19 Tips for How to Become a Successful Travel Writer
Travel writing is the dream gig for many. Becoming a professional travel writer means getting to explore the world, immersing yourself in different destinations, and telling readers all about it, helping them plan their best vacations ever. It’s a job that’s open to everyone. All you need to do is dedicate yourself to learning the craft (check out our various courses to help you get there) and remember a few easy-to-follow tips. Here are 19 things to remember on your way to becoming a paid travel writer.
Read every single day: Read as many travel magazines (print and digital) and books as you can to get an idea of the kind of writing that's out there. Study the different writing styles (digital vs. print, features vs. news, listicles vs. personal essays, etc.) and techniques used by different writers that you like, and try to emulate the ones that resonate with you.
Cultivate curiosity: Curiosity is an essential trait for any travel writer. Approach each new story and destination with an open mind and a sense of wonder. While traveling, ask questions, explore off-the-beaten-path locations, and look for unique angles that will make your writing stand out. But don’t forget to stay curious at home too. All the things you’d personally google — when’s the best time to visit Spain? Which luggage set is actually the best? How do I properly travel with my child’s medication? — are all potential stories. Don’t forget to look for stories in your everyday life, too.
Keep a travel journal: Keeping a travel journal is a great way to both record your personal memories and practice your travel writing skills. It’s a no-pressure situation as you can write whatever you want, however, you want. And this way, you’ll also have detailed notes if you ever wish to pitch your trip to a publication.
Take photos: Taking photos of the places you visit is both a great way to keep a visual journal and build up a secondary skill that is complementary to your writing. You can always add your photos to your pitch for an additional fee, or use them to pitch a social media takeover on a publication’s account. It’s also a stellar way to build up a backlog of content for our next point…
Start a travel blog: Don’t want to wait on someone else to accept your pitches? Start your own travel blog and put all those photos and notes in your travel journal to good use. It's an excellent way to get your writing noticed and build a following all at once. And this way, you have something to show editors if they ask to read a few of your clips.
Learn to research: Building research skills is a critical part of becoming a writer of any beat. For travel writing, it’s key to learn how to research destinations, attractions, and activities. When did they open? How many people visit each year? What’s the pricing model? Are there experts you can talk to in these places to help inform stories? Accurate and detailed research is critical to writing informative and engaging travel articles. And bonus tip: Be transparent in your reporting. Add links anywhere and everywhere you can in a story (link to restaurants, attractions, other blogs, or news outlets where you sourced the information), so your readers can click through to do their own research, too.
Build your online presence: Building an online presence shows you’re immersed in the conversation around your chosen beat. It’s easy. All you need to do is create social media profiles, participate in travel-related conversations and forums, and contribute where appropriate. This does NOT mean you need a million followers or even a thousand. It just means you’re there, and know what’s going on.
Learn to market yourself: Along with building an online presence, it’s a good idea to learn how to market yourself as a travel writer. Develop a personal brand on social media that feels unique to you and your interests (family travel tips, solo travel tips, adventure, etc.). Create a space people — and editors — want to follow. Use this personal brand to show expertise when you reach out to editors to show you’re the right person for particular pitches and assignments. If you need help finding your niche or “beat,” check out our How to Find Your Beat course with special guest Jeff Jenkins.
Build relationships: Build relationships with others in your craft. We’re talking everyone from editors to PR pros, other writers in the industry, and anyone else you can think of. Creating a community around you is important both for your morale and as a way to potentially get published. Heard about a publication looking for pitches that aren’t right for you but may be right for someone else? Share those opportunities. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats. There’s also one more way to build relationships…
Attend trade shows: If you can, try to attend travel writing trade shows to network with travel industry professionals and learn about new destinations, products, and services. Check out shows like Travel Classics, which allows freelancers to meet 1-1 with editors from around the industry. Pitch your ideas, or just connect for the future.
Develop your storytelling skills: As a travel writer, your job is not just to list the A-Z on the places you visit but to tell stories that engage and inspire readers. Focus on developing your storytelling skills by using vivid descriptions, creating interesting characters, and weaving together narrative threads that keep readers hooked. Want to learn more about this? Try our How to Write for Digital Media with editor Brandon Berkson or How to Write a Feature with Rachel Chang courses.
Pitch your ideas: Don’t sit on your ideas forever, or be too afraid to share them. Pitch your travel writing ideas to publications, both online and in print. The worst they can say is “no thanks,” and that’s OK. Be prepared to receive rejections, but don't let it discourage you. It’s all a part of the process. But if you feel like you need help with your pitches, try our How to Pitch Editors course with editor Jordyn Taylor, which comes with a super helpful template to perfect your pitch.
Take feedback constructively: If you received feedback from an editor on your pitch, know that this is a VERY good sign. It means they took the time to review your pitch, and though they didn’t have the space for it right now (perhaps they didn’t have the budget or had another editorial need at the moment), they thought highly enough of it to reply to out of the hundreds of pitches they receive a day. If an editor sends feedback on your writing, it’s also important to take it in stride. Receiving feedback on your writing can be tough, but it's an essential part of the learning process. Use it to improve and refine your approach.
Be persistent: Again, receiving a rejection or two (or ten) can be hard to get past. But persistence is key to becoming a successful travel writer. And, travel writing is a competitive field, and success often requires a lot of hard work and dedication. But just focus on what you can control — keep writing, keep pitching, and keep improving your skills as you go.
Stay organized: As a travel writer, especially as a freelance writer, organization becomes key to your success. Writing often involves a lot of moving parts, from pitching to research to invoicing. Stay organized by creating a system for keeping track of deadlines, contacts, and other important details. Use free tools like Google Excel sheets to paid programs like Freshbooks to keep all your important information at your fingertips.
Be willing to take risks: To stand out in the crowded travel writing field, you need to be willing to take risks and try new things. Be open to new experiences, and don't be afraid to experiment with your writing style or approach to fit a new publication that may be different than the ones you’re used to pitching and reading.
Stay passionate: One of the most important tips we can give you for becoming a successful travel writer is to stay passionate about what you do. Stay passionate about exploring, writing, learning, and sharing with the world.
Keep learning: Journalism, in general, is a constantly evolving field, and there's always something new to discover. Stay up-to-date on industry trends, continue to hone your craft by taking courses (like ours!), and be willing to try new things, like new social platforms, new ways of writing, and working with new editors. With persistence, dedication, and a passion for exploration, you can build a fulfilling career as a travel writer.
Travel: It seems like a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember that this job does require putting in some literal miles. Travel to gain firsthand experience and knowledge about different destinations. But remember: You don’t have to always travel far to find success. Start by exploring and pitching around what you know best — your own backyard. Think neighborhood guides and state-specific features, or pitch a feature around someone who you know is deserving of the spotlight.