Getting started with travel writing

Ever since my days as a Salon Travel columnist, I’ve gotten lots of messages from people asking how they can get started as travel writers. That’s why my personal website now has a section for Writers, including monthly interviews with a variety of travel-writing professionals. I still get questions, though, mainly from people wanting to know a concrete first step for breaking into travel writing. Here’s my advice:

After the requisite travel, writing, reading, and polishing of your craft, start submitting stories on speculation to online magazines, even if they don’t pay well. This will introduce you to the competitive selection process, and it will help you build a clip file for the eventual day when you start to approach bigger, better-paying magazines. But keep in mind that rejection is central to the game, even for people like me who are fairly established. Persistence (and patient diplomacy with editors) is a must. And success is not guaranteed.

One venue you might start submitting to is BootsnAll, which has a fine community of travelers and travelogue writers. If you write well, you’ll create a ripple within this community — a thirst for more stories — and this could lead to better things. You might also eventually try submitting to more competitive online markets, such as World Hum, which features stories by some very good travel writers. Independent print travel magazines like Outpost or Modern Nomad are also fine places to make a break into print travel publishing once you’ve made a splash online (and they pay a small amount as well). Once you start building a body of work, it’s time to kick in your business side, study the Writer’s Market, and start submitting to more paying markets. The more you travel, of course, the better your chances of creating new material (and, yes, you will have to find a good way to fund this travel, as writing fees won’t cut it).

Another thing to keep in mind is travel service-articles — i.e. short pieces on where to visit, what to see, where to eat, where to party, travel tips etc. These pieces are not as interesting to write, but they are a good way to break into markets and start making some income. Local newspapers, for example, are always looking for good travel service pieces. For a great daily blog on the ins and outs of travel publishing, check out Jen Leo’s Written Road.