Picture the Scene:
You’re in a gondola in Switzerland, 2,000 feet up, with alpine peaks looming ahead, a bungee cord tied to your waist and a camera atop your helmet. A Japanese TV cameraman hangs outside the open gondola door, ready to film your leap of faith.
Or you’re backstage in New Orleans, checking the scene at Congo Square, where fans swoon for Drake by his trailer, and Mardi Gras Indians don headdresses on their way to the stage.
Maybe you’re in the control tower of the Bellagio Las Vegas, pushing the button to start the dancing water fountain show.
You might be hiking the Italian Riviera, shopping Paris consignment shops or peddling along Korea rice paddies peppered with sculpted Buddhas.
All on assignment as a working travel writer.
Sounds awesome, right? Truth told, it is. As a travel writer, there’s nothing quite like being in a destination on assignment, tasked with trying great activities, researching local lore and learning about the unique attractions of a place.
The sense of access is thrilling, and the work identifying great stuff for travelers is intriguing, rewarding and just plain fun.
And it’s not too good to be true. I know, because I did all of these things, on assignment, during my career as a travel writer.< And you can too!
It’s a great time to be a travel writer!
It’s the age of the digital nomad. The tools for success are at your fingertips. The power to build and grow your personal brand is there for you to wield.
Global travel has never been more accessible, and making it as a travel writer is well within the reach of anyone willing to hustle and put in the work.
The most successful travel writers are the ones who diversify their skills, develop expertise in parallel mediums like photography or podcasting, run web sites, and stay ahead of the content innovation curve.
Flexibility and creativity are key.
The travel marketplace has expanded swiftly in recent years. Print media has rebounded, and new publications have opened shop. Plenty of web sites need steady flows of travel content.
Writers have more avenues for their work. Online freelance marketplaces let writers find tons of content gigs, and post samples of their work. With ebooks, writers can create revenue streams and portfolio pieces all at once.
With social media, any writer can ramp up their promotional output, spreading the word about their work via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and more.
I created this site to share tips and best practices I’ve used for launching, and growing, a successful travel writing career. Click the links above for more info, and sign up for our making list for the latest updates and exclusive content. Thanks for stopping by!