Hi, I’m Rae Poynter, and I’m on a mission to live a wild and creative life.

I’m a freelance writer, tea enthusiast, author, and travel lover living in the northernmost tip of Minnesota.

Northern climes have a spirit that feels like home. From the quiet pine forests of the Boundary Waters to the misty hills of Scotland, these quiet and chilly places take me back to both the peaceful and courageous life I long to live.

I haven’t always had that soul-satisfying life I wanted to live. Like many, I started down the pre-paved road that many of us are expected to follow, the one governed by security, conformity, and never questioning the lifescript.

Then one day, like waking out of a dream, I suddenly stopped and wondered: How did I end up here?

I’d been living a life of predictability: in a city I didn’t care for and with a career path that I just couldn’t bring myself to be passionate about.

I found myself at a crossroads: I was at the intersection of the easy road and the road I longed to travel. It felt like it was now or never, and I had a decision to make.

And so, I packed my bags and moved to my new home, a cabin that sits deep within the Superior National Forest.

I said goodbye to the safe career path and decided to take the plunge on my long-held love for writing.

In short, I decided to live the life I’d imagined. The life I actually wanted.

When I started Northernwords, I wanted to create an online space that reflected the real-life values that I care about most.

I believe in observing and creating, in heartfelt exploring and dancing and sucking the marrow out of life.

I believe creativity should grow honestly, organically, and with much love, and that any piece of writing here, from published works to reader comments, should reflect that.

I believe that discovering our true selves often means setting out into the wild and throwing out societal expectations that hold us back.

Today, I’m on a journey to continue discovering the authentic life I’ve always longed for.

I’m on a mission to embrace my writing passion and turn my dream of being a writer into a reality.

Welcome to adventure.

Welcome to creativity.

Welcome home.