Q&A: Travel Writing
Q: I am an English major with a minor in writing and my goal is to become a travel writer for Conde Nast as well as write my own travel memoirs one day. I just finished reading the book "A Woman's Europe" and while I loved all of the stories, yours was my favorite....[I] am...going to Australia to study during the upcoming fall semester, [and] while I am no longer a "child," I have never really been on my own. I know that if i want to travel, I will eventually have to be brave enough to do things on my own, I am just not sure I am ready yet....If you have any suggestions about how I can break into the writing business...that would be great.
A: Thank you so much for your e-mail -- it made my day! I'm glad that "Vagabond Love" spoke to your own itinerant spirit.
Your trip to Australia sounds like a wonderful opportunity to become more comfortable walking the line between safety and exploration. I know for myself that traveling abroad during high school and college within the "safe" confines of school trips and study abroad programs was part of what allowed me to begin taking my own solo journeys. My advice? While in Australia, choose a place (or two or three or...) you'd love to visit, and take weekend trips by yourself to see them (this can be more challenging than it sounds since lots of programs make it easy for Americans to stay bunched together, but making the effort is well worth it). That way, you know you have a safety net (albeit in an inspiring new place) while you start exploring your own style of travel.
Another thought: If it's feasible, save up enough money ahead of time to travel for a few weeks after the semester ends and buy yourself a trip to Southeast Asia or swing by New Zealand or South America on your way home. Backpacking and hooking up with other travelers (if that's what you find you need/want) are easy, especially if you're following Lonely Planet's advice on where to stay. Just think, lots of college students and 20-somethings with dreams similar to yours are staying there, too.
And since you've got an interest in writing, while you're taking your side trips, start giving yourself assignments. That will give you a taste of what sort of details you need to gather/pay attention to in order to eventually write travel articles for publications like Conde Nast. In fact, start now (and start small) to build your portfolio. Before you leave for the semester, ask your local paper if they'd like an article on a popular tourist location in Australia (nearby wherever you're studying, of course). Send query letters to a handful of publications -- again, start smaller (local, regional) outlining your creative slant on a story or two and see if anyone bites on an idea (the worst that can happen is you get rejected -- and that's something writers have to get used to sooner or later). Even if all you do is write for yourself, you'll still have gained invaluable experience.
Here's a hint as you're starting out: check out online publications as possible homes for your work. For example, www.goworldtravel.com, www.bootsnall.com, Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree Forum or Postcards, www.destinationelsewhere.com, or www.travel-wise.com -- and of course, GoNomad (see above) -- and a Google search should turn up dozens more.
Good luck! And if you find yourself writing anything that would fit my Adventurous Life newsletter (www.judywolf.com/newsletter), feel free to send it my way for consideration. I don't pay anything, since the newsletter is purely a labor of love, but I'd be happy to work with you on tailoring a piece, and it's a nice opportunity to see yourself in (virtual) print.
Have a great semester abroad -- and thanks again for writing!
Copyright (c) 2005 Judy Wolf
About
the Author:
Judy Wolf (www.judywolf.com)
is a world traveler, freelance writer, speaker, and whitewater kayak instructor.
She's taken numerous, extended solo journeys around the world, traveling
by foot, bus, jeep, camel, truck, boat, train, plane, elephant, and bicycle
to over 30 countries on five continents. She currently lives in upstate
New York with her husband and Border Collie, where she's working on a
book about her most recent adventures…that is, when she's not plunging
off waterfalls or entertaining the dog.
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