The WMF Archives

By Rebecca Sebek

Travel writing is a niche market that has exploded is the last couple of years. If you have a passion for travel and writing, you could marry the two and become a travel writer. You may believe that writing travel is difficult, but breaking into travel writing is easier than you think.

Many travel writers begin by writing about where they live. For example, if you live in Phoenix, Arizona, drive out to the Grand Canyon and explore every inch of the magnificent park. Be brave and take a white water rafting expedition down the Colorado River. Your travel article will be of interest to someone in your state or country. The words your write could entice someone from Paris, France to visit the Grand Canyon. You could have a significant impact on your part of the world!

How to get started

Getting started in travel writing is easy. The first step is to setup a blog using Blogger, WordPress.com, or WordPress.org. These are free blog websites. Note: WordPress.org requires you to have a domain name. Once you set-up your blog, you can begin writing about your favorite travel destination, adventure travel, women’s travel, men’s travel, solo travel, or whatever type of travel you enjoy.

When you begin in travel writing, choose a “niche” market. Being too broad can drive visitors away from your website. After all, you want visitors to know and understand what it is you’re writing or blogging about on a daily basis. Plus, it can be a challenge to be everything to everyone.

Tip: For your website, choose a pleasing color scheme, add media such as graphics, videos (short form content is best), podcasts, and write posts on a regular basis. If you can’t post every day, three times a week will be fine. Google loves to see content on a website – unique content is king.

After you got your feet wet with a blog, you can contact your local newspaper editor and ask if they’d be interested in your travel articles. Some newspapers have shrunk or gone under, but you can still find open markets. Make sure you include a photograph with your travel article. If you don’t, the editor will ask you for one.

Another way you can get started in travel writing is to go on media trips. Sometimes you must pay for the flight, but you can receive vouchers for hotels and resorts. You may not get paid for the trip, but you’ll be able to list the credentials on your website and meet other travel writers. Media trips can put you in touch with other travel writers who can give you advice with your travel writing. You could run into travel editors who can give you pointers on how to get published in magazines and newspapers.

Travel writing is a learning experience

Travel writing has many forms. You could write guidebooks, memoirs, journals, blogs, magazine and newspapers articles, and travel literature. It’s a good idea to read the works of other travel writers. Well known travel authors are Paul Theroux, Bill Bryson, and many others. Read travel writing books such as L. Peat O’Neil’s See the World, Sell the Story or Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Writing. You can also take classes and workshops to hone your travel writing skills.

Travel writing is fun, but it’s also a learning experience. Traveling can teach you about yourself and the world at the same time. You’ll travel to far-off destinations and meet people you never thought you’d before in your life. You may not make a ton of money at first, but travel writing will open the doors for many other writing opportunities. It can take you places and broaden your horizons at the same time.

Travel writing will touch the depths of your soul; it will make you question your belief systems. You will view the world from a different perspective and think twice about what you read and hear in the media. You will never be the same – you’ve been warned!

Imagine Yourself as a Travel Writer