How to Become a Travel Writer
If you should ever ask any professional travel writers how they enjoy getting free trips to exotic places all over the world, it is very likely they will quickly disabuse you of the notion that their press junkets are free. Rather, a travel writing pro will go into a lengthy explanation of how the services he or she provides are actually worth far more than the complimentary air fare, accommodations, meals, guide services, ground transportation and entry into attractions that he or she was provided. Nevertheless, to the untrained eye of an outsider, it appears very much like what the travel writer obtained was indeed a free trip to an exotic destination.
Not everyone can become a travel writer. The most primary prerequisites are not only the ability to write but also the desire to do so. That being said, if you have a knack for penning compelling paragraphs, then getting to be a travel writer is a possibility you may wish to consider.
For more people who are starting out as travel writers, the kind of trip they are most likely to be invited to join is a familiarization tour, known within the travel industry as a "fam" trip. These media junkets are most often organized by a government tourist bureau, whether on a national, state, regional or city level. For example, some official bodies that have been known to sponsor press trips are the government of India, the Australian state of Queensland, the Washington State Department of Tourism and the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Tampa Bay, Florida.
None of these organizations is likely to finance a visit by someone who does not have either a proven track record of getting their travel articles published. That is why most people who are beginning as neophyte travel writers find that they have to start off by paying for their own trips. This is not too difficult for most people, however, who are accustomed to spending some money to go on a vacation every year or two.
A good way to start is to write an article about a destination you have recently visited. The length of a desirable travel article varies between different publications. Some newspaper editors may ask for stories between 500 and 800 words long, while travel magazines are more likely to publish articles of 1,000 to 2,000 words in length.
It is recommended that someone who is just starting out start small and pick a local newspaper. Find out the name of the travel editor, and email him or her a query letter that describes your article and tells why the readers of the publication would find it interesting.
Finally, do not be discouraged by rejection. It is not uncommon to be turned down by dozens of newspapers or magazines before connecting with an editor who will immortalize your words in print. Once you have had three or four articles published in this way, then it is time to start contacting the tourist boards of places you would like to visit. This is not as difficult as it once was, because most tourism boards now have internet sites that list the contact details for their media relations staff.
As with any hobby, travel writing becomes less difficult with practice. If someone has the basic writing skills, along with lots of desire and tenacity, they can eventually earn the enviable title of travel writer.
