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Issue #295: How to Make Money Travel Writing March 09, 2020 |
| Greetings Fellow Travel Writers! . . . and WELCOME all new subscribers. Thanks for joining us.
Editorial: Doing Unusual Things As A Travel Writer
One of the best things about travel writing is that you get to do unusual things while you’re on assignments for magazines.
I’ve explored atmospheric old ghost towns and pondered who lived there and why they left; toured an underground Titan missile base near Tucson, Arizona, from whence an enormous rocket would have issued to rain down devastation on several Soviet cities; and watched aliens invade the streets of McMinnville, Oregon, in a bizarre intergalactic street parade.
I’ve helped harvest honey from bee hives, protected by a beekeeping suit; panned for gold in icy creeks and rivers; interviewed living history Tudor re-enactor soldiers about to go into battle with the Lancastrians; and fired an old flintlock musket.
I’ve walked the D-Day landing beaches and wept over the headstones in the American Military Cemetery at Normandy, France. I’ve stood where the U.S. 101st Airborne Division held off an entire German army at Bastogne, Belgium, and stood where the 101st division commander told the German officer who was demanding their surrender, “nuts”. I’ve walked the entire Waterloo battlefield a few miles from Brussels, where tens of thousands of British and French troops died for their countries in that epic showdown between Napoleon and the Duke of Wellington.
Then there’s the countless massages, pedicures, exfoliations, and other spa treatments I’ve had to endure; wine tasting in some of the world’s most upscale wineries; and chilling out in spectacular Balinese resorts that bring new meaning to the term “luxury”. These may not be unusual but they are, at least, special. Such is the life of a travel writer. These are all things I’ve done and so can you. The requirements are simple: hard work, write well, and have the patience to give your travel writing career a chance to blossom. What would you like to do? Where would you go for unusual experiences? This Week's Featured PostHow to Make Money Travel Writing: Think Multiple Income StreamsVery few freelance travel writers sustain themselves solely through writing for magazines and newspapers.However, savvy travel writers who enjoy writing for print media maximize their outlets and make more money by doing these things. In a previous article, I made the point that it’s important to have another steady source of income before you embark on this journey. Making money as a travel writer takes time. This article shows you seven ways that you can earn more income. So, if your goal is to make a go of it in freelancing, this article is for you.
New Orleans WorkshopsThis year we're excited to offer two U.S. workshops:We have 2 seats left in our New Orleans workshop. You can sign up for The Complete Package (both workshops) or for an individual workshop. Here are the details: Our 4-day Travel Writing and Photography Retreat is for people who want to learn how to create sparkling articles and photo galleries that editors will love. The focus is writing and photography. Our 3-day Marketing Master Class for Travel Writers is for people who want to sell their articles and earn money. We focus on strategies to sell your stories, exactly how to do each step, what editors want, and how to network with CVBs to land press trips. We also have a deeply discounted package deal for people who want to take both workshops (The Complete Package). More details in the links below:
Travel Writing & Photography RetreatJune 11-14, 2020If you want to boost your writing skills to a new level, this workshop is for you. We'll focus on writing and photography - and how to write articles and create photo galleries that editors will love. This is an interactive course with lectures, writing exercises, in-the-field tours, group readings & discussions, and hands-on experience. Class size is limited to 15 people. The complete details are at the link below - or click on the graphic.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR THE RETREAT
The Marketing Master Class for Travel WritersJune 16-18, 2020You'll learn how to sell your stories, get paid and get travel comps. I share every aspect of my marketing strategies that have sold 1000 articles in more than 200 magazines, newspapers, in-flights, on-board publications and specialty magazines. You'll be able to go back home and start selling articles to editors. You'll also hear from a regional editor and the New Orleans CVB for additional insight about what editors want and how to land press trips. Class size is limited to 25 people. The complete details are at the link below - or click on the graphic.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR THE MARKETING MASTER CLASS
If you want to attend both workshops . . .We have an extraordinary offer if you want to attend both workshops. It's called The Complete Package and it includes both workshops.It's $800 off the regular price of the two workshops. No, that's not a typo. It's an offer we've never made before because we've never offered both workshops at one venue (and we may never again.) We want to make The Complete Package affordable to those wanting to upgrade their knowledge about the travel writing industry in the areas of writing, photography and marketing - so we've significantly discounted this package. If you want to immerse yourself for 7 days and learn about the most important skill sets for success, The Complete Package is a great chance for you to save a lot of money, have double the learning, and do it in a fun place, New Orleans. The complete details are at the link below - or click on the graphic. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR THE COMPLETE PACKAGE: BOTH WORKSHOPS
Just to summarize the workshops, you have 3 options: 1. Sign up for both workshops (The Complete Package) and save $800 2. Sign up for our 4-day Travel Writing & Photography Retreat 3. Sign up for our 3-day Marketing Master Class for Travel Writers DON'T DELAY - ONLY 2 SEATS LEFT! WE'LL SEE YOU IN NEW ORLEANS! By the way, our Marketing Master Class is ranked #1 on Travel Writers Exchange "Top 10 Travel Writing Workshops." We only have a few seats left and you can sign up here: The Complete Package: Both Workshops and a Deep Discount GROUP COACHING MASTERMINDThere's been a lot of interest in group coaching and many of you asked when we’re going to offer it. We're working on it.We’re planning to make it affordable, fun, helpful and productive for you. And we'll be releasing the final details soon. Stay tuned! Our BRAND NEW group coaching program will be limited to the first 25 registrants. Only people on the interest list will receive early signup privileges and discounts.
Upcoming PostsMarch 16: Does Social Media Help Travel Writers Get Published?March 23: Where to Find Magazine Leads: The Top Six Print References On the Market Today March 30: Writing Successful Query Letters: Seven Tips for Travel Writers PitchTravelWrite.com Success Stories
Candi Licence tells the exciting story of her travel writing journey. She says, “I was spinning my wheels and getting nowhere with my travel writing. I was frustrated!
I thought I could be a writer but didn’t know how to break into the field. That’s when I saw Roy Stevenson’s Travel Writing and Marketing Master Class. I signed up and it changed everything for me.” Candi's work has been published in Transitions Abroad, Zing Caribbean in-flight, International Living, Spicemas Carnival Souvenir magazine, EpicureanTraveler.com, Myitchytravelfeet.com, Travelsignposts.com, ConfettiTravelCafe.com, and other magazines.
Read about Candi’s travel writing journey here . . .
Pitch Travel Write: Most Requested Links about Researching Your DestinationsI think most travel story ideas are worthy of publication somewhere. If you spend some quality time researching your destination, you can usually find a marketable story idea or two. Sometimes you’ll have to abandon a travel story idea. If it doesn’t have enough “jam” to hook an editor, you won’t be able to sell it. But it’s more likely that you just need to do a little work to discover what’s so interesting about a place and to clarify your unique story angle.
"Why Can't I Sell My Articles?" is a trouble shooting guide to help with this issue.
In simplest terms, my sales process starts with pitching a story idea. Here's my sales process in a little more detail. This process had worked for me over and over again.
My Sales Process
So where, and how, do travel writers start their quest for a salable story? Here are 6 tips to help you.
6 Tips for Dreaming Up Better Story Ideas that Sell
Inspirational Travel Quote
RESOURCES FOR TRAVEL WRITERSFeatured Book of the Month: HOW TO BREAK INTO LUXURY TRAVEL WRITING
Would you like to stay at luxury resorts, villas, and lodges—for free?
How about being treated like royalty in high-end resorts? Would you enjoy personalized tours with your own guide and driver? Does being pampered with lavish treatments in some of the world’s most beautiful spas sound good to you? Would you enjoy eating at some of the finest restaurants in the world—for free? Wine tasting at some of the world’s most gorgeous boutique wineries? My 12-chapter, 130-page manual will walk you, step-by-step, through the luxury travel writing process. You’ll learn how to get luxury travel assignments and leverage them to land luxury travel trips. I’ve used these techniques to land assignments at dozens of the finest luxury resorts, spas, villas, and lodges in the world. This manual contains an up-to-date list of 150+ print magazines and travel websites that publish luxury travel articles. It’s the most comprehensive list of luxury magazine outlets you’ll find ANYWHERE. Having immediate access to these lists alone is worth the price of the eBook, saving you hundreds of hours of research.
At Your ServiceCoaching
and
Consulting email: pitchtravelwrite@gmail.com
If you know someone who will enjoy this newsletter, PitchTravelWrite.com, is our information-packed website for travel writers. This e-zine, a series of travel writing books and reference guides, coaching programs, and our workshops all work together to give you guidance in this field. Our aim is to provide you with practical, nitty gritty information to help you gain entry the travel writing realm and all the enjoyment that comes with it, too.
We're thrilled to announce that www.PitchTravelWrite.com is on The Write Life’s 2020 list of 100 BEST WEBSITES FOR WRITERS! You can see the entire list by visiting their website - click on the graphic to view the list now.
Friend me on FacebookMy Facebook page is about freelance travel writing. I frequently post about:• travel writing & blogging conferences, • links to other well produced travel websites and blogs, • links to my travel articles, • travel writing themes, • links to reputable travel writer’s groups, associations, and newsletters, • magazine covers stories and back stories, • links to resources pages, • links to travel writing archives, • links to coaching and mentoring resources, • and plenty of other useful information to get you up to speed. Link to Roy's Personal Facebook page That's all for now. Until next week - just keep pitching! Roy Roy Stevenson |
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