How to Break Into Travel Writing

A successful travel-writing career may pay for your future trips.

Travel writing is a highly competitive -- although not entirely impossible -- field for newcomers to break into. Although the top-paying slots are with premier magazines and consumer guidebooks, opportunities can also be found through blogging, publishing travel memoirs, contributing SEO content, newspaper travel columns, promotional materials for travel agencies, subscription newsletters and trip advisories for government agencies. Excellent communication skills and a passion for travel are a must. The talent to bring a fresh and unique slant to oft-covered topics is also beneficial in distinguishing yourself to editors.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Make a list of all the travel topics you are well qualified to write about. Examples may include places you have lived, worked or studied; knowledge of history, geography, customs, holiday traditions and foreign cuisine; and experience in the hotel, cruise or tourism industry.

2. Identify the travel niche that most appeals to you. Examples include day-trip destinations within your own region, business versus leisure travel, family-friendly vacations, budget travel, romantic getaways, eco-tours and campgrounds, resort destinations, cruises and specialty tours for singles, seniors, gays or solo female travelers.

3. Research which publications are the best match for your style and scope of travel writing and review their submission guidelines. Study past issues of magazines and newspapers to see what travel topics they have most recently published. Most editors prefer that the initial contact with new writers be a cover letter with a concise pitch that provides an overview of the story, your credentials to write it, the word-count and whether photographs are available. If you are writing a guidebook, research what is already on the market, when it was published and how you can bring a fresh slant to the topic.

4. Launch a travel blog on your own website and invite visitors to share their photos, advice and stories. Register with an SEO content provider to earn money for the travel articles you contribute. Network with fellow travel writers at sites such as BootsnAll Travel Network, the International Society for Travel Writing and Written Road (see Resources). Query your local newspapers whether there would be an interest in publishing your travel articles or giving you a weekly column.

Tips & Warnings

• Having outstanding photography skills will increase the value of your travel articles. Always carry photo release forms if your shots feature close-ups of individuals. You should also ask if you are allowed to take pictures, especially in museums, private homes, places of worship or venues where security is an issue.

• Your dream goal may be to become a regular columnist for an upscale travel magazine. In the meantime, though, work on your portfolio by selling articles to smaller travel magazines, online publications and general interest magazines that have sections dedicated to travel topics.

References

• "Secrets of a Professional Travel Writer: A How-To Guide for Writers"; Cindy-Lou Dale; 2009
• "Travel Writer's Guide"; Gordon Burgett; 2002
• "The Travel Writer's Handbook: How to Write - and Sell - Your Own Travel Experiences"; Louise Purwin Zobel, et al.; 2006

Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook 2010-11
• BootsnAll Travel Network
• International Society for Travel Writing
• Written Road
• Travel Writers Exchange: Top 10 Travel Writing Jobs