Hemingway self published his first book, and he worked for years as a news reporter before he took the leap into publishing his fiction. Learning to write is a process, like building a muscle. It takes practice. Learning to write for magazines will allow you make a living overseas; and that is the first step to being free and being a writer.

Roger Gallo comments: You want to live overseas. You want to live free. You want to be your own boss and keep your own hours. The question is how do you make a living.
The first answer that comes to mind is writing. At least that is the first answer that came to my mind. How did I do it? I wrote a book. The book turned into a website that turned into a magazine that turned into a number of products and services that cater to individuals who want to live overseas.

Am I a genius? I can assure you that I am not. My writing is rudimentary, but my concepts, more often than not are sound and people react to what I say. Out of my rudimentary writing and my rather bizarre art work I have managed to develop one of the top ranked web sites on the internet.

How? The answer is that I provided content. Content equals ideas and people are hungry for ideas, especially ideas that increase their freedom and their lifestyle.

I was never a great writer. I struggle when I write, and I'm never sure that I don't sound like a fool. But I studied what good writers and writing teachers said and than I adapted what they said to my own pursuits. I created my own style, but before i did that I learned the rules so I would know what rules to break.

Early on I made the statement that anyone who has the brains to teach English as a Second Language has enough brains to learn to write stringers, articles and reports. I have not changed my mind about that. If you want to make a living overseas you can do so if you can write. You probably won't get rich, but than again, you might.

Jo Pariftt, the author of Definite Articles: How To Make Money Overseas As A Writer, presents an outline of what it takes to get started as a writer. If you couple this report with putting words on paper, you will be able to write good enough to make a living overseas.

Writing is a good way to make a living. It takes practice, but it can be learned, just as one learns to tie their shoes, or stand one leg. It isn't an automatic process, but what is? If I hadn't taken the chance on my own non-professional writing I'd still be flipping burgers. (Actually, what I did was design and build Artist Lofts, but compared to the freedom I now enjoy my years of designing and building Artist Lofts looks like flipping burgers when viewed in retrospect.)
Learning to write requires learning some basic rules. To be a great writer takes years and it isn't something that anyone can do; being a good writer, good enough to make a living at it is however something that can be learned. But you do have to learn the basic rules and then apply them until you learn how and when to break them.

This report by Jo Pariftt is precisely about learning those important rules written by someone who has been a journalist for over fifteen years and has had hundreds of articles published all over the world.  When somebody knows the territory; pick them for your guide and you'll get to where you want to go.

" I truly enjoyed your class and I would be interested in doing another workshop in Belgium with you in the future. It was very inspiring. You are a very hard working woman with lots of energy. Thanks again for all your inspiration ". Lisa Jacobi Baqai, Brussels.

I thought it was a wonderful course! Sharon Metaxas, Brussels.

Thank you for the inspirational workshop! Your sense of humour and warmth made it a very special learning experience for all of us. I also appreciate the attachments you sent us: they are good guidelines and examples to use. Now I have an idea of how to approach editors, the possibilities seem unlimited, and I am confident I can turn my writing into a career. Julia Bradley, Maxomi, Amsterdam.

My fire has been lit! Thank you. In particular, I really benefited from the exercises. There is something invigorating about looking at an idea, then taking a contrasting idea and finding a story there. Wonderful! Pamela Ettlin, Brussels.

Many many thanks Jo, I loved the course. I've even dug out my favourite old Fountain pen, got myself a new notepad and started speedwriting in the mornings. Susan McCammont, London.

I feel like a queen with my own jubilee. Beth Koestal, Brussels.