Love Travel, Want to Write

Festival in Bhutan ©Solange Hando

Top Tip

Forget the destination track

The tighter the focus, the more original the feature, the easier the sale

So what can you write about?

Culture and craft

Heritage, festivals, food and wine, embroidery, woodcarving, pottery, the list is endless...

Local travel

Steam train, river trip, rickshaws, bus journey, hot air balloon, donkey riding

Activities

Family fun, water sports, golf, cycling, paragliding, cooking, painting...

Nature

Conservation, eco-lodges, bird watching, trekking, saving turtles

Local people

Visit a school, talk to monks, meet a budding actor, a poet, a chef, a guide with an unusual story

Now what do you do with all these ideas?

Choose your favourites, do the research, take lots of pictures and find suitable markets

Where do you start?

On shelves and online, bear in mind weekly mags need a lot more copy than monthlies

Check out

Women's / Men's magazines

Publications for seniors, families, young adults, outdoor fans

Special interest, sports and hobbies magazines

Transport

Food and wine

Health / Spa / Body and Mind

Wildlife

Newspapers

Travel magazines

In-flight magazines

Finally

Study your chosen market

Length, style, format, fact box

 Pitch to the editor

Keep it brief and to the point

Would you like to know more?

Be a Travel Writer 

Will guide you step by step on the road to success

Enjoy

Travel Writing? How to Sell every Feature you Write

Flying High ©Solange Hando

How do you start?

Think 'idea', the tighter the better

A flight over Everest, a festival, sampling the local food

Be original, less is more

and

Easier to sell

What next?

Find a market

Spend time browsing all sorts of publications

Who would be interested in your idea?

Who are the readers?

Think age group, budget, interests, families,couples

Made your choice?

Pitch

That makes you a professional

That saves the editor's time and yours

How should you pitch?

Show the editor you are familiar with the publication

Write your pitch in similar style

Be brief and to the point

Offer pictures

Keep Going ©Solange Hando

Got the go ahead?

Brilliant

But before you write a single word

Study the publication in detail, both format and style

Word count

Number and length of paragraphs

Choice of vocabulary, speech, quotes

1st or 3rd person

Fact box?

Next take a look at your pictures

It will

Refresh your memory

and

Help you to decide what to put in or leave out

Choose the best, the most original

Images will sell your words.

Ready to start?

Spend time on the 1st paragraph, it must grab attention straightaway

Keep your second best anecdote for the end

In the middle:

Vary the pace, highs and lows, anecdotes and facts

Paint a picture:

Include the senses

Avoid clichés

Be original

Sail Away ©Solange Hando

When all is done

Double check, click send

Now you're on your way

Would you like to read more?

Check out

Be a Travel Writer

Just 100 pages on the road to success

Good luck

and

Happy travels

Travel Writing? Three Easy Steps to Perfect Pitch

Taxi Ride Cuba Style ©Solange Hando

LESS IS MORE

What do editors want?

Original ideas

How do you do that?

Focus

Exotic or at home, the tighter the angle the more unique it's likely to be

It also means you can sell several features on a single destination

Examples:

Cuban taxis or London cabs

Free attractions in Paris

A day on the river

Quirky hotel / restaurant

Climbing Ben Nevis, 3 generations to the top

What about the city breaks, the best beaches, the paradise islands, the walking holidays?

Fine but you will have to make it pretty special to compete with staff writers

 Fit for Purpose ©Solange Hando

MAKE IT FIT

Just like these monks sheltering from the sun

Now what's your purpose?

Sell your work?

How?

Right idea, right market

What sort of readers would this appeal to?

Consider budget, age, interest, social status

Find the perfect fit

Before you pitch

But sometimes...

You might need to think laterally

Example: 

Chinese embroidery

No luck with obvious markets?

Favourite design?

Cats, sold to Cat magazine

Tenerife, Shepherd's Leap ©Solange Hando

PERFECT PITCH

This shepherd says it all

Check before you jump

One chance, no room for error

Top tips

Spend time on your query

Check correct editor's name, contact by email

Get straight to the point

Grab the editor's attention

Keep it brief

Offer images

Show you are familiar with the publication

Use similar style and term of address

Would you like to read more?

Be a Travel Writer

 'Succeed in the best job in the world' (endorsed by Hilary Bradt)

Travel Writing? Take Photos, Sell Stories

Take Pictures, Sell Features ©Solange Hando

What images do editors want?

Original

Colourful

Telling a story

No need for sophisticated equipment,

 Just be ready and capture the moment

Getting up Close, Taking Photos ©Solange Hando

What else should you aim for?

Variety

Close ups and distance

People and scenery

Action shots

Landmarks? Take the usual view and an unusual angle

The more, the better, you never know what you will need

Think multiple markets and multiple sales

Sweet Tooth in Kathmandu ©Solange Hando

Have you seen this anywhere?

Probably not

Original, colourful and a cheeky monkey

Be prepared

Look around

The unexpected is always best

Ladakh Scenery, India ©Solange Hando

Scenery?

Great

But most magazines like to add a semblance of life

Could be

a human being, cattle, sheep, a bicycle, a rucksack, a book on a bench

Top Tips 

Don't be so obsessed with the camera you'll miss what's going on right behind you

Have pictures of yourself on location, someone will ask you for that

Make sure the images you send match your chosen market, just as the words should do

Would you like to know more?

Here's everything you need to Be a Travel Writer 

Love Travel, Sell Stories? Top Tips, Perfect Fit

Flying High over Everest ©Solange Hando

Want to be a travel writer?

The sky's the limit

But before you write your story, choose your market

Imagine the readers

Is this a suitable age group?

The right destination for them, their interests, budget?

An editor might love your story but if it's not right for the readers, they can't take it

Editors know best, their jobs depend on it.

Market in Guatemala, Make it Fit ©Solange Hando

Right market?

Check the format:

Word count

Paragraphs, long or short

Subtitles breaking up the copy

Length of sentences

Choice of words

Is there a fact box?

Bhutanese Steps, Just Right for the Job? ©Solange Hando

Now check the details

1st or 3rd person

Does the writer address the readers?

Is the tone formal or chatty?

Any dialogue?

 Any reference to local characters or travelling companions?

Quotes or anecdotes?

Humour?

Is atmosphere important or is it mostly facts?

And the finer points

Distance, weights, metric or imperial?

Numbers, letters or figures?

Contractions, isn't or is not?

Would you like to know more?

Only 100 pages on the road to success

Be a Travel Writer

Like to Be a Travel Writer?

Over the Rainbow ©Solange Hando

Dreams can come true
and
I can help you

Here are my top tips

for a 

a winning style
to please editors and sell your work 

DO

Include details which paint a picture but be selective

'the child... with a runny nose'

Be specific so readers can see, trees, flowers, birds

 an oak, a pine tree, cowslip or bluebells?

Remember the senses

all five of them, that's how we experience the world

Show rather than tell

'there was a narrow gap in the rocks': he could barely squeeze through...

Choose action verbs rather than static

'she wore a sari': her sari fluttered in the breeze

DON'T

Use the passive voice when the active will do

'she was chased by the dog', the dog chased her, barking...

Don't use vague qualifiers

'it was quite difficult': was it or wasn't it? make up your mind

Vague adjectives

'beautiful scenery': I can't see that, can you?

Clichés

'snow white, black as coal': try to be original

Don't pad with trivia to reach the word count

if you need to add anything, make it relevant

Avoid foreign or difficult words

give your readers an easy ride and they'll stay with you

Would you like to know more?

Just 100 pages and all the tips you need to succeed

Be a Travel Writer 

Enjoy and I'll see you on the road...

 On the road? It's ok, not a lion in sight ©Solange Hando

Love Travel, Love Writing, How to Sell? Spread your Wings...

 Up and Away ©Solange Hando

Is the market shrinking in your corner of the world?

Think global

Over 80 countries use English as their official language

Check them out on the web

See what they publish

Lifestyle, in-flight magazines and more

Are glossy travel magazines just for famous writers?

Big names sell copies but no editor will turn down a brilliant idea

So if you have a riveting story to share, with images, go for it

Pitch before you write

Get off the destination track 

Most publications include travel of one kind or another

Choose a specific angle to increase your chances:

Interview, history, festival, hotel review, local transport, market, temple, visiting a school

Wherever you go, there's always a winning story

The tighter the focus, the better

Like to hop on? Cuba ©Solange Hando

Explore every niche

Look out for specialist publications

 Spa, honeymoons, health, outdoor activities, property
Heritage, hobbies, food and wine

                          

Families, seniors, singles, business, disabled, students

Vintage travel, railway magazines, cruising, canal boats

All have scope for a travel-related piece

Study general interest magazines

Top of the list, women's weeklies which need a lot of copy to fill their pages

Be sure to write for the readers

Add newspapers, county magazines, trade publications.

I could be tempted to throw in a few names but the publishing world is always changing, in with the new, out with the old at a moment's notice.

Got an idea?

Great but it's like the stock exchange 

Check the current market then go for it 

but remember to spread your wings in all directions and think small as well as big.

Would you like to know more?

We can help you 

Be a Travel Writer

Love Travel, Want to Write? Pitch and Sell

Ladakh ©Solange Hando

Pitch is Best

Why?

It saves you time for you don't know what an editor has in the pipeline

It saves editors time, they're more likely to read a pitch than a whole attachment

Pitch well and you should sell every article you write

Pitch to Sell

Brief and Brilliant

Got an idea? Choose the right market, consider the readers age, budget, interests

Show, don't tell the editor you are familiar with the publication

Write your pitch in a similar style

Go straight to the point

Keep it brief

Editors want your ideas, not your life story

Finer Points

Email, don't call 

Keep your subject line precise and clear

If you try to be clever, it may look like spam

Contact the correct editor, if unsure, phone the switchboard

Make sure you have the correct spelling

Address editors as they would address their readers 

Always offer images

Finally

Don't mention payment at this stage, wait until your idea is accepted

Don't ask for guidelines

Why not?

Either they're on the web and you should have checked

If not, study the magazine and you'll have the answers

Would you like to read more?

Check this out
Ten steps is all it takes on your way to success

Be a Travel Writer

Good luck

and see you on the road...

Love Travel, Want to Write and Get Paid, could you do it?

On Top of the World, the Everest Range ©Solange Hando

Absolutely

Here's my top tip for all travel writers:

Think small, earn big

What does it mean?

Forget the big picture

Focus

Why?

The tighter the angle, the more original your feature will be

The more original, the easier to sell

and best of all

Multiple angles mean multiple sales from a single trip

How?

Think of an activity: bird watching, painting, hiking, yoga

Think of a local journey, boat, train, bus

Think festivals / culture /museums / castles

Check out wedding / honeymoon venues

Review a hotel

Write about food and wine

Imagine a city break, 48 hours in...

Attractions: for families, seniors, couples

Body and soul: spa, massage, inspiring location

Natural world: parks and reserves, wildlife, eco-friendly farms and lodges

'These are just a few of my favourite things'

Each one worth 1000 words

but

to make the most of your trip:

do some research before you go

You might not follow every single idea 

but the more you have, the better

More angles, more features

More cash for your next trip

 Want to know more?

Check this out

Be a Travel Writer

Only 100 pages to follow your dream

Come and join us

Fancy the ride? Cuba in the Wild ©Solange Hando

Want to Be a Travel Writer? One Year on...

Want to be a Travel Writer?

This little book will show you how

Don't take my word for it

See what the readers say

'A fantastic starting point for any keen travel writer'

'As good as it gets, best guide on the subject you're likely to find'

'Grabs your attention from the off and holds it'

'Packed full of really essential tips and advice'

'Brilliant. I had ideas entering my head at the early stages '

One year on, these are just a few of 45 reviews on Amazon,..

5 star: 42

4 star: 3

So if you love travel and have a story to tell, why not give it a go?

It could change your life

Travel Writing, Tell Stories, Sell Features

Up and Away, over the Himalaya ©Solange Hando

Travel Writer
Best job in the world...

Could you do it?

Here are five simple rules to help you get there

1-Keep a diary

Make copious notes wherever you go

Record your own impressions and observations

Talk to people, check facts

2- Take pictures

Look for variety and take as many shots as you can

No need for sophisticated equipment

Photoshop works wonders

3-Ideas

Less is more
The tighter the focus, the better

Multiple angles mean multiple sales

4-Study the market

Find the most suitable publications for your ideas

What are the requirements?

What do the readers want?

Write for them, not for you

5-Pitch before you write

That's what professionals do

Show the editor you understand the publication

Offer words and pictures

If you'd like to know more, check this out:
 'Be a Travel Writer' 
is just right for you

Only 100 pages on the road to success...

Enjoy!

Dreams of Lonely Planet? 100 Pages to the Best Job in the World

Traditional Festival in Bhutan ©Solange Hando

Do you love travelling?

New people, new places, new cultures...

Have you ever dreamed of selling your stories ? 

Seeing your name in print and earning some cash?

'Be a Travel Writer' won't get you a dozen commissions overnight, or promise you'll be the next Chris Stewart or Simon Calder, but it will certainly set you on the right track and help you sell every feature you ever write.

If  you enjoy discovering places and meeting people,

If you can you write in simple English and take digital pictures,

This is for you.

Add it to your Christmas list and it could change your life...

Just 100 pages to 'the best job in the world'.

Only eight copies left on Amazon, more on the way, but don't let them slip away...

Good luck and I hope to see you on the road.

Travel Writing? Guess how I started...

Snake Story ©Solange Hando

Do you like snakes?

I don't...

I know they're silky and soft, amazingly graceful, but there you are...

Now, guess how my first travel article got it into print?

I spotted a slot in a magazine for a reader's holiday, wacky picture essential, so I kept on the look-out.

No, it wasn't this little beauty parading in the Costa Rican jungle (that one had fangs) but a host of sacred vipers in Malaysia, posing with  tourists like me in Penang Snake Temple. So I took a deep breath and there they were, draped around my arms, shoulders, hands and one dangling on my head...

Defanged, of course, but the story was sold, with pictures, to Take a Break. One foot in the door and I never looked back.

Now, are you packing for your holiday or planning the next one?

Would you like to write about it and  publish your work?

Whatever you do, don't forget your camera...

These days, most editors expect a complete package, words and pictures.

Give them what they want and you double your chance of success.

Likewise, in just 100 pages, 'Be a Travel Writer' gives you the complete package, tips and advice on writing, pitching and travel photography.
You don't need to be a pro, if I can do it, anyone can.

Enjoy and good luck!

Be a Travel Writer? A month and a day...

'Be a Travel Writer' has come of age, just a month and a day since it rolled off the press to inspire all wanderers to tell their stories and earn some cash.

Eight 5 star reviews is a good sign so why not take a look inside?

Enjoy a page or two for free on Amazon and it could change your life.

Let it tickle your wanderlust, set your imagination alight and start to dream.

Everything is possible and if you love travelling, you too could be a writer and get paid for your stories.

Good luck, I'll see you on the road.

Travel Writing? Go for it the Easy Way

Travel Writing Workshop in Hong Kong ©Solange Hando

Ever dreamed of being a travel writer but don't know where to start?

Well, there are all sorts of ways but the easiest and quickest is to focus on travel features.

Why?

Here are three good reasons:

1-Features are short term projects, a day, maybe two, leaving you plenty of time for other interests and commitments. 

2-If an article is turned down, you soon get over it, but a book? Months, years of hard work perhaps and not getting anywhere? Not so easy...

3-But best of all, articles are always in demand, right across the world.

 Did you know that over 80 countries use English as an official language with hundreds, often thousands of magazines and newspapers looking to fill their pages, every week or every month?

The world is yours, all you have to do is get it right.

Did you spot the red roses in Hong Kong?

Wonderful but you don't have to go there to learn the trade...

Just a click away, this little book tells it all, 100 easy to read pages, packed with tips and anecdotes and endorsed by award-winning travel writers.

Special discount on Amazon, enjoy while it lasts!

Travel Writing? Don't miss it, out today

Just Published

Here's what the experts say

'Packed full of tips to help you get started in the best job in the world.'

(Hilary Bradt MBE, co-founder of Bradt Travel Guides)

'An inspirational and motivational journey through the world of travel writing.'

(Simon Whaley, best-selling author)

'This great little book brims with valuable advice, encouragement and insider's knowledge.'

(Andrew Sanger ,award-winning travel writer)

'Must-have book for aspiring travel writers.'

(Linda Jackson, managing editor of activecaribbean.com)

'Shows you how to think like a pro.'

(Donna Dailey, US and international publications)

Love to travel? Love to write?

Want to see your name in print and get paid?

This is a book for you.

Available on Amazon and in major book stores.