Our latest interview is with Solmaz Khosrowshahian from the very popular website The Curious Creature. I’ve known Solmaz for a few years now and I can honestly say that she’s one of the hardest working bloggers out there. I was going to say travel blogger, but one look at her site and you can see that it’s a one stop site for almost almost every imaginable topic. Besides travel you can find articles about food, unique experiences, mommy related articles, lifestyle, and many more.
Tell me a little about yourself, your background, life before blogging, etc.
I was born in Iran, raised in Kitchener-Waterloo and have lived in Toronto for the past 15 years. I’ve always been a sharer — the kind that drags friends to the places I love so they, too, can experience the magic. I get a satisfaction from doing this that is unsurpassed by anything else. I am a trained scientist, communications expert, mother, glutton, traveller and curious soul.
How did you start blogging?
People always sent me emails asking for travel and food advice. One day I was telling a friend that I spend a huge chunk of time sharing tips, itineraries and restaurant recommendations and she told me I should start a blog. I liked the idea because I’m long-winded and like providing context and photos for everything, but I worked as a spokesperson at the government of Ontario and it didn’t feel right to start a blog at the time. Fast-forward a bit: I left that job, started freelancing in PR and decided to start sharing stories on my blog (with no business intentions in mind). It took off and here I am five years later blogging full-time!
If you weren’t blogging what would you be doing?
I always wanted to be a chef. My immigrant parents squashed that dream long ago.
How many trips did you go on last year and what was your most memorable?
I went on over a dozen trips last year (which, believe it or not, is half the number of trips I went on the year before when I was pregnant). The most memorable was definitely Mexico City. It surprised me at every corner. It’s vibrant, lush, affordable, delicious, complex and the people are incredible!
I know you have a cute little baby boy, tell me about him and how do you balance travel blogging and mommy life?
I do! Little L is now 10 months old and not so little anymore — in fact, he’s starting to out eat his mom! He’s happy, curious and stubborn (not sure who he gets it from…lol). Balance is HARD, but totally doable. I’ve become really efficient since having him — it’s crazy how much you can get done when you have limited time. Most of my work happens after he’s in bed around 7 pm. Also, we gave up our personal space and shared our 700 sq ft condo with my mom for the first three months just so I could continue working — it’s a sacrifice that not everyone is willing/able to make, but it worked out great for us! They say it takes a village and it truly does. Without a supportive partner, grandparents and friends it would be impossible to do what I did/do.
I’m sure in the beginning you’ve done your share of writing pitches to PR companies. What’s the one piece of information that must be included in a pitch (other than the obvious)?
Not just the beginning: I pitch almost every day! That’s because I want to work on projects I’m passionate about and help shape. I think it’s really important to keep pitches brief. Having worked in PR on “the other side” I know exactly how many emails the reps get and it can be overwhelming. Just introduce yourself, give a few examples of your work and explain WHY and HOW you want to work with the brand they represent. That’s it!
What are your top 3 pieces of advice you’d like to share with new bloggers?
Find your voice, network and create content that makes YOU happy. I always say that I’m my own boss so I better be my BEST damn boss. That means saying no to opportunities that don’t fit/interest me, taking the time to enjoy the experiences (rather than trying to perfectly capture them) and practicing forgiveness and applauding myself for achievements (as I would with an employee). We tend to be super hard on ourselves and that negative headspace can create its own toxic work environment. Focus on doing you — in the era of social media it’s easy to get wrapped up in it all and start chasing other people’s dreams.
What’s on your travel bucket list?
Japan, New Zealand and Chile are top three!
What’s the most common misconception people have about travel bloggers?
That we just get “free” trips and spend our lives skipping down sandy beaches and relaxing at spas. It couldn’t be further than the truth (it’s rare for me to swim, sit on a beach or eat a warm meal during work trips). That’s because we are brought in by tourism boards/brands to WORK i.e. create content: photos, articles, videos etc. This means early mornings (like a 3 am wakeup call for a sunrise hot air balloon ride), dealing with unpredictable/crazy weather (there’s no — “oh, it’s too cold so lets not go skiing”), packed itineraries (which barely leave enough time for the washroom let alone shower), cold meals (because they need to be captured on camera), late nights (which means all the writing, editing and emails pile up) etc. etc. etc. Not to mention all the work before and after the trips (from joyous expense reports and teleconference calls to writing blogs and sharing/engaging on social media). Simply put: it is work. But I love it and wouldn’t change a thing!
I know you enjoy a good meal, believe me I can relate. What’s the best thing you’ve eaten on your travels?
Hands down a dinner at Guy Savoy in Paris. I can remember every second of that meal. It was beautifully orchestrated and truly a food journey. On the other end of the spectrum, I’ve also devoured some incredible street food around the globe. There’s good food everywhere — you just need to find it. That’s what I try to help with on my blog and social channels.
What has been your worst travel experience thus far?
There was a robbery and stabbing inside our accommodations in Nice when my girlfriend and I travelled through Europe. Blood everywhere and lots of violence so that’s definitely the uglier side of travel. It’s important to always be street-smart and aware of your surroundings when you visit any destination.
What’s next for Solmaz?
I’m going to amp up the local adventures this year. The more I jet around the globe, the more I realize the beauty right here in our own backyard. We live in an incredible country — one I’m proud to call home — so I can’t wait to explore every inch of it.
I want to say a huge thank you to Solmaz for taking the time to answer my questions. If you’re curious and want to follow along on her adventures you can find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or her website.
Stay tuned for another Travel Writer interview coming soon.
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