Rob Goss
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robgoss.bsky.social
Rob Goss
@robgoss.bsky.social
380 followers 210 following 200 posts
Author. Writer. Haikuist.
From Devon. In Tokyo.
Owned by a shiba.
Bio, portfolio, etc at: www.robgosswriter.com
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robgoss.bsky.social
The mikan boxes have appeared in the local supermarket. It’s starting to feel like winter.
A cardboard box full of mikan (satsuma).
December 7, 2025 at 12:57 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Pausing the mentor sessions (see post below) as we wind down the year. Will start up again from late Jan. Thank you to everyone who signed up for a chat and donated to a good cause.
robgoss.bsky.social Rob Goss @robgoss.bsky.social · Sep 2
I'm opening my travel writing sessions again from October. Details in screenshots and link below. Briefly: one-to-one sessions in return for a donation to a good cause, whether that's related to Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, or something in your own community. www.tokyofreelance.com/first-friday....
Screenshot of a page of text. The text reads: What are the travel writing mentoring sessions like? A session isn’t one size fits all. It isn’t a fixed class. Each one runs for about an hour and the focus is up to the participant. Some people have wanted to discuss their freelance business plans or talk about how/what/who to pitch. Others have wanted to discuss specific pitches or get feedback on a writing sample. Some have wanted help building a strategy for transitioning from teaching to writing (like I did), or for going from writing for Japan-based media to writing for markets overseas (like I do). A few have wanted to share the frustrations they’ve encountered and then get some advice. When a participant isn’t entirely sure what they want to focus on, I often send them this blogpost about freelancing, and then we can hone in on some of the points it covers. With a few emails or DMs prior to a session, we can find something to structure a session around. When and how are the sessions conducted? Each session is conducted via Zoom. They are one-on-one and last about 60 minutes. I’m based in Tokyo (GMT+9) and (when not travelling) can schedule sessions on weekdays between 8am and 5pm my time. You don’t have to be in Japan – people have done sessions from Australia, the UK, and the US. Screenshot of a page of text. The text reads: How much do you need to donate and to who? When I started doing these sessions, the deal was for participants to donate a fee of their choice to a specific cause (directly, not via me). The first sessions were related to humanitarian aid in Ukraine, the second group of sessions the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. Now that the sessions are monthly, you can donate to any charity you like (well, nothing MAGA related…this is about spreading positivity not hate). I can suggest a charity if you aren’t sure. How much? There is no fixed amount. If you can afford $100, that’s incredible. If $10 is a stretch right now, do $5. And it doesn’t have to be money. Last time, one participant decided to donate a few hours of volunteer work in their community. All that said, donations aren’t essential for everyone. Not all aspiring travel writers have wealthy parents who can support them through unpaid internships or provide a financial safety net during the early years of a career. Nor do we all have country club contacts who can fast-track a media career or a trust fund with which to launch our own indie magazine. So, if you aren’t from a financially privileged background or aren’t able to spare any extra cash, don’t worry about the donation. There’ll be plenty of opportunities down the line for you to do something positive for someone else in return. How to get in touch? You can DM me on Instagram or email me (see the contact page). It really helps me to sieve out the spam if you send a message with a bit of detail – just a sentence or two about your writing goals, for example, or your writing background (if any) so far.
December 6, 2025 at 6:56 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Major deadlines are out the way for 2025. Just a couple of quick research trips to do. So, I’m basically winding down for the year and thinking about the next books, projects, goals, and what-not. Clearing all the debris from my computer folders and desk. A year-end reset and refocus.
December 5, 2025 at 5:24 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Laptop stopped working on Thursday. Backup laptop’s screen broke on Saturday. Backup backup machine is so old it takes 30 minutes to start. Writing with an iPad while waiting for a new machine to arrive…it’s actually not that bad with a keyboard attached.
December 2, 2025 at 3:22 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
A brief work trip to Kumejima, Okinawa. Really lovely place.
Eef Beach. Apparently it’s on Japan’s Best 100 Beaches list. Japan is fond of those kind of lists… Roads lined with sugar cane fields. A bicycle in front of a coastal rock formation said to look like tatami mats. A sandbar and clear blue water.
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
The emotions of a newly empty nest can be wild at times. Sat in an airport lounge today, I saw a father and toddler in matching tee shirts, looking like they were off on an adventure. And suddenly, I nearly had to go to the loo to weep. Absolutely wild.
November 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Another writer asked me about avoiding isolation as a freelancer. It’s a good question. I’m a happy introvert, content with a degree of isolation. Events, networking, “grabbing coffee” aren’t my thing, although I enjoy online chats with other writers. How do others avoid or deal with isolation?
November 11, 2025 at 2:32 PM
robgoss.bsky.social
Weighty deadline made. If anyone wants me, I'll be...
Actually, I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next few days. After several weeks of intense book hustle, that is absolutely lovely. #writerslife
November 7, 2025 at 9:39 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
First half of my next book is due tomorrow. All it needs is a final readthrough and a few minor tweaks. A tying up of loose ends. Yet all I want to do is something else. Write #haiku. Outline another book. Clean the loo. Anything else.

deadline day
an overwhelming desire
to rearrange my desk
November 6, 2025 at 5:43 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
A busy day in the office…
A black and white dog (a kuroshiba) being an idle sod while its dog-dad scrambles to deliver the first half of a book on time.
November 5, 2025 at 2:53 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Hearing my own voice is offputting at the best of times, but listening back to interviews when I'm using Japanese is next level awkward. If only I had a pound for every naruhodo.
November 1, 2025 at 8:45 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Work updates are like buses. For a while, there’s nothing, then several come at once. So, I’m happy to say National Geographic’s annual Best of the World list is out today, with a bit of #Japan on it. My latest Lonely Planet is out too: a co-written book about bike rides in Japan.
A screenshot from Nat Geo, introducing a story about Yamagata Prefecture in Japan. The cover of a Lonely Planet book called Best Bike Rides Japan.
October 22, 2025 at 1:18 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
This October feels wetter than usual here in Japan. The last couple of work trips have been damp. Jogs are slippy. This morning, the hound’s damp towel has left the genkan with a sour air.

clearing skies
the dog
finds every puddle.

#haiku #haibun
October 21, 2025 at 9:50 PM
robgoss.bsky.social
Message to self: remember the sodding yeast.
A clump of cooked bread dough. Not risen because I forgot to put yeast in the bread maker.
October 19, 2025 at 11:58 PM
robgoss.bsky.social
Sorting through bookcases today, tidying them up, making piles of things for book swaps and recycling. And finding some bangers I’d forgotten I have. Like this:
Book cover of British Railways Locomotives. 1957. Two-page spread of steam engine photos. A very geeky list of 1950s British Railways shed codes.
October 19, 2025 at 4:33 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
A different kind of Friday today. Went to immigration to collect my new visa. Home for a few online chats with other writers. Then city office to update my MyNumber card. Now trying to do an international bank transfer for college fees and making a pig’s ear of it. Not written a thing all day.
October 10, 2025 at 7:46 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Some days it feels like my “getting ready to write process” is even less efficient than Neil in the Young Ones prepping for an exam. Clear the desk. Do some dishes. Check to-do app. Emails. Kettle on. Write grocery list. Make drink. Tidy a desk drawer. Etc. Etc. Etc.

youtu.be/7FtcW9u0GDE?...
The Young Ones - Neil's Exam
YouTube video by 053bss
youtu.be
October 4, 2025 at 1:29 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
If, like me, some of your copyrighted books were used without permission to train AI, the settlement website is now up. You can search to see what work was used and register a claim. anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
ANT Homepage | ANT
anthropiccopyrightsettlement.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:48 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
So I can write without the need to lug a laptop around, I got a keyboard for my iPad for work trips. Hound not entirely impressed, but hopefully it’ll be an ok setup for trains, planes and hotel rooms.
A black and white shiba (dog) looking at the screen of an iPad.
October 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
The following #haiku are brought to you courtesy of jetlag.

1 am
the caffeine-nap
bites back

2 am
the dog chases pigeons
in a squeaky dream

3 am
just darkness
creaking
October 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Back in Tokyo, back to writing, and back to doing these online chats about travel writing/feature writing. I have time to fit in a few more this month, if anyone is interested. Details in the post below. #writingcommunity
robgoss.bsky.social Rob Goss @robgoss.bsky.social · Sep 2
I'm opening my travel writing sessions again from October. Details in screenshots and link below. Briefly: one-to-one sessions in return for a donation to a good cause, whether that's related to Palestine, Sudan, Ukraine, or something in your own community. www.tokyofreelance.com/first-friday....
Screenshot of a page of text. The text reads: What are the travel writing mentoring sessions like? A session isn’t one size fits all. It isn’t a fixed class. Each one runs for about an hour and the focus is up to the participant. Some people have wanted to discuss their freelance business plans or talk about how/what/who to pitch. Others have wanted to discuss specific pitches or get feedback on a writing sample. Some have wanted help building a strategy for transitioning from teaching to writing (like I did), or for going from writing for Japan-based media to writing for markets overseas (like I do). A few have wanted to share the frustrations they’ve encountered and then get some advice. When a participant isn’t entirely sure what they want to focus on, I often send them this blogpost about freelancing, and then we can hone in on some of the points it covers. With a few emails or DMs prior to a session, we can find something to structure a session around. When and how are the sessions conducted? Each session is conducted via Zoom. They are one-on-one and last about 60 minutes. I’m based in Tokyo (GMT+9) and (when not travelling) can schedule sessions on weekdays between 8am and 5pm my time. You don’t have to be in Japan – people have done sessions from Australia, the UK, and the US. Screenshot of a page of text. The text reads: How much do you need to donate and to who? When I started doing these sessions, the deal was for participants to donate a fee of their choice to a specific cause (directly, not via me). The first sessions were related to humanitarian aid in Ukraine, the second group of sessions the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. Now that the sessions are monthly, you can donate to any charity you like (well, nothing MAGA related…this is about spreading positivity not hate). I can suggest a charity if you aren’t sure. How much? There is no fixed amount. If you can afford $100, that’s incredible. If $10 is a stretch right now, do $5. And it doesn’t have to be money. Last time, one participant decided to donate a few hours of volunteer work in their community. All that said, donations aren’t essential for everyone. Not all aspiring travel writers have wealthy parents who can support them through unpaid internships or provide a financial safety net during the early years of a career. Nor do we all have country club contacts who can fast-track a media career or a trust fund with which to launch our own indie magazine. So, if you aren’t from a financially privileged background or aren’t able to spare any extra cash, don’t worry about the donation. There’ll be plenty of opportunities down the line for you to do something positive for someone else in return. How to get in touch? You can DM me on Instagram or email me (see the contact page). It really helps me to sieve out the spam if you send a message with a bit of detail – just a sentence or two about your writing goals, for example, or your writing background (if any) so far.
October 1, 2025 at 12:27 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Hello jet lag. I nearly fell asleep in the supermarket queue. (Not a haiku…).
September 26, 2025 at 1:29 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Lovely morning back in the village.
The River Avon. Fallen apples. St Petroc’s church.
September 22, 2025 at 10:56 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
Walkies. In Cornwall for the weekend.
Cows in a field. Sheep in a field. A red Labrador playing with a new stick in a field.
September 21, 2025 at 10:39 AM
robgoss.bsky.social
I plan on writing about it properly at some point, but the brief version: saying goodbye to a child at uni is emotionally brutal. I had no idea when I was the teenager leaving home.
September 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM