http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/forum/getting-started Travel Writers Exchange Forum Home » Forum: Getting Started - Recent Posts en-US Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:22:53 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/search.php http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/question-on-travel-writing#post-2577 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:02:32 +0000 rlb78 2577@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Thanks for the info. After reading your post, I found a book "Travels" by Michael Crichton and how he wrote that book is exactly how I need to write my book. It's actually a memoir of his travels. So with your post and his book I now know the direction I need to head in. </p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>rlb78 </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/question-on-travel-writing#post-2576 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 09:45:01 +0000 Trisha Miller 2576@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hello rlb78 - welcome to our forum!</p> <p>Whether or not it would be considered travel writing depends primarily upon one thing - is the destination (or destinations as the case may be) the focus of the book, such that the story is mostly about the place? Or is the experience(s) you had the focus? If it's the former, then it would be considered travel writing. If it's the latter, then it likely would not, unless you still wove in enough place information that your experiences would not have happened elsewhere. </p> <p>If you don't mind a suggestion, since it sounds like you haven't yet started writing the book, you might consider learning more about the history and culture of the places you visited, and find ways to work them into your story - it would enrich your book with details that the readers would likely appreciate.</p> <p>And there's nothing wrong with having an insanely long bucket list!</p> <p>I'd love to hear how your book project turns out - please come back and post an update sometime. &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/question-on-travel-writing#post-2574 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:34:53 +0000 rlb78 2574@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>I've been on 3 very long solo road trips and I plan to write the experiences and adventures I've had into a book. Is that considered travel writing or is it just a non-fiction book of personal experiences? I don't know much about the history of the places I've been to. I went to those places to experience them personally and to check them off my extremely, insanely long bucket list.</p> <p>Thanks,</p> <p>rlb78 </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/hello-from-new-member#post-2571 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:48:49 +0000 Trisha Miller 2571@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hello pariswriter - welcome to the Forum! Sorry for the delay in replying - summer is a busy time for travel writers as many are traveling (as I am now).....</p> <p>You're already on the right track - typically what you'll be asked to provide is links to online articles, clips (or a list of articles showing the name of the publication, date of issue, and title of article) for offline articles, and a link to your own travel blog or portfolio site. Increasingly, publications are also asking for your site/blog traffic statistics, including geo/demographic data if it's available (both Google Analytics and Clicky Stats do a good job and are easy to add). Although it's rare to be asked for your social media platforms and numbers, it can hurt to volunteer that information if you have a good number of Twitter followers and Facebook Fans (because you should have your own Page - formerly called a Fan Page - in addition to your profile).</p> <p>Also, although this blog post deals with how to get invited on Media Trips (aka Press Trips), there is some good information on the type of data reporting that many publications, as well as PR firms, are looking for - you may find it interesting.</p> <p><a href="http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/2010/11/how-to-get-invited-on-press-trips/" rel="nofollow">http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/2010/11/how-to-get-invited-on-press-trips/</a></p> <p>I hope this helps! </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/trends-in-writing#post-2565 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:37:39 +0000 Trisha Miller 2565@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi Sucheta - welcome to our Forum~</p> <p>What I've been seeing in the last few years is a blending of food writing and travel writing, where in the past food writing was primarily a description of a particular dish, cuisine, or restaurant (or Chef), now the predominant style is to write about <em>where</em> one goes to enjoy a particular dish or cuisine......sort of a travelogue for food aficionados....</p> <p>The travel articles that combine food writing that I like best are those that deal with a country's (or region's) style of cooking and the dishes that are unique to a specific place. I like to learn how to cook something new directly from a native cook, not always necessarily a professional chef, but someone who grew up learning recipes that have been handed down through generations. And I like to learn a bit about the country or region at the same time - how did the dish or style of cooking evolve? What is it about the locally sourced ingredients that lend uniqueness to the dish?</p> <p>I think many people can appreciate such writing because so many more people are interested in cuisine these days are will travel to experience it, so it's a very interesting and potentially lucrative genre to specialize in as a writer.</p> <p>Good luck! I'd love to hear more about your experience with it if you follow this path! &lt;img src=&quot;http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/my-plugins/bb-smilies/default/icon_smile.gif&quot; title=&quot;:-)&quot; class=&quot;bb_smilies&quot; /&gt; </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/trends-in-writing#post-2564 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 09:42:12 +0000 sucheta 2564@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi<br /> I am writing an article for IACP &amp; would like to know how a food writer can combine travel writing into their line of work? What are some trends seen in the marketplace? Any tips, advice or success stories you can share? </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/hello-from-new-member#post-2559 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:58:01 +0000 pariswriter 2559@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi, Everyone, </p> <p>Just a new member saying hello! I've joined to get some help figuring out how to bump my travel writing up to the next level. I've written some small articles in small publications and I'm thinking it's time to go for bigger pubs and pitch meatier content. </p> <p>My first question is:<br /> Thus far, the people I've wanted to interview and the venues I've covered were basically so small that no one really asked me to provide links to articles I'd written, proof of credentials, etc. </p> <p>If and when I start going after bigger interviews and larger venues, events, etc., what can I reasonably expect they'll ask me for? I know you can't say exactly, but what has been your experience?</p> <p>Thanks, Everyone! </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/web-vs-print-world-advice-needed#post-2542 Sat, 14 May 2011 03:41:47 +0000 thepassenger 2542@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi Everyone,</p> <p>Though I’d ask your advice as am in a bit of a quandry. I’m a beginner travel writer, having done it entirely for the love of it and amusement of friends so far, and travel relatively little compared to anyone doing a round-the-world trip or living in another country for years (although aspire to travel more). I’m hoping to start my own travel blog in the near future, and that’s where I need your help. I write (and want to keep writing) longish narrative style travelogues rather than guidebook-style features or travel tips or similar. The principal aim is to get better at writing, amuse more people than just my friends, and hopefully inspire potential traveller in an indirect way – and although I obviously wouldn’t say no to being paid for my efforts, I realise just how near impossible it is and also have a 9-5 job which I’ve no intention of giving up – so earning is not a goal at this stage. </p> <p>The question is, do folks bother keeping travel blogs for similar purposes, or is a travel blog something that is potentially meant for ‘quick digestion’ travel banter, i.e. the said and despised tips on “why a passport might be handy for international travel”? I’m aware that any writing is obviously done differently for web than for print, and what I’ve written so far is more long and thorough rather than short and snappy. Having looked through a lot of existing blogs, I notice that most authors tend to keep their “serious” writing elsewhere (presumably, for the potential or existing glories of being printed) and primarily use the blog for marketing, rants or light stuff. As I would like to grow as a writer, is starting with a blog defeating this purpose – and should I aim to squirrel away everything I write and work on being published in print, instead?</p> <p>Any advice, musings, related tales of joy and woe much appreciated. </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/promoting-book#post-2538 Fri, 13 May 2011 02:48:36 +0000 anu_v 2538@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p>Hi,</p> <p>I am thinking of writing a travel book. When it happens, I will like to promote it via this forum. Thanks. regards, Anu </p> http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/topic/series-of-free-articles-for-new-travel-writers#post-2371 Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:47:14 +0000 allencox 2371@http://www.travel-writers-exchange.com/Forum/ <p><em>Allen Cox, a professional freelance writer, provides a free series of articles for new travel writers geared to help them market their work and their brand.</em></p> <p>Allen Cox dedicates much of his time and energy to helping emerging travel writers learn to navigate the writing and publishing business.</p> <p>"The protocols and etiquette of the publishing industry are particularly daunting to new freelance writers" says Cox. "Learning to navigate this maze can speed the process from idea to publication, but it takes research and, with any luck, a good mentor."</p> <p>Cox's series of articles, "Nuggets for New Travel Writers," is available on his blog:<br /> <u><a href="http://www.localroads.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.localroads.wordpress.com</a></u>.</p> <p>"Feedback about the series from other writers has been tremendous," Cox says.</p> <p>He plans to post a new installment in the series approximately every week. Articles so far help writers understand the advantages of forming relationships with destination marketing professionals, how to prepare fully before sending an editorial pitch, how to build a portfolio utilizing local topics and more.</p> <p>About Allen Cox: Allen Cox is a professional freelance writer specializing in magazine features, guidebooks, commercial copywriting, editing and communications consulting. He serves on the Board of Directors for International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Assoc. and is co-chair of Pacific NW Travel Writers Conference. </p>