We had the fortune of speaking to Emily Luxton for a travel blogger of the week interview. Here is what she had to say:
1) Where can we find your blog and what is it about?
Travel of all kinds. I have a strong focus on solo female travel, and that encompasses general advice as well as inspiration and personal stories. I like to share the way travel can change you, and focus on self-improvement a bit too. As a secondary focus, I try to promote slower and deeper travel which is more about getting to know a destination – through food, culture, and local experiences.
2) How long have you been blogging?
Over six years now! I first started my blog (emilyluxton.co.uk) in March 2012 – and so much has changed since then!
3) What was the main reason you started to blog?
I wanted to be a travel writer from an early age, and several years ago a friend of mine suggested I start a blog as a way to practice writing and build a portfolio. I never intended for it to become a full time business – I just wanted to write stories about travel and share my love for the world with other people!
4) Where do you get your content inspiration from?
From everywhere! I get inspired by the places I visit and the people I meet – the colours, sights, and sounds of a place, and especially the flavours. In terms of my writing style, I’m inspired by my favourite travel writers – people like Kira Salak, Paul Theroux, and Michael Palin.
5) What are your travel plans for 2018?
I have some really exciting trips coming up over the next few months. They include Singapore, a Scandinavian cruise, St Lucia, and possibly Canada too. I’m also hoping to arrange my own trip to Tokyo – but I need to find a gap between all the work trips.
6) What are the biggest challenges you face when blogging? Any advice or tips for others?
For me I think time management is a big one. I’m not great at being my own boss – always too quick to give myself an afternoon off or decide to let my to-do list run over to the next day. Procrastination is also a killer for me. My tip is to use the Pomodoro technique, working for 25 minutes at a time and taking a five minute break between each session. I’ve found that really helps me focus and avoid distractions. Oh, and if you’re writing – turn off your phone or put it in a drawer!
7) Describe your dream holiday!
That’s a tough one – my answer would be different every day, depending on my mood. My main travel dream at the moment is to revisit Japan. So I think my dream holiday would be to spend a week in Tokyo, exploring the food and the crazy culture there, before taking a rail trip across the country to see some of the other prefectures. I’d climb Mount Fuji, visit the mountain onsens, do some hiking in the forests, visit that cat island, and then head back to Tokyo for another week of ramen, shopping, and partying.
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You can keep up to date with Emily on Twitter here.