Become a Travel Writer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0I0OGYh1Bchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0I0OGYh1Bc
Great Tips on How to Travel and How to Write About Your Experiences
Becoming a travel writer is a dream for many, blending a love for exploration with the craft of storytelling. While the reality often involves a lot of hard work and pitching, here is a comprehensive guide to help you get started:
Phase 1: Develop Your Craft and Mindset
The foundation of a travel writer is strong writing and keen observation.
- Read Widely and Constantly:
- Study professional travel writing in magazines, newspapers, and blogs (e.g., Condé Nast Traveler, National Geographic Traveler, Matador Network).
- Analyze: What makes a successful article? Look at the structure, the voice, the use of sensory details, and how the writer goes beyond a simple itinerary.
- Identify Your Target: Find publications whose style and tone you’d like to emulate.
- Practice Writing Every Day:
- Keep a Journal: Focus on capturing sensory details—the smells, sounds, textures, and moods of a place. This is crucial for creating a vivid “sense of place” in your work.
- Write with an Angle: Move beyond a travel diary. Every piece needs a hook or a unique angle (e.g., “The best coffee shops for remote workers in Lisbon,” or “How a small Argentinian town is preserving ancient weaving traditions”).
- Self-Critique: Be constructively critical of your own work. Good writing is often about good editing.
- Hone Your Essential Skills:
- Be Observant: A great travel writer notices the small, telling details that others miss.
- Be Resourceful: Learn strong research skills to dig out facts, history, and unique local perspectives that aren’t in guidebooks.
- Be Flexible and Adaptable: Travel rarely goes perfectly. Being able to roll with unexpected changes and even turn them into a story is a major asset.
- Learn Photography: Most publications require high-quality photos to accompany your text. Being able to provide your own professional-looking images significantly increases your hireability.
Phase 2: Build Your Portfolio
Editors hire based on what you have already written. You need a portfolio of published work to be taken seriously.
- Start a Travel Writing Blog or Website:
- This is your online home and an immediate publishing platform. It shows editors you are serious and can write consistently.
- Treat your blog posts like published articles, focusing on quality, clarity, and your developing voice.
- Write “Close to Home”:
- You don’t need a passport to start. Write about your own city, neighbourhood, or region. What’s a hidden gem? A local festival? A unique food scene?
- Pitch these local stories to local or regional publications (newspapers, city/regional magazines). This is often the easiest way to earn your first professional byline.
- Guest Post for Established Blogs:
- Reach out to well-known travel blogs and websites in exchange for a free byline. This helps you build credibility and get your name in front of a wider audience.
Phase 3: The Business of Pitching
Once you have a few polished travel writing samples, you can start pitching editors at larger publications.
- Find Your Travel Writing Niche:
- Specialization helps you stand out. Are you interested in sustainable travel, food and drink, adventure sports, budget backpacking, or history-focused trips? Focus your pitches accordingly.
- Know the Publication:
- Read the Magazine/Website: Never pitch a travel publication until you have read several of their recent travel articles. Understand their typical story lengths, tone, and what they cover.
- Check the Masthead/Guidelines: Find the name of the correct editor (usually the Travel or Features editor) and follow all submission guidelines precisely.
- Craft the Perfect Pitch (Query Letter):
- A pitch is a brief, compelling email proposing a story idea. It should sell the concept, not the destination.
- Structure:
- Subject Line: Clear and enticing (e.g., “Pitch: The Artisans Reviving Ancient Indigo Dyeing in Rural Japan”).
- Hook: Start with an engaging paragraph that immediately grabs the editor’s attention and presents the core idea.
- The Angle: Clearly explain the unique focus of your story. Why should their readers care now? What makes your perspective different?
- Your Qualification: Briefly state why you are the best person to write this story (e.g., “I will be in [Location] from [Date] to [Date] and have already arranged interviews with…”)
- Bio & Samples: Include a short, professional bio and links to your three best published clips/portfolio pieces.
- Be Persistent and Professional:
- You will receive many rejections or, more often, no reply at all. This is normal. Successful travel writers are simply the ones who keep pitching.
- Follow up: Send a polite follow-up email after two weeks if you haven’t heard back.
Phase 4: Beyond the Freelance Travel Article
Many travel writers diversify their income.
- Guidebook Writing: Major publishers (Lonely Planet, Fodor’s, Rough Guides) hire freelance writers to research and update sections of their guidebooks.
- Content Writing: Write articles, web copy, or marketing materials for hotels, tour operators, cruise lines, or destination marketing organizations (tourism boards).
- Travel Blogging/Affiliate Marketing: Build a loyal audience on your own platform and monetize through ads, sponsored content, or affiliate links (commissions for recommending hotels, gear, or tours).
- Book Deals: A successful writing career can lead to opportunities to write non-fiction books, essays, or memoirs about travel.
