Travel Writing is one of the easiest forms of magazine writing to break into. And you can do it from your office.
First, look at the type of magazine you want to target.
What kind of stories do they publish?
Who are their advertisers?
Who is their target audience?
A lot of this information can be found either at their website, or in their magazine.
Now that you know what they publish, do some brainstorming and decide whether or not you can supply the type of information they require.
Although it may not seem that way on the surface, many travel writers never leave their office.
Researching for Articles
The key to this is research. Decide on the places you want to write about, and research them as much as possible.
This includes searching the internet, checking the website of the tourist attraction involved, and even visiting the library to find magazines that may have written about those places previously.
Never, under any circumstances, copy information you find. Read the information, learn as much as possible, then write in your own words, putting your own spin on the story.
Conducting Interviews
Where possible, interview key people from the attraction. (These are known as ‘sources’ – as they are your source of information.) Since you’re not leaving your office, this can be done either by telephone or by email.
If it’s done by telephone, make copious notes. Don’t leave anything to chance. And if you need something clarified, ask; never assume.
By far the best way to interview someone is by email. Send a number of questions to the recipient, and give them a deadline to return the completed questions to you.
Always allow plenty of time before your deadline, so that specific points can be clarified when necessary.
You’ll often find that by answering one question, another will come up. Let them know you may email again for this purpose.
And remember to send a ‘thank you’ email or note, or even make a phone call if necessary. Let your source know you appreciate their time.
Securing Accompanying Photographs
This can be the biggest source of grief or worry for new writers. Many are unaware that tourist attractions (and indeed most companies) will supply royalty free images that can be used in magazines etc for the purpose of publicity.
In the majority of cases these will be supplied on a CD and will be totally free to the writer.
In some cases, the writer will be supplied with a login and password and will be given free reign over a ‘vault’ of photographs. In this instance the writer gets to pick and choose the most suitable photographs.
Generally, writers who can cite a specific magazine they’re writing for will have no problem getting hold of photographs and other information.
Give Photographic Credit
When supplying photographs, it is important to cite the source/s. Most magazines will ask for photograph credits and captions, and these will most often be supplied to the magazine as a separate file.
In the majority of cases, photographs will be digital (high resolution) and sent by email.
Reviewing Your Article Content
Once your article is written, it’s time to review and ensure it’s the best it can be.
Here’s a checklist that will ensure your best work is sent to the editor:
- Will the title draw the reader in?
- Does the first sentence grab the reader’s attention?
- Has the information been sufficiently researched?
- Is the content plausible and correct?
- Does the article get the point across quickly?
- Is any information repeated?
- Are all words spelled correctly?
- Is the punctuation perfect?
- Do all photographs relate to the content in some way?
Where possible, let the article sit for a few days, then go back over it again, using the above check list.
Cheryl Wright - Cheryl Wright is an award-winning Australian author, freelance journalist, and editor. She is the owner of www.Writer2Writer.com ...
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