Break Into Travel Writing

break into travel writing

by Joe Wallace
There are lots of ways to break into travel writing. Aside from that wheezy old advice telling you the best way to do it is to go travel, it helps to study the approach of successful travel writers and get familiar with the style and tone that works.

Another oldie/moldy bit of advice about how to break into travel writing goes like this; “You can’t know how to break the rules until you fully understand the rules themselves.” Too true, but what I’ve found is that many great, maverick writers never bothered to learn the styles of the day.

They knew how to use proper grammar and sentence construction to be sure, but it’s clear from the early writings of people like Hunter S. Thompson and Steven Wells that once they cut loose and stayed true to their own voice, the writing really took off. Rote imitation really doesn’t pay off, but knowing how to creep past the editor in terms of story format and basic approach can definitely help a newcomer.

Travel writing is part observational, part “just the fact, Ma’am” and part Gonzo journalism. How to you quantify what good restaurant service is? What makes a clean, comfortable hotel room? Which vistas are breathtaking as opposed to merely spectacular? These are the issues you’ll get intimate with as you begin to break into travel writing and learn the ropes.

That’s why I suggest reading books like Best Travel Writing 2008: True Stories From Around The Globe. You can get a good sense of what writers found acceptable in their final drafts and what editors felt fit to publish as prime examples of good travel writing. Research this highly specialized (and fun) part of the writing game by seeing what the rest of the industry considers worthy.

Then you can set about doing it in your own voice. Don’t bother copying what you read in a book like this, just take note of the different kinds of travel stories you could write–the essay, the travelogue, destination reviews and other formats…then use those examples as a jumping off point for your own creativity.

One thought on “Break Into Travel Writing”

  1. It can also help to unlock your niche – what is your unique perspective on travel (although I guess that goes back to finding your voice). You want to make it true to you but interesting and helpful to everyone that will be reading.

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