6 Tips to Be a Successful Travel Writer

08-23-2013

 

However, the difference between an enthusiastic response to your content and a tepid one can determine if you're able to write full time or relegate it to a hobby. Here are some of the things aspiring travel writers can do to maximize their odds for success:

Read Good Travel Writing

Start by doing your homework: read the most highly-regarded travel writing around right. Lonelyplanet.com and Fodors.com are good places to start, but be sure delve into some of the lesser-publicized travel writers as well. Many of them have fiercely-loyal followings due to a strong voice and style. The idea is not to copy them, but get a sense of how you might contribute to travel writing in a unique way, as they have.

• Nomadic Matt: One of the original travel bloggers, his main goal is to provide budget travel tips so his readers can travel longer, cheaper and smarter. His site features destination reviews, resources and plenty of personal stories.
• Uncornered Market: Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott are a husband and wife team that travels "deep and off-beat" to explore and connect the world through meeting people, eating great food and having adventures.
• Alex in Wanderland: Alex is a New York native who caught the travel bug early and took off for Asia right after finishing art school. She is a freelance writer, artist and designer who supports her travels by working on projects while out on the road.
• The Everywhereist: Travel blog of Geraldine DeRuiter, a Seattle resident who, after years of staying behind while her husband traveled around the world for work, got laid off from her 9 to 5 job. She decided to start following him around and writing about it. Her blog is laugh-out-loud funny and offers a slightly edgier approach to travel writing.

Write Every Day

Work to hone your craft every single day, even if you don't yet have any steady clients. Strive to get better and better at the mechanics of writing and master the different techniques for storytelling and relaying anecdotes. Join a writers’ group or find a writing partner so that you can exchange constructive feedback with other writers.

Start Your Own Travel Blog

In the past past, travel writers were subject to the moods and whims of book and magazine publishers. Not anymore. Thousands of writers now write primarily for their own online travel blogs or websites. A regularly updated blog can lead to print gigs, book deals and free travel. Blogging software like Blogger and Wordpress can help you get your blog started for free. Consider monetizing your blog with Google AdSense, banner ads and affiliate programs, and you could start earning money from your travel writing right away.

Network Both Online and Off

Be sure to let everyone you know you are now a travel writer — you just never know what opportunities word of mouth could lead to. Use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and the other social media platforms to connect with readers, other writers and editors.

When Traveling, Stay Safe

When you do venture out for parts unknown, always exercise common sense and good judgment in every scenario. While most countries will offer a friendly and welcoming experience, some areas are more prone to crime and fraud than others. Watch your alcohol consumption and enlist a guide for uncharted areas. Signing on for an identity theft protection service like LifeLock can help keep your identity safe in the event that your credit cards or ID are stolen. If you do experience an incident while abroad, be sure to report it.

Cultivate Good Instincts and Trust Yourself

Legendary travel writer Robert Reid has said that while talking to locals can be far more enriching than touring "badly lit history museums," the best travel writing resource will always boil down to you. Ultimately, good travel writing comes from your voice, your instincts, and your heart. Put those things first, and you've got a chance at a long and storied career.

 

 

 

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