Whatever You Do, Don’t Become a Travel Writer: Day 11 of 30w30d
11. Sep, 2009 
24 Comments
This post is part of 30 Ways in 30 days to Redesign Your Life and Travel the World. This series seeks to give you the practical, real world steps you need to take to get from wherever you are, to exactly where you want to be– traveling the world and living the lifestyle you want.
I’m addressing this in a separate post because this question was one of the most common emails that I received about this series.
Want to travel the world, write about it and get paid all at the same time?
Of course you do! The connection is obvious, you’ll combine two things together and you’ll have an advantage because you’re already traveling. The problem is, it’s obvious to everyone. And there are a lot of travelers.
The same phenomena happens in the small business world. Everyone loves food. So why not open a restaurant? The answer is that the skills needed to cook a great meal or host a dinner party are not at all the same ones needed to run a restaurant. You’re working on razor thin margins. You need a mercenary’s command of budgeting and your staff. Yet, year after year, thousands of people open their first business as a restaurant and most of them fail. Why? Because they had no business owning a restaurant.
The same can be said about travel writing. Loving travel and being good at writing about it are not the same thing. Are you meticulous? Do you like to research? Can you write at a professional level? Would updating a guidebook and running around a city 12 hours a day making sure that phone numbers and maps are correct make you happy? Are you willing to spend 20 hours researching and writing a piece for $50 in the beginning? Have you ever worked in the industry before?
Most of the travel writers that you read in magazines have been doing it for over 5 years.
Other people, like myself, who find a way to make a very modest living between writing and blogging have a prior history (and trust me, I’m no role model for success). I was an editor in high school. I had my first piece published at 15. In college I co-founded a writing society and was chosen to met Allen Ginsburg. After college I worked in a publishing house for a year. After that I learned about web technologies and can write HTML, CSS, Javascript and PHP. I have had blogs since 1999. Two years before I started this site, I wrote a novel (unpublished). These things don’t matter, no editor cares about them, but I’m trying to illustrate something. Most of the travel writers I meet have similar pasts– maybe it’s a PhD or a prior career as a textbook editor. The point is that any prior experience really does help. Some people make it look easy– until you find out they have a MFA in creative writing and four years at a magazine under their belt.
If you want to do it, absolutely, go for it. I just needed to get it on the record: if you’re picking travel writing because it’s a quick or easy way to make a buck, you’re mistaken.
Now, if you still want to become a travel writer, there are just seven pieces of advice:
- Write about your hometown first and get as many published clips as possible. Do this is well before you begin traveling.
- Join Media Bistro and read all their articles before you start pitching publications.
- Write every single day. Writer’s block is a myth. You’re a professional.
- Write broadly until you figure out your voice, your niche and where you want to be. (That means work-for-hire if necessary, even if it’s corporate).
- Plan your articles before you travel, not after the trip. Try to get as many assignments before you leave as possible.
- Reach out to people to get feedback on your writing and start a blog.
- Don’t forget: the industry is small. Try not to burn too many bridges in the beginning with your newbie ways.
Then prepare to spend all of your free time writing, researching, reading about writing or thinking about it. Are you suitably scared off yet? Good! This is a good thing. Next week there will be a post about 101 things you can do to make money and still travel the world, without being a travel writer.
What an incredibly useful post, thanks for the tips. I’m currently working as a full-time writer for a company and, in my free time, writing as a freelance. You’re totally right – if you want to make it as a writer, you have to write, write, write and then write some more.
Vera´s last blog ..from the kiwi DIY to the DIFMP*
“Write every single day. Writer’s block is a myth. You’re a professional.”
You are certainly proving this true!!! Loving your 30w03d series!
After videoblogging for a while, I’m dabbling in the writing world myself now. My advantages; I definitely have a niche, an interesting story to tell that is directly useful to the reader, and the social networking tools to spread it. My disadvantages; as you say you need to actually be a good writer and I have no experience or training in this. I have been keeping my readers’ interest, but I always feel that my articles are too long, and I can’t seem to cut them down. I’m slowly getting there!
Thanks for sharing
I’d add a few things to your list.
- Read the publications you want to write for – obsessively. Try and learn to think like the editor
- Spend a LOT of time trying to generate ideas
- Pitch, sell, pitch, sell.
If you can’t generate great ideas and you can’t sell. Forget it. I always say to people, it helps if you can write – but being a travel writer is actually about having great ideas that are totally on target for a publication and selling them.
jeremyhead´s last blog ..We’ve STILL no idea where to go
Well said. I’ve written a few blog posts about travel writing tips (http://1001freelancetravelwritertips.blogspot.com). But my first tip to anyone wanting to become a travel writer is either “don’t” or “make sure you can write”.
I think you have to be a writer first, then a travel writer, rather than a traveller, then a writer.
David Whitley´s last blog ..Green travel: Did many travellers care in the first place?
I remember once bringing a room to a standstill when I suggested to a bunch of expeditioners that the first criteria for those wishing to be travel writers was writing ability. None of them had thought beyond their own amazing adventure to their ability to put it on paper and tell a story. There is an astonishing amount of bad travel writing around. You need the professionalism, the sales drive, the grit, determination, ability to live on next to nothing, but ideally, you should also have talent.
You totally hit the nail on the head with this post. It amazes me how many people think that they can just dive into travel writing without any kind of experience. Not only do I believe that you need basic writing and reporting skills, but you also need confidence in your writing and the ability to organize and juggle various stories at once. Oh and if you’re afraid of rejection, travel writing (or any sort of writing) is not for you.
Fly Girl´s last blog ..Jorge Amado’s Brazillian Brillance
Wise words.
And yes, overwhelmingly YES on the time it takes to get somewhere, in almost all cases. (The fast track super-writers get publicity because they’re exceptional). I’m part-time freelance and it’s taken me 2 years to get to this stage (plus amateur blogging for 3 years previously) – with the eventual aim of f/t digital nomadism, but still with a long way to go to get there. It’s a long road.
As Melissa says up there – “the ability to live on nothing”. You probably won’t be rich, and definitely not initially. Few perks. it’s a job that sometimes *has* to be its own reward, and you have to accept that. Sometimes, it’s thankless. The only thing that can sustain you is the thrill of doing something you can’t imagine not doing. If you don’t get that thrill or if you can easily imagine doing something else…you’re running a big risk with your life.
Also – do you really want a beloved hobby to be a job that sometimes you *will* hate? Because that’s the test of true love/obsession. It’s a job. It will sometimes turn round and bite you, and you will bleed. A lot. If you’re once bitten, twice shy, you’ll be unhappy being a travel-writer. Fact.
Mikeachim´s last blog ..What Is A Staycation?
I’ve seen advertising for many travel writing courses that make it sound like high-paid gigs will just fly into your inbox. Thanks for providing a reality check on what it takes to be a travel writer and to be successful at it. It’s not something that just “happens.”
The last couple of years on the road have been an exploration of skills and whether I want to (or have it in me) to turn hobbies into professions. I enjoy writing and traveling, but I’m not a professional travel writer and don’t think I ever will be. I also love photography (and think I’m pretty good at it), but I don’t think I’ll ever be a full-time photographer. That’s OK though. I’m learning how to combine my skills into new services I hadn’t thought of before. There are other ways to earn some money on the road…as you’ll tell us next week…but it all takes a lot of work.
Audrey´s last blog ..The Golden Plaintain Awards: Best of Central American Food
Audrey,
I’d argue that for most people a travel writing specific course is too narrow. Start with the book “On writing well”. Maybe take a writing or journalism class. To me a travel writing class would be best for a journalist trying to branch out– they already have the basics covered. Alone, I doubt it could cover enough to bring someone from no experience to being published.
I have one of those histories you mention, and I’ve managed to publish 1 travel article in the past 2 years. Of course, I haven’t been trying to do that all the time, but I agree it’s a tough business. Thanks for this advice, and I’m looking forward to the upcoming post on other ways to make money.
The advice about Media Bistro is really good. I read their How to Pitch Sunset magazine article and learned several things that never would have occurred to me. It’s well worth the $60 or so it costs per year.
Beth Partin´s last blog ..Denver Museums: Hidden in a Library, Part II
Oh, and you’re probably too modest to say this, Christine, and this will sound sycophantic of me (sorry) – but I’d definitely recommend any fledgling writers come here and have a read through. You have a very level-headed, very practical guide and it’s a terrific resource. So that’s number 8 on your list.
Mikeachim´s last blog ..Opera Mini 5 and Skype Mobile: How They Shamed Me
HI Christine – I am loving this series of posts, they are practical and tempting. Thanks for posting them! Looking fwd to the ones that are to come.
Travel writing is hard hard hard hard work. I am doing my posts much more journalistically now and it takes a lot of work writing down prices and roaming the cities…and I’m not even doing it at guidebook level yet!
I wanted to be a travel writer but realized that I didn’t want to run around a city 12 hrs a day writing down phone numbers…
Nomadic Matt´s last blog ..The Weekly Photo: Cloud Forest
Love the practicality here. Keep a look out for the margins in anything you’re going to take on. Well said! Looking for viable easily managed location independent business models is a core of my lifedesignproject right now and this confirmed something I already suspected, don’t travel and right unless I’m ready for a long slow build up and writing classes.
Robert´s last blog ..Calm before the Automation Storm | What’s Up
Thanks for another great post in this series. I appreciate your candor with regard to the travel writing courses, though I do think there is a benefit to them in terms of building one’s network. I’m still in touch with a local travel writer whose 1-day course I took through the local Arlington, VA adult-ed course. We loosely stayed in touch and he was able to offer me some guidance from time to time. I wouldn’t write such courses off completely
It didn’t take long for me to look around Media Bistro when a friend recommended it to sign up for their annual membership. I’m planning to take a How to Pitch an Editor class in DC this October.
Dave´s last blog ..Travel Video – Kathmandu Street Scene
Dave– I didn’t write off travel writing courses! I just think if you’re starting you should probably learn the basics of writing and journalism first… which by the way, I bet that course at Media Bistro isn’t travel writing related, but “how to pitch” anyone.
Yes, I think you’re right, however it caught my eye because the instructor is a travel writer: Carl Hoffman is a contributing editor at Wired and a contributing writer at National Geographic Traveler.
Living near the HQ of National Geographic has its perks!
Dave´s last blog ..Travel Video – Kathmandu Street Scene
Sounds awesome! Let us know how it goes!
That was a real bit of sound advice I was looking for. I aspire to be a travel writer and your article has provided me the right direction. Thanks!
Can I say Amen and Hallelujah to see a post about travel writing that focuses on the second and not the first word in that phrase? I started blogging about travel because I love to travel – and because I’d written a book that I couldn’t get published. It’s always been about the writing first for me – travel just happens to make a very convenient subject since I do it all the time.
I would add that I always enjoy your writing – it’s clear, thoughtful, and has a strong sense of voice. That’s what keeps me coming back to your blog.
Mara´s last blog ..Mondays are for dreaming: Tea, peace, welcome, Vermont
I’m happy this is the first place that says that travel writing is not amazingly easy. Lots of travel writers wnat to sell a book telling the story about how we can be like them, just reading their tips. Personally I hate this, and prefer pure travel blogs.
Mochilero´s last blog ..ViajarSinDest: Quiero vuestra opinión sobre los posts de http://www.ViajarSinDestino.com , pensáis que son interesantes e informativos?
Excellent post. I have been going through MatadorU travel writing course (I am not going to promote it until I complete the course) and it’s quickly dawned on me how hard it is to make any form of money as a travel writer.
$25 for something which takes hours of research, fact checking, time to write, edit, check, find a suitable photo, your own inspiration and effectively taking away original content from your own website is not a economical way to raise funds to travel.
Even pro guidebook writers get about $5-10k for completing a popular book, that’s a few (5-6) months work and it’s not a regular income either.
AdventureRob´s last blog ..10 Great Markets for your Travel Writing