The woes of a travel writer – Part II

Updated: Mar 20th, 2010

In part two, discover how this situation could have been handled and what a travel writer is supposed to do. You’ll learn valuable lessons which you can apply to other writing assignments. Remember, there’s always a silver lining!

What happened?

After you discover another writer has written your assigned articles, you email the editor. You ask “did I do something wrong?” You plead your case that you can be humorous and witty. After this point, all you can do is wait for a response.

Here’s the response: “We had a budget meeting and decided to stick with the writers we already had. It’s nothing you did wrong as a writer. It’s strictly a budget issue.” You may be glad to hear that it’s nothing you did as a writer, but you’re still disappointed.

How the situation could have been handled

Here’s how this situation could have been handled: “Travel writers, it’s with regret that I must inform you that your writing services are no longer needed. Due to budget constraints, we decided to stick with our “core” writers. We are truly sorry to have to let you go. We will contact you if we have a need for your writing services in the future. We wish you the best of luck with your travel writing.”

What’s a travel writer to do?

Being a travel writer is fun, but it’s still a job. Make sure you have clear communication with your editors. If you feel you do not have clear communication, consider walking away from the assignment and look for another one to replace it. There’s someone, somewhere who can use a few good writers.

Reality

Remember, you may be a travel writer, but you’re not immune to job issues. The good news is you can do something about this. Treat your travel writing career like you would any other career. Before you accept an assignment, ask questions and understand what will be expected of you as a writer.

Also, do not get attached to your writing or the outcome of a job situation. It’s just life. Yes, sometimes things do happen for a reason. Go with the flow and you’ll enjoy writing even more!

Rebecca

Did this ever happen to you?

About Amandah Blackwell 198 Articles

Amandah Blackwell is a creative, freelance and ghost writer for industries that include but are not limited to the arts & entertainment, travel, publishing, real estate, pets, personal and professional development, and much more.

Amandah's personal writing projects include screenplays, teleplays, YA, non-fiction, short stories, and poetry. 

You can find more of her writing at www.MisticCafe.com, savvywritingcareers.wordpress.com, and www.savvy-writer.com.

You can follow Amandah on Twitter at:  http://twitter.com/savvy_writer

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