How to Sell Travel Articles

Writing travel articles may be one of the most enjoyable and potentially lucrative writing jobs you can find. You don't necessarily have to travel to exotic places to get started either. Sell before you write.

Instructions

1. Write a query letter to sell travel articles. You don't want to waste time writing about a place that no editor is interested in. Professional writers use queries to get writing assignments. Your query letter must state the topic you plan to write about, along with a few key points. Queries are not only professional, they create opportunities for writers and editors to team up on a subject and produce just the kind of article the editor needs.

2. Sell travel articles without hopping on a plane and spending a small fortune to research. There are places around your home town or 50 to 100 miles away (in many cases) where you may find interesting places to write saleable articles about. Make a list of places around your home that may be of interest to tourists. Request a handbook for tourists from your state's tourist board or chamber of commerce to get ideas about places of interest and calendars of events. Editors love seasonal and time-related articles.

3. Match your idea to a magazine and remember that travel articles don't necessarily need to be about places. Food that's unique to that area may be a good match for a culinary magazine. A magazine catering to nature enthusiasts may be a good match for articles on your state's national parks, camping facilities and hiking trails. Sell travel articles on nearby places to local publications. Readers who live just a couple of hours away from the destinations may read your articles in their local newspapers.

4. Take good photographs to go along with the place you write about. Your chances to sell travel articles improve when you sell a "package deal." Take lots more photos than you think you may need. Choose the best ones to submit with your travel article.