Writing a Travel Article:
Basics Do's and Don'ts
Writing a travel article requires that have something to write about - usually something linked to a place.
There are many kinds of travel article: the narrative or destination piece, which describes a place; a personal article describing your own experiences; advice, which explains how and why to do something; a review or opinion piece; and many more.
Each one of these shares something with other kinds of journalism: good writing.
Before you begin that all-important assignment, here are some solid tips to get you started on the right foot in writing a travel article.
1. Do your research beforehand.
If you're planning on being a travel writer, even for a few stories on the road, research intensively before you start. The more you know beforehand, the better the questions you'll ask and the understanding you'll demonstrate.
2. Write everything down.
Keep a travel journal. You don't know what you'll need later - include thoughts, smells, sounds, descriptions, emotions, costs... anything and everything that strikes you.
3. Plan your article before you write it.
Sitting down and waiting for inspiration to strike is something best left to amateur novelists. Be systematic.
4. Know your audience.
If the publication is aimed at upper income spa-lovers, you won't get far with an article on choosing the best backpack. Nor will the editor - whom you really want to please - think you're very professional. Pitch your tone and voice at the appropriate level.
5. Put people in your story.
There's nothing more boring than a long litany of facts. Interview people and use what they say give your piece more punch. Don't just describe a place - look at it through someone's eyes.
6. Edit yourself.
Don't ever think your first shot is your best shot. Read your piece out loud, and rewrite what sounds long, unclear, convoluted, pretentious. Remove extra words. Pare down. Prune.
7. Get it right.
Be certain of your story. If you're quoting someone, use their exact words, in context. Double-check any facts or figures. If you get a number wrong, there's no reason for the editor to trust the rest of your story.
8. Take photographs.
Most articles will earn you more money if accompanied by high-quality photographs. Read the various writers' guidelines to see what editors want. Don't forget to write down people's names and titles in your travel journal.
9. Recycle and rewrite.
Unlike free web article directories, you can't submit the same article to two publications - unless their markets are so different there is no chance they'll overlap (I never submit simultaneously, no matter what). What you can do is rewrite: change your angle from singles to families, from winter to summer travel, from a whole city to a small neighborhood.
10. Grow a thick skin.
You will get rejected, more than you know. But if one editor rejects a query, send it on to the next one, and the next one. At some point your supply and the market's demand will meet. Be stubborn and tenacious. And remember - the more articles you sell, the better-known you'll become, and the easier it will be to sell the next one.
11. And finally - travel!
Travel, and travel some more. Sitting in that cozy café in Paris for a month acting like a starving writer will keep you just that - starving. Grab your travel journal, pick up your backpack, and hit the road!
And no, you don't need to carry your laptop with you. With Internet cafés everywhere, you won't lack a computer. But do take along a memory stick - even if you email your stories back to yourself, you may want to rewrite, download stuff from the web, or simply store something offline.
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