Articles About Travel

Getting Started as a Travel Writer: Basic Tips on What you Need and Dont Need to Begin your Journey

What does it take to effectively start your path toward becoming a freelance travel writer? What skills, experience, tools, education, and temperament are best suited for success as a travel writer?

The requirements to begin your career in freelance travel writing are pretty basic.

Most of us have heard the slogan from the popular athletic shoe maker – "Just Do It". That's applicable here. You've just got to start writing. If you aren't interested in writing, if you can't discipline yourself to write regularly, then you shouldn't try to be a travel writer. Yep, that's the hard truth of travel writing – you do have to write. But you don't have to write a novel, you just need to take notes, observe, and write regularly.

You need to have an opinion, a voice. As you regularly write about your travels, or just your daily experiences, your voice will begin to develop in the words you put on paper. By nurturing and developing that voice, the articles that you submit will stand out and be more interesting. Editors will be more likely to take notice and publish your work. Tell the reader what you really think! (Well, within reason)

Working hand in hand with the emergence of your written voice are your powers of observation. When you walk down the street near you home, try looking at it like you're a visitor and have never seen it before. What things do you notice that has escaped your attention in the past? Learn to exercise your powers of observation every chance you get. Watch people, notice the subtle changes in the afternoon light as summer turns toward autumn, take nothing for granted.

You now have gotten into the habit of writing regularly, you're developing a unique writing style and voice, and expressing that voice with your thoughts and observations of the world around you. You've got a good start on becoming a successful freelance travel writer. There are a few more things you'll need to complete the picture of an aspiring travel writer.

You need to be able to do some research. These days, most of your pre-trip research can be done online in the comfort of you own home. But you don't necessarily need a computer, you can always go down to your local library to do your research. But research is a must. For instance, if you're planning a trip to Costa Rica, you'll want to find out the basics like climate and weather, population and culture, main tourist attractions, principal industries, government, and any additional information that may be pertinent to what you plan on writing about. You want to get a feel for the country or region and its people before you leave home. After you've arrived at your destination, you'll want to seek out the unique and interesting aspects of the area and its people. Try to find things that the average tourist would find interesting and unique – dig a little deeper. Seek out and talk with the locals, read local newspapers, arrange to interview people that can help bring your articles to life – business people, historians, tour operators - Or perhaps just the person on the street to get some of the local color. The more research like this you can put together the more saleable and unique your articles will be.

The last thing is a willingness and desire to learn. Read books and take a course on travel writing. Many good books are available on the subject. There are college level courses available as well as some excellent home study travel writing courses.

You'll want to get your hands on as much travel writing as you can. Subscribe to one or two travel magazines, read the travel section in your local newspaper, buy travel books. Find out what editors are looking for in a travel article. See if you can spot the basic structure of a well written travel article. In particular, pay attention to an article's lead; how does it draw you in? How well does it state its theme? After a few sentences, are you motivated to read any further? After the lead and theme are established, how well does the article prove that theme and paint a picture. Do you have a sense of place as you read the body of the article? Again, is the writer drawing you through the article in an interesting and compelling way? If so, how is he doing it? If not, what is lacking? Finally, how well does the writer bring the article to a close? Does he effectively reflect on the lead and restate the theme? Does he leave you with an urgent feeling inside of you to visit a destination or try an activity or find out more?

The elements described above comprise the basic structure of what most editors are looking for in a travel article. Learn to spot what works and what doesn't. You'll find that once you start looking at travel articles with a critical eye, you'll start thinking like a travel writer. Before you know it, you'll get your first byline and editors will start thinking of you as a travel writer as well! Your journey has begun!

What You Don't Need...

You don't need a degree in journalism or even a college degree at all (though both those things certainly don't hurt either!). Editors aren't going to ask to see your diploma. What they want to see are well written articles appropriate for their publication and submitted within the stated submission guidelines. You can learn how to do that without stepping inside a college classroom. (But remember, taking a home study or other type of course on travel writing can be a big help).

You don't have to spend a lot of money. All businesses require some investment in both time and money to get off the ground, including freelance writing. But you don't need to spend a fortune. Invest in some books, a travel writing course, and investigate some other resources available to travel writers like publisher databases, websites, etc. (find out more about these resources at www.TouristTravel.com/travel_writers_wanted.htm), but save your money so you can eventually travel to exotic locals rich in fodder for your travel writing.

But remember, you don't really even need to travel; everyplace has a story to tell. Many are lucky enough to live in or near a popular tourist destination. Local excursions and your own personal knowledge and experience can easily form the basis or your travel writing career.

So there you have it, some of the ins and outs, needs and don't-needs that will get you started on your own exciting path toward freelance writing success!

Happy Trails!

Tom is a freelance travel writer, copy writer, and web publisher. His popular website TouristTravel (http://www.touristtravel.com) features a section of resources for both beginning and seasoned travel writers. Tom lives and works in San Francisco and is a member of the Bay Area Travel Writers Association

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Journeys Travel Insurance Announce Partnership with The Global Travel Group
The Global Travel Group have appointed Journeys Travel Insurance, the parent company behind insuremore.co.uk as their preferred supplier for international travel insurance. Amongst other reasons, they were said to be impressed with the automatically included terrorism insurance and the ability to settle a claim over the internet for an instant decision. The partnership follows Journeys Travel winning the coveted "Best travel insurer" at this year's Globe Awards.

Travel Insurance When Pregnant Or Traveling With Children
There was a time when pregnant women would avoid traveling altogether, but these days women don't let pregnancy stop them from going abroad and having fun. Only you can decide whether the pros outweigh the cons when travelling while pregnant or with small children.

SATH Selects Travel Insured International As Its Preferred Travel Insurance Partner
SATH, the Society For Accessible Travel & Hospitality, has named Travel Insured International as its exclusive, preferred partner in providing travel insurance plans to SATH members, guests and partners.

Leading Travel Insurance Comparison Site launches Plans From Travel Insurance Services
Squaremouth, the industry leader in travel insurance comparison shopping today adds Travel Insurance Services products to its lineup.

Travel Insured International Introduces New Travel Insurance Plans with Stronger Benefits, More Insurance Options
Travel Insured International (www.travelinsured.com), a leading provider of travel protection plans for travelers, has unveiled a new trio of travel insurance plans under the company's popular Worldwide Trip Protector brand. The new plans, with stronger benefits and several new options, include Worldwide Trip Protector, a comprehensive travel insurance plan for broad protection of most travel itineraries, Trip Protector Gold for luxury-minded travelers, and Trip Protector Lite and Lite Expanded for budget conscious travelers.

Journeys Travel Insurance Win "Best Travel Insurance Provider" at Travel Bulletin's 2007 Star Awards Ceremony
Journeys Travel Insurance have won the "Best Travel Insurance Provider" at this year's Travel Bulletin Star Awards for the fourth time. The company attribute their continued success to their new initiatives not only to Journeys but also to Insuremore, their commercial worldwide travel insurance company. Both are continuing to innovate with new measures recently introduced including terrorism insurance and instant web travel insurance claims. For more information about Insuremore, please visit http://www.insuremore.co.uk

Travel Threats Announces Initiative to Increase Safety and Security Awareness for Students Traveling Overseas
Travel Threats Student International Travel Safety (SITS) Program raises the knowledge level of students travling abroad concerning threats within countries being visited.

TRAMS Expands Product by Adding Squaremouth as First Travel Insurance Comparison Solution for Travel Agents
Squaremouth, a leading online travel insurance comparison site, today announced its technology solution has been added to travel industry software provider TRAMS' product offerings. Travel agents using TRAMS Live Connect will now realize a greater product selection, increased sales, preferred supplier customization features, real time reports, saved customer quotes and more.

Discount Air Carriers And Discount Air Travel Transforming The Air Travel Industry
Why the Discount Carriers are Winning

Cheap Travel Insurance: Why You Need to Be Covered When You Travel
If you travel often or book family holidays, youýll have been offered travel insurance Maybe you didnýt see the need at the time to pay for the extra insurance, and maybe you made a good call

Squaremouth Travel Insurance Comparison Site Features New Travel Insured Product Enhancements
Squaremouth, the fastest growing travel insurance comparison site, today unveils a trio of travel insurance plans from Travel Insured International.

Squaremouth Announces Travel Agency Partner Program for Travel Insurance
Squaremouth announces travel agency partner program for travel insurance. Online travel insurance comparison site offers agencies commission & personalization.

Travel Insurance - Gap Year And Backpacker Travel
There are many hazards and dangers that gappers can encounter if they don't do their homework and plenty of research before setting off. Many of us wish we could blaze a trail across new frontiers, but the reality is that someone has already been there, done that, and got the tee shirt. Nevertheless, it's a good idea to network with those who've gone before you and take advantage of their knowledge.

Travel Tours And Travel Insurance
If you are thinking of taking a vacation but you are not sure whether to take out travel insurance or not then this article is for you. Here you will find out the reasons why travel insurance is often an essential for every vacation that you take which will hopefully help you to understand whether or not you need it.