse

Hi, I’m Jesse Forrest! As an 18-year freelance writing veteran, I’ve worked with clients in over 153 industries, covering almost every topic imaginable. Passionate about helping others break into freelance writing, I’ve trained over 35,000 people, including teams at Chanel, Disney, and Sony. For the past 6 years, I’ve traveled the world with my trusty laptop, currently residing in Thailand. To kickstart your freelance writing career, download my free guide:

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