What You Need to Know to Become a Travel Writer

What You need to Know to Become a Travel Writer

9/18/2020

Image Credit: Erik Mclean @ Pexels.com

By William Ballard

Many of my friends -- those who tend to work in offices, firehouses, newsrooms, universities, and churches -- often ask me if travel writing is a "real job"... or is it just simply an excuse I use to leave town and get away from it all every now and then.

My response: Albeit, it is quite an enjoyable job, it most certainly indeed is a job ... one that requires hard work and much dedication.

With that said, it's important to make this clear from the outset, as a travel writer, you will have to spend many hours with your bum in a chair and your fingers typing away on a keyboard, however.

Of all the kinds of writing you could be doing, such as writing novels, or writing for scholarly academic type journals, or even writing marketing copy, I am persuaded that travel writing is not only one of the most fun genres of writing you can be doing, but it is also probably one of the most rewarding in terms of the quality of life it helps provide.

Here are a few reasons why

Why it's Possible to Be Able to Take ONE More Vacation This year &
Still Be Able to Justify it Economically

If you are like most Americans, especially those that work from paycheck-to-paycheck, perhaps you have already cashed in your one week vacation that your employer allows you to have every year. And, due to the recent pandemic, didn't really get the opportunity to go anywhere special.

And, if you happen to be one of the fortunate ones that didn't lose their job due to this worldwide situation, you may have put your one week's vacation pay away in savings just as a precaution in case things end up going south, which then leaves you with not much of a vacation at all.

Moreover, if you happen to have one of those jobs that took an immediate shift to remote work you might find it hard to explain to that voice in your head — the one that monitors your bank account — that you’re going to take another week off.

But consider this: What if you can make enough money writing and selling a story about your trip to cover the cost of a second "vacation" … that doesn't sound like a bad deal, does it?

To put this into perspective, consider this hypothetical: Let's say you and your husband spent a week in a small cruise ship on the waters off the Mediterranean, diving twice a day, sunning on the deck, eating meals prepared by the boat’s gourmet chef, and enjoying the company of a handful of fellow scuba diving enthusiasts. Almost sounds like an unbelievable dream, does it not?

However, before you booked the trip, and because you're a travel writer, you approached the travel agency that runs the program and was able to arrange a discounted rate for the all- inclusive "vacation." Then, when you returned home, you sat down to write an interesting and inspirational article about the unbelievable trip, and while you were at it, you were able to make a couple thousand dollars to help cover the costs.

With that said, once you have a few published stories to your name, which provides you as having a proven track record as a travel writer, you’ll be able to do the same sort of thing.

Plus, we haven't even touched on the possible deductions you could be making on your taxes for the “business expenses” that are associated with your travel and writing. In short, I encourage you to stick with me on my travel writing journey as I share with you all of these hidden tips, tricks, and strategies to make the most out of your trips and writing assignments.

Hospitality, VIP Treatment & Complimentary Trips
(How Travel Writing Makes it All Possible)

Image Credit: Courtesy of Ashlea over @ AGlobeWellTravelled.com

Now that I have painted an almost unbelievable picture, let me take a minute here to discuss why — and how — travel writers are able to take advantage of complimentary trips… meals… accommodations… tickets to shows… invitations to museum openings, and more.

It works because this is indeed a business, and one of the ways travel-related businesses "advertise" is by inviting travel writers to experience (often times for free) what they have to offer. Maybe that's a local tour, or an overseas cruise (such as the one I mentioned above), or could be a special event, or even a resort package, all in the hopes that you’ll have a positive experience and write favorable articles in magazines, newspapers, newsletters, or online.

The business rationale is this: The more positive articles that are written about a place, the more tourists are apt to go there. And more tourists obviously mean more money.

The bottom line is this: As you begin to get travel articles published, and as your name becomes known in the travel writing business and traveling industry, you’ll start to receive offers of hospitality. Moreover, with the more articles you write, the stronger your position becomes in order to arrange your own, reduced-rate or complimentary stays that are tailored to an itinerary that suits your travel article ideas perfectly.

Travel Writing Makes For a More Richer & Interesting Life

Now, the truth is, travel writing means so much more than just the freebies you are able to get. In fact, it is really more about seeing and experiencing the world in a whole new way.

You see, travel writing demands you pay greater attention to where you are at and what is going on around you, more so than you might if you were just passing through as a tourist. In other words, you must train yourself to notice the smells, the sounds, the tastes, the cultural differences… what people are wearing and what they talk most about.

To me, traveling and meeting new people is a part of personal and spiritual growth. You see, when I think about traveling I'm reminded of is The Prayer of Jabez. Jabez was a wealthy man, and some might say that by asking for the Lord to "enlarge his territory" he was a being a bit greedy and selfish, but that wasn't the case at all.

In fact, it was a request much like that of King Solomon when he asked the Lord to give him wisdom so that he would be able to judge and lead the people of Israel effectively. It was not a selfish ask, but a selfless request, and God noticed this when Solomon didn't ask for riches or other types of selfish desires.

With that said, by asking this, not only did God grant Solomon's request and made him the wisest man that ever lived, but He also, in turn, made King Solomon the richest man that ever lived.

So, going back to Jabez. What you have to understand is that Jabez was already a wealthy man. He didn't really need more riches or wealth. So, by asking the Lord to "enlarge his territory" he was not asking for God make him wealthier or to expand his estate, if you will.

No, what he was asking for was that God allow him to be of service to more and more people. To be able to have access to more people so that he could help them by being able to give more out of his abundance.

You see, to me, it’s this meeting people and uncovering universal truths and fundamental differences about destinations and cultures the world over that "expands our territory" and makes life more richer and interesting. It allows us access to more and more people that we may have never met otherwise, and allows us that much more of an opportunity to be able to serve those we may have never been able to reach.

An Expressive Outlet for Your Thoughts, Interests, and Opinions

Now, your initial dream of being a writer may be that of penning the next Great American novel and I encourage you to continue to pursue that, but understand that kind of project requires a long-term investment in time and creative energy. Travel writing, however, is a way to begin writing now, as well as, a way to start developing the habit of writing.

Moreover, like writing fiction, travel writing requires your thoughtful analysis, your opinions, as well as your creativity. So by writing travel articles you’re helping to make a habit of the same kinds of skills you’ll employ in those other kinds of writing, too.

However, travel writing, unlike those other kinds of writing, is more immediately rewarding. For instance, anyone who has ever published a book through the traditional route knows that once you have completed a book and turned it over to the publisher, you won't actually see your book in book stores until the following year.

But with travel writing, you pitch an article idea to a editor and get the go ahead to write, you write your article, you then submit it to the editor, and then maybe a month later or so, there in your hands is a published piece of your work with your name on it. And that, as any published author will tell you, is greatly satisfying.

To that end, I have several writing friends of mine who are in the technical writing space and write user-manuals for Microsoft as their primary source of writing income, while also working on their novel when they have chance. And I know of others who write articles for newspapers and magazines as a freelance journalist for their primary source of writing income, but then are also penning the last finishing touches to their next nonfiction book over the weekends.

And I know of many others who are like me and write marketing copy, which happens to be one of the most lucrative writing genres out there, while still finding time to work on our next book.

But, even with all that said, I can tell you that in terms of gaining that ultimate feeling of satisfaction, of success, of a job well done… travel writing wins hands down.

And, as I’ve said, the perks like free travel, or seeing and experiencing the world in a richer and more culturalistic way, as well as, working for yourself, come with their own set of rewards.

In Fact, You Don't Actually Have to Travel at All

Believe it or not, as a travel writer, the truth is you really don’t even need to travel, or travel much at all.

Now, you might say, "Well, what kind benefit is that? To be able to be a 'travel writer' but not really be able to travel? What's the fun in that?"

Well, you see, travel writing is something you can actually start doing right from your own hometown. You might say, "Well, how is that possible?" It's because your hometown is considered a destination to someone else. And who better to tell others about the hot spots of your hometown than you?

And check this out: Just as travel writing allows you to discover new places you typically wouldn’t find as a tourist, it can also allow you to discover your own hometown (and places nearby) in such a way you typically wouldn't habitually do as a local.

In other words, you go out in search of activities travelers would enjoy rather than your everyday frequent stops. Instead, you may make a point of going to see that visiting exhibit at your local art museum you've been meaning to check out. Or you make it a point to go experience that new jazz club that just moved into town.

Moreover, just as I stated before, as beginning to experience faraway places makes your life that much more richer, having that same insider’s understanding of your own home environment makes your everyday life that much more interesting and fulfilling as well.

6 Requirements You Need to Become a Successful Travel Writer

Image Credit: ThoughtCo.com -- ArtMarie/Gettyy Images

By now, you are more aware about the romantic appeal of travel writing. You understand the benefits it offers, such as the VIP accommodations, the opportunity to meet new people, the chance to see the world in a way that has never been seen before, as well as the ability to get paid while enjoying of these pleasures.

However, maybe you are asking yourself: Do I really have what it takes to be a professional traveler? Do I really have the writing chops to be the kind of travel writer that those in the industry are looking for? If those are your thoughts, you’re in good company. Because that was exactly what I was asking myself when I first started. And it is what most aspiring travel writers ask themselves at some point or another.

And ... guess what ... I don't just believe you have what it takes, I know you do!

You see, over the years, I’ve enjoyed a fair margin of success as a freelance writer, and I’ve worked personally with hundreds of writers — many of them new to the job. I’ve developed a pretty good idea — based on practical experience — about what it takes to “make it” in this field.

Many of the most successful writers I’ve worked with never had any formal training as “writers” per se. They didn’t have an MFA or degree in journalism or in English or in creative writing, and neither did they do much writing in their former profession -- other than the occasional email here and there. They simply had a passion for travel, had a good eye for detail, and had learned how to deliver a story just the way an editor or publisher would want it.

In fact, many of the students I've worked with -- prior to becoming a professional travel writer -- worked as financial consultants, freelance photographers, stay-at-home moms, real estate agents, retired elementary-school teachers, painters, ministers, security officers, and the list goes on and on.

The point of me sharing all this to you is this: Just as they’ve become successful, so can you!

Requirement 1: You Need a Desire to Become a Successful Travel Writer

It was Napoleon Hill who said, "The starting point of all achievement (success) is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat."

I have been researching and studying successful people for many, many years now. And every story of success that I have come across all started with a person who had overpowering desire to accomplish what they set out to achieve.

Now, really take a moment and look at what Napoleon Hill is saying. Notice that line about weak desire bringing forth weak results, "just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat." Let's say your goal is to produce heat. Well, as we already understand, a very small flame isn't going to produce much heat.

Well, the same is true for your desire to become a professional travel writer. A very small desire to do so will never produce the results you are looking for. If you really want to become a successful travel writer, you are going to have to light (and relight) that flame of desire for travel writing each and every morning.

Moreover, King Solomon also told us in Proverbs 22:29, "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings..." You see, not only do you need desire to do this kind of work (and all work, for that matter), but you also need to be diligent and willing to do the actual work of being a travel writer. Only then will you be able to stand before the "kings" of this industry, and actually make a name for yourself.

Requirement 2: You Need an Interest in Seeing New Places and
a Willingness to Learn From Others

Now, to be a successful travel writer, you also have to be curious about the world around you, as well as, the world that is currently outside of your grasp.

Remember what I told you about diligence? Well, you also have to be diligent about doing the work of a travel writer, which could consist of going off the beaten path, or finding the path less traveled, such as the back streets of Yokohama in search of the world’s best sashimi. Or breaking out of your shell and taking a chance to play darts with the local champion in some little pub in Limerick. Or even overcoming your fear and taking a chance to ride a camel in order to see, first-hand, the tomb of Tutankhamen.

And just like any career, you have to be willing to work your way up. No one starts at the top. You have to be willing to pay your dues. In other words, think of it like this: The kind of assignments that lead you overseas should be the kind of stories you are aiming for and working up to, but until then, you should be curious about what’s going on around you in your own hometown.

For instance, strike up a conversation with the local merchants in your town’s farmers’ market, or knock on the door at that new B&B in town and introduce yourself as a local travel writer. Let this be the time you use to develop the "muscle memory", if you will, of what it takes to be a travel writer.

In fact, in every field or career there are levels. Consider sports. With sports you start off at the pee wee level, and then you move up to the junior high and high school level. This is where you take the time to develop your skills and abilities. You see, you can't play college ball using high school level skills. You have to be able to develop your skills in order to be able to compete at the college level. And the same goes for moving up into the pros.

Well, think of the local travel writing assignments in your hometown as the high school and college level, and the overseas assignments as the professional level. Use this time to master the high school and college level skills, and it won't be long before you are winning championships (or travel writing assignments) at the professional level.

To that end, you have to enjoy meeting new (and all kinds) of people, which could be movie stars to politicians, or even flower-sellers to the homeless on the street. Putting aside your judgement or prejudice or bias, and actually listening wholeheartedly to them about their view of the world, what interests them, and what they think of the places they live.

I should also insert here, that you don't actually have to be the most outgoing person on earth to do this either. I mean, as you and I know, typically us writers tend to be more introverted than extroverted. Well, you’d be surprised at how liberating that little reporter’s notebook can be.

Requirement 3: You Need to Have Some Skills of Persuasion

Now, like you, I've never really been fond of salesman. And on top of that, the term persuasion has often been viewed as synonyms with manipulation. You see, like many of us, when we think of salesman we tend to think of the used car salesman who tricks you (or manipulates you) into buying a piece of junk.

I know what you are probably thinking: What ethical and moral person would ever want to associate themselves with such an unethical and unmoral profession?

The truth is, we've been given a misconception of what the profession of sales really is. With that said, I encourage you to check out this article I wrote for LinkedIn that will really break down what sales really is, as well as, what it is not.

Now, since I've written quite in-depth about this subject I won't get too heavy on it here, but I will say this: In the context of travel writing — or just about any writing, for that matter — having the power of persuasion or having developed the skill set of persuasion is considered to be a strength.

You see, you need to be able to persuade readers about all sorts of things — which hotel is better, how one beach compares to another, why this place would make a good destination for a family of travelers, or why it would not. And, the truth is, you can’t do that without the power of persuasion.

With that said, your job as a travel writer, in large part, is to persuade people to believe in your point of view. For instance, if you visit Madagascar and love it, you want that love to shine through in your writing. You want to persuade your readers in such a way that they, after reading your piece, will not only feel how much you love the place, but they will also fall in love with it as well.

Likewise, if you visit some tourist trap that’s not worth going to, you want to be able to get that message across to your readers as well. To do that, you simply can’t operate without the power of persuasion.

The fact of the matter is this: When you sit down to write a travel article, you’re “selling” your ideas by convincing the reader that your opinions and/or advice is valid and worth acting on.

Now, you may have chosen to enter the travel writing industry as a means to move further and further away from, or to just down right resist the copywriting industry (often referred to as salesmanship in print) altogether -- believe me, I get it.

Perhaps, you are like me, and have no real interest in being a “salesperson.” Nevertheless, consider asking yourself these few questions:

Are you one of those that likes to convince others that your point of view is correct? (Doesn’t everybody in some respects?)
Are you one of those that likes to always have it your way? (Who doesn't?)
Have you ever had to convince your spouse to see a movie that you wanted to see, but they didn't have much interest in? (Surely you have.)
Have you ever gotten anyone to do you a favor? (Don’t try to deny it.)

If you answered yes to those questions, as I suspect you did, then you’re both persuasive enough and enough of a salesperson to serve the purpose of a travel writer.

With that said, I encourage you to get a copy of my eBook, Persuasion: The Ultimate Copywriting Superpower, which will help you to develop this skill set in short order.

Requirement 4: You Need to Be Someone Who is Vigilant & Observant

Up to this point we’ve been primarily talking about character traits you most certainly already have (Yes, even that of a persuasive salesperson.). For instance, we've talked about your interest in seeing new places and meeting new people, your desire to succeed and willingness to work for that success, and so on.

Now we’re going to talk about a skill set you may have to learn to develop, which is that of being vigilant and observant of what is going on around you. The good news for you is that this skill set is easily learned and practiced. It’s really all just a matter of looking, listening, feeling, tasting, and smelling in a new way, which requires a certain level of focus -- which might be another skill you may need to learn to develop.

The truth is, this is probably going to be the most easiest skill set you will ever master. It is similar to that of having an artistic eye. In other words, it is having the ability to see what others often times miss. Once you train yourself to be observant and vigilant, you’ll find yourself doing these things as a matter of habit, without even thinking about it.

Now, with that said, it may also be one of toughest skill sets to turn off. For instance, you’ll have to remind yourself to “turn off” your writer’s “eye” (or artistic eye) to stop being so observant and vigilant in order to be more fully present in the moment.

Requirement 5: You need to Be Willing to Read and Do Research

You know, it's funny, in the writing world it has been said that "you should write what you know," but in the business world it is often encouraged that you should "fake it until you make it." Well, I agree with the first and disagree with the latter.

You see, if you want to be able to write something that persuades others to do something — even if that something is as fun as visiting Cancun or going on a ski trip to the Swiss Alps — you need to know what you’re talking about. In other words, there is nothing that makes you seem better informed or more persuasive than detailed knowledge. In short, there's no "faking it until you make it" in the writing industry (no matter which genre of writing you choose to do).

To that end, as a travel writer, the bottom line is: You are going to have to do some research along the way, whether that be before you leave home, or while you’re on the road, and possibly, too, when you come back home from your trip.

Now, I'm not talking about painfully hard work here -- not the kind of hard research you might have had to do for a college paper. Nevertheless, you're going to need to be willing to spend some time doing some research online or going to your local library in order to learn a little about the place you are planning to go visit, or about the place you've been assigned to write about. Yes, even if the story is about a place right there in the city you’ve been living in for years.

Requirement 6: You Need to Make a Commitment to Write a Little Everyday

Look, it is has been said time and time again, "the best way to become a writer is to write."

Now, I know this sounds like a cliché, but it’s true. In fact, it's also true that many would-be travel writers never really get out of the starting gate. You see, they may go on trips, they may do research, and, believe it or not, they may even get a few story assignments here and there, but the problem is they never actually get around to the writing part.

I mean, it's just like in school. A student gets the assignment, and he or she might eventually do the research, but what they end up failing to do is actually sit down and start writing. And then they end up failing the assignment because they don't have a paper to turn it. It sounds like a waste of time, does it not? To do the research, but to fail to sit down and write.

These kinds of people end up never experiencing their true potential — either because they don’t have the commitment to write as much as they should, or because they don’t have the discipline it takes to write when they need to meet their deadlines.

Yes, writing can be challenging at times, certainly, but it’s hardly taxing work. Coal mining, logging, farming or ranching, doing construction… now that’s hard physical labor.

The truth is, writing can be a very therapeutic and satisfying exercise. Therefore, I encourage you to sit down every day — even if only for 20 or 30 minutes — turn your computer on, put fingers to keys and write something — anything.

You see, it's just like what Dr. Deborah Teplow and Jenna Fracassi over at the Institute for Wellness and Education said about how to achieve big goals, "one small step at a time." In other words, the blank page becomes less intimidating with every one word you put on it.

How Do You Begin?

I would advise that you start with where you are at. In other words, consider places within your own hometown, such as tourist attractions if you have them, specific events, art galleries (one of my personal favorites), city and national parks, hotels, restaurants, and travel-related services. By sticking with a list like that you can rest assured that you are picking places worth writing about.

The reason why I suggest starting with where you're at, with places in your own hometown, to sell and write travel articles is because, who better to know their own backyard than you?

You see, the fact is, writing about what’s around you can give you a certain competitive edge when you’re approaching publications or editors. In other words, it allows you to position yourself as an expert of the local area, and believe me when I tell you, editors appreciate the ability to have access to locals who are “in the know.”

Moreover, it has its local perks as well ...

In a world where everyone may think Influencer Marketing started through Instagram or other social media platforms, by following this blog you are actually becoming more aware of the truth, which gives you an even bigger advantage over everyone else. You see, before there was social media, there where writers like you and I who made these kinds of "influential connections" in-person.

In other words, I would encourage you to start introducing yourself to the public relations folks employed at your local tourist board, chamber of commerce, zoo, museum, art gallery, and so on. And while you're at it, be sure to ask them if they could add your name to their press release list. Believe me when I tell you, they will be glad you did!

So, here we are talking about perks, right? Well, whenever you notice your favorite social media star landing sponsorship after sponsorship, and being able to try new products for free... well, this is exactly the kind of perks we 're talking about, but on a grander scale.

You see, this is how Influencer Marketing actually started before there was social media. Influencers (persuasive writers) like you and me, established ourselves as local travel writers (who now also have a substantial social medial following) and got our faces and names in front of these important people so that they would keep us in mind when they were getting ready to promote something new, which could even mean being invited to a grand opening.

Now, once you have become an established "influencer" and local travel writer, these kinds of press relations type folk will think of you as a coveted marketable resource. You see, editors at magazines frequently call local tourist boards and press relations type folk to ask if they know any good local writers. In short, you just might be the one whose name gets passed along. You really can't underestimate the power of a recommendation like that.

In fact, this very thing happen to one of my writing friends not too long ago. A certain airline was starting to service a local airport that it hadn't in the past. They were trying to expand their servicing territory. Well, an editor of that airline’s inflight magazine called my friend's local tourist board to ask if anyone there knew a local writer. Of course they did, my friend. Who then got an assignment, with no networking work on her part required.

The same kind of things happens when you write for local publications. You see, there's a community of editors. You've heard of the saying, "Birds of a feather flock together"? Well, editors talk a lot with other editors. They like to stick close with each other.

So, let's say you wrote a travel piece for your hometown newspaper. Not too long later, an editor at a publication one state over decides he wants to cover a story in your hometown. He doesn’t have a staff writer available at his local pub to do the story, so he gets on the phone with the editor who bought your story and says, “Hey, do you know a reliable freelancer who writes well?” Well, the writer that editor just might suggest could be you.

With that said, don't assume you have to get on a plane or get in your car and drive hundreds of miles to write a travel piece. The truth is, the very story that just might open the door to your travel writing dreams might be sitting five minutes from your front door.

Now, how do you actually begin? Well, believe it or not, it's really not that hard at all. You begin exactly the same way you’d begin with any writing project.

1) Start by finding a subject to write about.

The best ideas are unique, specific, and targeted to a particular audience. Therefore, don’t worry about writing the definitive article about your hometown just yet. Instead, narrow your focus a bit. Is there a museum you might focus on? Or a nature center? Or a local B&B? Or a festival?

2) Set out to write a short piece.

Don't worry about writing a featured spread just yet. Instead, focus on writing one manageable article of 100-500 words. Keep it short and sweet.

Stick with me I will show exactly how to master your first travel article.

3) Keep your attention on one specific type of reader as you do your research and writing.

Keep asking yourself, “Who would be interested in this? And what would she or he want and need to know?” Let the answers to those questions decide what you put in, as well as, what you leave out of your story.

Remember this: If you try and reach everyone you'll end up reaching no one.

4) Get in the habit of planning to write more than one story about your travels.

I would highly recommend gathering as much information from your travels as possible. Find out if anything special is taking place during your visit or at another time, such as specific seasonal events like city or state fairs or even festivals.

The fact is, you might not use the information for the piece you’re currently working on, but it may be useful for another article down the road. Also, getting in the habit of doing this now will save you a lot of time down the road as you begin to develop as a professional travel writer.

5) Research and plan your trip out ahead of time.

We already talked about one of the major requirements of becoming a travel writer earlier in this article, and this is where it comes into play. Now, as mentioned before, this isn't the same kind of research you would do if you were writing a college paper. It's not suppose to be taxing work. Instead, it should be fun.

Also, as you are researching and planning out your trip, it is also important to bear in mind that you don’t have to strictly follow your plan. Yes, preparation is important, but instead, use your plan as a guide.

Remember this: Nothing beats a good spontaneous, off the beaten path, type of moment.

6) Look beyond the surface of the story.

We also talked earlier in this article about learning to become more vigilant and observant. This is why this particular skill is so important to develop in order to become a professional travel writer. You see, you must train yourself to look beyond just the surface of a place or story subject.

You must ask yourself (as well as others) while you are on your trip if there is any interesting snippets of history associated with your topic that is not widely or publicly known. For instance, could a member of the staff have an unusual story to share?

Remember this: Looking beyond the “surface” will often make for the most interesting stories.

Now Over to You

We have covered a lot in this article. Now, I want to take this time and encourage you to subscribe to The Travel Writing Adventures of William Ballard newsletter so that you never miss a beat.

In the following weeks I plan on sharing tips about how to come up with travel writing story ideas, how to leverage your five senses in order to write better descriptions, insider secrets to successful interviews, as well as, smart tips and tools for researching your travel articles. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

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