How to Write Travel Articles

How to Write and Sell Travel Articles (by Cathy Smith, Rosiepress, 2008) is a great book for anyone wanting to break into the travel-writing market, and for established travel writers who want to make sure they are doing everything they can to ensure success.


Tourists and Travelers

Cathy Smith begins her travel writing guide by writing that “There are tourists and there are travellers … if you want to be a travel writer you should also be a traveller.”

She then proceeds to offer great practical advice about the whys and hows of being a travel writer. Her advice is particularly helpful for beginners, but established travel writers will also pick up some tips from this award winning travel journalist.



Getting Started – Keep a Journal

In the chapter entitled ‘Getting Started’, Smith writes about the importance of keeping a journal, and gives examples of journal entries. A journal is critical if you want to recall important details from your travels.

Covers Beginning Travel Writer’s Questions

How to Write and Sell Travel Articles answers all the questions that a beginning travel writer could have about researching, writing and selling travel articles. Smith covers topics including: ‘getting ideas’, ‘working efficiently’, ‘dealing with writer’s block’, ‘researching and accuracy’, ‘specialized knowledge’, and ‘getting the angles that will get editors’ attention’.

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Marketing is Vital to Writing Success

The chapters on marketing are particularly helpful and insightful, and stress the importance of marketing to writing success. Smith notes that: “One of the hardest lessons a freelance writer must learn is to direct an article to a specific audience.” Later, she adds that “It has often been said that while amateurs talk about writing, professionals talk about marketing.” If you want to be a professional you have to change your writing mind-set.



A List of Editors’ Pet Peeves

Smith concludes her book with a list of editors’ pet peeves, which include: “Articles that bear absolutely no relationship to the requirements of the magazine or newspaper they are submitting to”; “Contacting editors with half-formed ideas”; and “Failure to meet deadlines.”


Author Paul Linus



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