Here’s the drill. You can learn how to do some travel writing. There is no real secret to it other than proper planning and the willingness to do some hard work. That’s right. Travel writing is work. When everyone else is outside enjoying the weather and sipping a cold beer, you might need to be inside reading up on the area, or typing up some notes on your impressions of the town.

Now. That said–it is a lot of fun as well. My suggestions for those who are just starting out are simple, and if you are interested in working in this field, it will give you somewhere to begin. Here we go:

• Cultivate a sense of place. Jot down your first impressions about the place you are visiting. What is the atmosphere like? What are the people like? What stands out in terms of scenery? Even if you don’t intend on supplying your own photos, take a few for reference.
• Find out what the key stops in town are. Where does everybody go when they visit here?
• Find out what the key spots are for the locals. These are often different than the places the tourists will visit. This can wind up being a good hook for your article.
• Read. Check out books on your destination. Surf the web. Get educated–and do it before you go.
• Take notes and keep information. Postcards, brochures and other literature can help you with finding facts and your notes will help you with details. Don’t rely on your memory!
• Ask others. If you travel with a friend or spouse, ask them for their impressions as well. This can help you see things you may have otherwise missed.

Start out with some basics and practice your voice. Learning how to write well for the travel market can take a little time to work out, but it’s well worth the effort!

Photo copyright 2007 Catherine L. Tully