3 Expert Tips to Get Started in Travel Writing
Getting paid to travel is what many people consider to be “the best job in the world”. You get to go anywhere you want, relax, and not worry about being on the clock. But is it really that simple? Not at first. You have to build up to that point. Of course, you won’t start off going to the most exotic places. You also won’t have the popularity you need to start making money at first. However, once you get past those humps, there are so many places to explore and so much money to make. Here are 5 tips to follow to become a travel writer.
1. Travel Every Chance You Get
At first, you might not have the money to travel all the time. Besides, you might have a day job and if you have kids, it’s unfeasible to make them miss school all the time because you want to travel. Therefore, it’s wise to start off small and travel when you can. For example, go on family vacations every year. Wait until school is out, like during the Holidays, Spring Break or the summertime. This way, your kids won’t have to miss school. Use paid vacation from work and plan where you want to go. Save up your money and go to a different place each year. For example, one year you might choose cruises from California. The next year, you might want to go on a safari in Africa. There are so many options to choose from and many of them can be affordable if you plan ahead and save.
Once you’ve traveled to multiple places, you can start building a travel portfolio that allows you to show off the places you’ve been to. As a result, people will love looking at your breathtaking photos and reading about your amazing experiences in particular places. Your work may even appear in popular magazines and news sites.
2. Document Your Experiences
Documenting your experiences in different places is where travel writing comes in. If you don’t profess yourself to be a good writer, then it’s time to start practicing. You should write down your thoughts and feelings about each place you visit. Don’t worry about whether or not it’s good writing. For the time being, that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the experience you’re getting writing down your thoughts. As you do this more and more, you’ll get better and better at it. As a result, you’ll have an increased ability to write high-quality pieces about places you’ve traveled to. People love hearing about others’ experiences in different parts of the world. The key is to learn how to make those written accounts reflect your personality and your unique views of the world.
If you need additional help getting started, don’t hesitate to search the web for travel writing tips. The internet has lots of information on this topic. Hundreds or maybe even thousands of established travel writers have so much to share about how they got started.
3. Start a Blog
If you’re really serious about travel writing, then you need a website that provides a home to your written travel experiences. It’s also a great place to share some of your beautiful pictures. After all, traveling is partly a visual experience. When you’re visiting a new place, one of the first things you do is look around to take in your surroundings. That’s what you want to capture on your blog. Your audience wants to view things from your lenses, especially if they’ve never been to a particular place before.
Your blog can also help you attract clients. For example, magazines looking for more travel columns may take an interest in your site.
While many people consider traveling the best job in the world, it usually isn’t as simple as it sounds. By following these steps, you can make your transition to a travel writing career a lot smoother.
