Travel Writing Tips
December 10, 2008 in Travel writing
Since committing myself publicly to travel writing, I’m constantly being asked, “Is that your real hair?” But more importantly, I’m often asked, “Can you really make a decent living as a travel writer?” The short answer is, yes. It’s not easy, and it’s not always profitable, but it can be done. I recently attended a travel writing class where I picked up a few good tips that can help even the most neophyte writers find a way to make a few dollars with their writing.
Look into magazines first
Writing magazine articles is probably the most flexible way to go. Magazines generally pay more per word than newspapers or websites, and the word count is a fraction of what a book would require. Plus, there are travel magazines for every taste and type of travel. But don’t forget about non-travel magazines that cover some aspect of your trip. Is there a magazine that might want an article about the exotic food you ate or the whitewater rafting expedition you survived during your trip?
Know the market
Once you’ve chosen a magazine (or newspaper, website, etc.), make sure you’ve read a few of the back issues to get an idea of what type of material they publish. Conde Nast most likely won’t publish an article on how to see Paris on $4 a day, and Islands won’t publish an article on riding the Trans-Siberian Express. And Sunset definitely won’t accept short fiction about time-traveling vampire cowboys. (Not that I know from submitting such a story to them–twice…) Get a feel for the tone of the magazine and the audience they cater to.
Here’s a list of 15 Paying Travel Magazines.
Once you find a market you have a story idea for, you need to have more than just a story. You need to–
Have an interesting angle
Editors want more than “How I Spent My Summer Vacation”-esque narratives. Pick an aspect that fits your market and their audience. Is it the food? The people? The scenery? The nightlife? If you’ve read a few issues of your target magazine, you’ll see plenty of examples of how a story can be written.
Get the most mileage from your trip
One of the best ways to make decent money from one trip is to use different aspects of your trip to create articles for different markets. Going to Egypt? Write one story about visiting the Great Pyramids, another on ten ways to save money in Cairo, and a third about Middle Eastern cuisine. The same story can even be reprinted or recycled for different markets (but make sure you only let one market publish it at a time).
Ask first, then write
Most people want to write about their trip after they come back. If you’re feeling especially productive, why not contact the market(s) you wish to write for and ask them first if they’d be interested in your story? Not only will you be more aware of how to plan your trip, but the publisher might offer to kick in for some of the expenses. Or the editor might ask for a story with a different angle, thus increasing the chance of accepting your article.
You might also–and here’s where the travel writer fantasy begins to meet reality–be able to get a discounted rate for airfare, hotels, etc. (Although check with the publisher first to see if they approve; some publishers forbid freebies and discounts for their writers, others are happy for you to accept.)
Take good notes
Once you get there, take plenty of notes. Collect brochures, menus, flyers; talk to the locals to get good quotes; take pictures to help remember visual details; keep a notebook and pen handy at all times; get names, addresses and phone numbers for everything. Gathering a lot of information will not only supplement your pre-trip research and give you a wealth of details to choose from for your article, it will also provide material to reminisce over when you remember your trip years from now.
For more information on travel writing and the nuts and bolts about the writing process, submitting an article, and knowing your rights, check out two indispensable books:
Editor’s note: We recommend the MatadorU Travel Writing Course and recommend you look into it. We’re consistently impressed with the material we’re seeing from alumni.
Questions? Suggestions? Success stories from this advice? Leave a comment!
This article was written by Dave Prine
Dave Prine studied in Germany and fell in love with the people and languages of Europe. He's currently planning a round-the-world trip but keeps getting stuck on which direction to go. In the meantime, you can check out his travel blog and his language blog if you have any recommendations.
Since November 2006 the Indie Travel Podcast has evolved into an independent travel hub with regular audio and video podcasts along with articles by travellers from all over the world. 
Hosts Craig and Linda Martin started travelling in February 2006 and have been to over 50 countries. They were 
Craig and Linda said on December 10, 2008
Thanks Dave – some really good ideas here.
One thing I find hard is that, as a nomad, I have nowhere to file realia – things like brochures and menus bring back amazing memories but they’re impossible to carry around. I’ve experimented with scanning them, but it really seems like the tactile experience of holding them is so important to memory.
Any suggestions on this?
Julie said on December 11, 2008
Thanks for this article– really good for aspiring travel writers.
I’d like to know your assessment of the travel writing course. Highlights? Lows? What could have been done better and was the course worth what you paid for it? Finally, was it online?
NewWrldYankee said on December 13, 2008
Gosh, travel writing sounds like quite the endeavor – almost as much as traveling itself! I’d love to hear more about where else you’ve written. And how did you get into travel writing in the first place?
dave prine said on December 20, 2008
Craig–Thanks for the kind words. As far as picking up brochures, menus, and other paper mementos, I usually try to mail whatever I want to keep long-term back home. Usually, it’s not too expensive–cheaper than sending home the bulkier (and often less gratifying) souvenirs. I tend to carry the really important papers with me to avoid postal mishaps. If I just need the info for research, I usually just scan or photocopy the relevant items, or I’ll just jot the relevant info in my notebook. This way I can lighten my load, especially when the items start to pile up. You can always stash extra items in Linda’s pack when she’s not looking. Just make sure you get them before she finds them.
Hi Julie–The class I took was through MediaBistro, and it was Advanced Travel Writing with Jay Cooke from Lonely Planet. I met Jay when he and other Lonely Planet folks (including Don George) passed through my town for an informal travel chat. Jay seemed really open to answering any questions and helping out however he could, so I was excited to take a class with him.
The class itself was extremely motivating. It bypassed all the tips I’d heard in many intro classes, and Jay talked more about a writing schedule and how to send out pitches. In fact, much of the info in my article stems from what I learned in the class. High points: a small class (9 students) which made it a more casual and personal experience; an extremely down-to-earth teacher, and a lot of info given. Low points: the classroom was in the basement of a gallery, but apart from a few distractions (staff passing through, great weather outside) it wasn’t so bad; I wish the class could’ve been longer; the class is in San Francisco, so out-of-towners have to make extra effort (although I was able to make a nice weekend trip out of it).
The class was worth the $100 I paid, although being a MediaBistro member knocked $25 off the original price. And to be honest, I can’t think of what could’ve been done to make the class better, especially since it was very interactive and spontaneous at times. This class is being offered again, as is the intro class, which I suspect covers the basics. Check out http://www.mediabistro.com for more info. Tell them Dave sent you. (They will have absolutely no clue who you’re talking about.)
Hi, Yankee–Thanks for the comment. I got into travel writing (and I’m still really just starting out) after living abroad and falling in love with the idea of being a professional traveler. I have yet to find a way to finance my trips with my writing, but I’m getting closer, and I’m learning more about the business. Mu resume is scant right now (an article with Transitions Abroad at
http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0605/studying_language_abroad.shtml
and Learning Life magazine, a story in Europe From a Backpack, a several posts here at ITP), but I’ll be submitting regularly in 2009 with hopes of being more in print and online. (Whoops, now that I said that, I suppose I’ll have to follow through!)
Also in 2009, I’ll be revamping my derelict blogs with more posts. Feel free to check out http://www.daveprine.com for more info in the coming year.