Break Into Travel Writing From Home
Modified from a post from 2008.
What some people seem to forget is that no matter where you live, people visit. Even if you haven’t been outside your hometown, you can break into travel writing.
First, research the markets. Major newspapers and glossy magazines are difficult to break into with no or little experience. Start small to build up a portfolio and save the “tougher” publications for later. Your local newspaper is probably the easiest one to approach since they often have more space for freelance writers.
Think about the town or city you live in. Every place generally has something that attracts visitors. Brainstorm; find something you’d feel passionate writing about. Are there any popular events or festivals where you live? Any famous sights or attractions? Perhaps your local restaurant serve an unusual or delicious specialty? Or, if you live in a town surrounded by vineyards, write an article on where to attend wine tastings and savor local wine.
Quotes are a perfect way to make your travel story fresh and original. If you opt for the wine angle, contact a wine expert for a short interview. You can easily find an expert through The Premiere Online Experts Directory.
If you have no idea what to write about, contact your nearest tourist office for free tips and brochures. Most tourist offices have media pages on their websites where you can find story ideas. Keep in mind that a destination is not a story. Come up with a unique and interesting angle.
Don’t forget to study professsional travel writers’ work to get a feeling for how to mix facts with history and personal observations. Inspiration is great because it can help you finding your own voice, but imitation is not. Trust your own writing ability and keep going until you get there.
Great article Erica.
I don’t think I would ever become a published travel writer, as my spelling and grammar can be bad at times, and that’s why I blog, because you can tend to get away with it a little.
Become an authority on your niche.
I think this is important if you want the media to publish your content or even quote you. I am a believer that if you write unique, interesting content people will link to it.
Thanks Darren,
Well…I think if you really would want to become a published travel writer, it’s possible to polish up things like spelling and grammar. Anyway, blogging is great!
Good advice Erica. A topic that can always be updated and added to.
Where do you publish your work? I would love to read some of it.
Cate’s last blog post..A discovery just around Hong Kong’s corner
Erica,
That is a great idea about getting quotes and I never saw that expert page before. Thanks. Also, I haven’t tried audio but I know some people find they get good traffic by having audio on their sites.
Deb
Deb-Off Airport Parking’s last blog post..Gatwick Airport in London:Transportation Plans
Thanks for the tips Erica, love the idea of an experts for hire site!
Fiona Leonard’s last blog post..An Oasis in the Big Bend
@Cate, I’ve mostly been freelancing for different local newspapers here in Sweden. Am working towards doing more in English.
@Deb, Audio is a really good idea. Thanks for mentioning it. Might give that a try. I’ve seen more and more bloggers featuring podcasts on their blogs.
@Fiona Leonard, I’m glad to hear you like the tips!
Great tips Erica. I like your comment about quotes. I often use quotes to illustrate my point when writing.
Carrie’s last blog post..Slums Around the World
@Carrie, Same here, but not so often when blogging.
If anyone’s interested, here are two more sites where you can find experts:
http://www.allexperts.com/
http://www.refdesk.com/expert.html
I tend to forget about the beauty of my surroundings; we often fail to recognize or truly enjoy the sights we see every day. I find I’ll take pictures of scenes or places that I *could* have seen at home if I had made the same effort at home that I do while away…
@Taylor, That’s so true. When we’re familiar with something, we often stop noticing it. It’s a challenge to see sights we’re used to with ‘new eyes’ every day.
I like what Thoreau said: “I have traveled extensively . . . around Concord.”
People think of travel writing as the sort of thing you venture to exotic locales for (and sometimes it is). But you can do it (and probably make more money in the process) writing about a place you already know well: your home area. Thanks for that reminder, Erica.
Spot Cool Travel’s last blog post..5 Cool Cargo Ship Cruises
Hi there Erica,
Great advice to encourage people to write about places close to home as a starting point for becoming a published travel writer. If readers want to learn more about stay-at-home travel writing, they should take a look at pages 54-56 in my book, Travel Writing – a Guide to Research, Writing and Selling (Writer’s Digest Books) or Travel Writing – See the World, Sell the Story.
I like your blog layout with the icons next to stories. Keep scribbling!
L. Peat
p.s. The ‘stay-cation’ is popular with newspaper editors during economic downturns.
Here’s my blog now….http://peatoneil.blogspot.com/
@Spot Cool Travel, Hi Will. I also like that quote by Thoreau and, like mentioned, travel writing can be done from everywhere.
@L. Peat O’Neil, Hi there. Thanks for you comment!
Hi,
I am interested in Travel writing but dont know whom can I approach for the same. I want such job as I cannot go out to work and if I have to sit at home and work than travel writing is something I would love to do. Please help me
@Rajanigandha Wagh, The Travel Writers Life has a great resource, ‘Where to get published archives’, where you can find out what editors at different publications and websites are looking for. The link is http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/where_to_get_published/
But even if you’re writing about travel from home you obviously need to go out and discover your local area(s). If you prefer to only write from home I would suggest another type of freelance writing.
If you have any other question, don’t hesitate to comment again.