Life changes are afoot!

For the first time in my life, I’m going to fully dedicate myself to creative writing. I’ve accepted an offer of admission to attend the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where I’ll start work on my Master’s of Science in Creative Writing degree (that’s right, people, I will be a full blown scientist of creative writing when I’m done).

I’ve put my notice in at work and the boat leaves for the UK on August 15 (quite literally, the boat – the Queen Mary 2, to be exact).

So what happens between now and August? Well, I start developing the habits of a writer – lots of reading, writing every day. But not before a little celebration first. The wife and I couldn’t possibly pass up an opportunity to mark this momentous life change without a good old fashioned right of passage.

Se we’re packing my crusty Nissan Versa up with the dog, a tent, a couple of sleeping bags and not nearly enough pairs of socks and going on a road trip across America from June 1 to July 6.

During that time, the wife and I are going to be blogging together on our new blog – The Travel Less Roaded, so please check it out and see if we’re dropping by a town near you. In July, jayhodgkins.com will be my full time writing home base.

Here’s to hoping a little life, love, the pursuit of happiness and some overseas education inspires plenty of enrapturing new prose. Until then, I’ll let the words of others explain myself:

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.” – Paulo Coelho

“Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.” – from Baz Luhrmann’s Wear Sunscreen