Blog Hop: Behind the Scenes with The Travel Hack

The lovely Char Taylor from Taylor Hearts Travel has nominated me to take part in the Blog Hop. It’s a chance for bloggers to show what’s going on behind the scenes of their blogospheres. I don’t know about you but I’m super nosy when it comes to bloggers and I love finding out how and where they work.

Here’s a little insight into how I work and I’d love to hear from you if your blogging process is any different.

Q1. What am I currently working on/writing?

As always, there are a million and one things on my to-do list. There are blog posts to write for clients and I’m working on a social media strategy for a new client.

On Thursday I’m working on a broadcast campaign about the hidden cost of holidays and I’m going to be interviewed for national media coverage. It’s exciting but I’m terrible on camera so I think I’ll be practicing in front of the mirror!

I’m finalizing the details for a few trips I have coming up and organizing a trip with my boyfriend and another with a group of girlfriends. I spent most of this summer in the UK so I’m making up for it this autumn!

I’m chatting with my logo designer as she’s creating a new logo for The Travel Hack. It’s about time the site had a proper logo and we’re creating one that reflects the tone and style of the blog.

And then there’s actual blog posts to write. I still have lots of posts to write about recent trips to Bruges, Dominica and Cyprus as well as reviews for new products I’ve been testing out.

I work in half hour chunks to stay motivated and get tasks done quickly. I have a love/hate relationship with this little clock.

Q2. How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre?

I aim to write blog posts that inspire wanderlust but also provide useful travel information. I want my readers to be able to recreate my trips for themselves. I share travel tips for everything from packing to survival guides to mini guides to destinations.

I focus on stylish adventure travel and affordable luxury. I find that lots of travel bloggers write about budget backpacking and lots write about luxury travel but it’s the middle market that most people are looking for. I’d love to be able to travel on a 5* budget all the time but, unfortunately, my bank balance doesn’t agree. The Travel Hack is all about affordable luxury. It’s about booking budget flights but splashing out on hotels and saving money in certain areas in order to treat yourself in others.

Louie usually sits on my lap while I work. It freaks me out the way he watches me type as though he can read.

Q3. Why do I write what I do?

Like most people who write, I write simply for the love of it. For me, there’s nothing better than having a busy day travelling and coming back to my hotel room for a cold beer while I write all about everything that happened. It’s a way to process my thoughts, think about what I’ve done and ultimately remember all those special moments. My favourite thing about blogging is reading through my old posts and remembering the good times.

Now that I blog and write for my career I need to keep it up to pay the bills but I’m sure I’d still be doing it even if I didn’t earn a penny.

This isn’t distracting….

Q4. How does my writing process work?

When I’m writing blog posts I try to write them as soon as possible. This often means I stay up late when I’m travelling and write from the road. I find it so much easier to write when my memories are clear. I do a lot of writing on planes and at airports and then edit and fact check once I’m home.

I find I have to be relaxed and in the right mood to write. This often means I’m writing late at night when there are no distractions or emails pinging around my inbox.

I prefer to write into a notebook and then type it up later but I rarely have time for that these days so usually type on my laptop or iPad.

If I’m writing a travel guide it takes lots of research and planning and can take days to write. If it’s a personal article I don’t plan it at all and usually sit down to write it when a thought strikes.

At the moment I have a list of around 100 blog posts I’m slowly working my way through. Some of these ideas are from travels I took years ago. Sometimes I wish I could stop time for a few weeks so I could stay at home in my PJs and just write blog posts until I’ve caught up! 

I love having flowers on my desk. This gorgeous bunch came as a little surprise from one of my besties in Australia.

To continue the BlogHop I’m going to nominate three more bloggers to take part.

Living in another Language

I’ve recently discovered this gorgeous blog by Amanda. She’s travelling with her husband and is currently in New Zealand. I love following the journeys of bloggers who have packed up everything to travel the world

Stamp in my Passport

My favourite blogs these days combine both travel and lifestyle posts and I love the way Jess mixes travel with general chit chat, personal thoughts, dreamy wish lists and motivation.

Rhyme and Ribbons

• Stylish outfits? Check
• Attempts to recreate the Great British Bake Off? (Best show ever) Check
• Tasty treats from around the world? Check
• Travel ideas around London and the UK? Check

Yes, I’m loving this blog and would love to find out more about Amanda.