Edited by Lori Appling in Bethany Beach, DE.

"Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." -- Albert Schweitzer

Today:

• Travel Writing, The Perfect Job
• Do You Have What It Takes to Write For This Market?
• Press Trip Etiquette: How to Get Invited Back
• This Week's Featured Travel Publication: Get Lost Magazine
• More Opportunities and Resources for Writers

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Dear Reader,

It’s not unusual for mouths to drop open when you tell people that you're a travel writer. The truth is: Travel writing sounds like the perfect job. And in many ways, it really is. You can justify all sorts of travel you would never be able to in another line of work. And established travel writers are treated regularly to all sorts of benefits like free trips, meals, accommodation, tickets to shows, invitations to exhibit openings, and more...

Which brings me to today's article from freelance travel writer and press-trip connoisseur, Jerre Repass. I asked Jerre for some insight into the world of press trips -- those all-expenses-paid jaunts sponsored by a resort or tour company or airline or city or country (or anybody in the market for some "press"). She said the key to getting invited back on press trips is to be nice, act professional, and for heaven's sake cut your hair. No, I'm kidding about the hair… just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

You'll find Jerre's worthwhile advice below.

In addition, if you'd like to find out more about press-trip listings, writer credentials, and establishing yourself as a professional writer, check out the ITWPA at www.itwpa.com.

ITWPA members, by the way, get $200 off our live events -- like the photography workshop in Paris (www.thetravelwriterslife.com/parisphoto) and our upcoming travel writer workshop in New York.

And don't forget to keep me up-to-speed on your travel-writing success. If you have a story to share, send me a quick note at lori@thetravelwriterslife.com.

Happy travels,

-- Lori

Lori Appling
Director, AWAI's Travel Writer Program

P.S. Know a friend or two who'd enjoy the freedom and independence of a writer's life? They, too, can sign up to receive this free e-letter weekly at: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/eletter

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PRESS TRIP ETIQUETTE: HOW TO GET INVITED BACK

By freelance travel writer, Jerre Repass in Brinkley, AR

It’s pretty much like your mother told you: “Act nicely so they’ll invite you back.” The first press trip invitation a new writer gets is a real milestone, but when you get the second one, well that’s something to celebrate. You must’ve done something right!

Press trips (sometimes called “fam tours”) are how local tourism people attract writers to their part of the country with the very real goal of getting their pet projects in print or on the airways. They are as short as a weekend or as long as a week. They are exciting, tiring, meaningful, network building, and stressful, sometimes all in the same day.

There are certain obvious expectations of the writer that pretty well mimic the first day of school: Be on time, dress neatly, have all of your supplies. But there are other more subtle requirements that really show a writer up as an amateur or a professional.

Do your homework. You will get an itinerary ahead of time. Sometimes you even get press materials. You can do a little extra internet research as well before you go so that you don’t ask, as one experienced writer put it, “the most naïve of questions.” Yes, there are stupid questions.

The bookend of that is, don’t be a know-it-all. Many writers have done lots of traveling, but don’t “been-there-done-that” endlessly. Let the other writers tell their stories (even the shy ones). The most well traveled among us can learn something from the least traveled. Being the conversation-dominant one at a four-hour party is a bore. To do so for four days is insufferable!

If you are contagiously ill, don’t go on a press trip. A dozen people in a van for extended periods of time become a real Petri dish. And if you have to cancel, let your host know as soon as you can so someone else may be able to fill your spot.

After a few trips, you may know some of the participants in a given group. But this isn’t a game of survival. You don’t need to form cliques and alliances. Mix and mingle. Learn from each other. Bounce a few ideas around and be a source of encouragement to your fellow writers.

Writing is a lonely profession by nature; we need to network. To this end, be sure to take plenty of business cards: Share them early and often. One PR company we travel with asks that everyone changes seats at each stop. It’s not a bad idea – a great way to get acquainted like it or not. When you get home, follow up with a friendly e-mail.

If you do get the best seat (riding shotgun beside the driver), don’t think you own it. Sit somewhere else the next day. And be considerate of the limited space the van provides. Yes, we do hit a lot of gift shops but buy small or have your stuff shipped home. Your compatriots won’t care how unique that serving tray is after it falls out of the van at every stop for three days.

Meal time is another opportunity to make new professional contacts. Writers who are asked back don’t order everything off the menu and don’t make a major media event of some special dietary needs. Many firms ask about diet preferences in the first inquiry anyway and plan ahead for the needs of their guests.

Even if you are paying the liquor bill (which is getting to be more and more the trend) don’t get drunk. It reflects badly on everybody. You are not as anonymous as you may think. The world of the travel writer is a small one and PR people share lots of information.

The best-planned press trips have writers from all over the country. That way there’s not so much competition for the same markets and the clients will get more coverage. Your group becomes a melting pot of different cultures, races, and genders. A great rule of thumb anywhere, but especially in such a closed environment, is to avoid making jokes or remarks that are based on gender, race or ethnicity. Don’t use profane language even if you think it is “colorful.” Others from less “progressive” parts of the country may easily be offended. Such offense builds a wall in a very tight place.

Don’t fall in love with the itinerary. Be flexible in your thinking about scheduling. The weather, a loquacious guide, or the addition of an unscheduled stop can all throw a monkey wrench into anyone’s plan. At the end of a long travel day, we were on our way to a five-star restaurant but the clock got away from us while we were still several hours from our destination and it would have been very late by the time we even sat down to eat. Put to a vote, we decided on the golden arches supper club. It turned out to be one of our bonding moments.

Pack at least the basics in your carryon if you will be arriving by plane. Odds are eventually you will be glad you did! Don’t wear out your welcome. Be inquisitive instead of bored. Be appreciative instead of expectant. Offer thanks instead of complaints. I hope to travel with you soon!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: GET YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED CLIP IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS -- Join the International Travel Writers & Publishers Alliance (ITWPA) today and use their many membership benefits to land your first assignment -- fast. Membership includes: writer credentials (a membership ID badge vouching for your status as a travel writer), business cards with the ITWPA logo printed on them and monthly newsletters that list available press trips as well as markets where you might consider publishing your articles. Plus $200 off any writing-related event sponsored by the organization (including Jen Stevens' live travel-writing workshops). For more details visit their website: www.itwpa.com ]

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This Week's Featured Travel Publication

Get Lost Magazine is an award-winning publication that regularly features articles on worldwide travel and adventure travel. Articles run at less than 1000 words and should be both an irreverent and informative read. Still fairly new on the scene, Get Lost is not yet a paying publication, but they do offer publicity and some prestige. Send queries or submissions to Leslie Strom at lstrom@getlostmagazine.com. View their complete guidelines including departments at http://www.getlostmagazine.com/masthead/guidelines.html#guide

Opportunities and Resources for Writers

GET YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED CLIP IN LESS THAN 6 MONTHS --
Join the International Travel Writers & Publishers Alliance (ITWPA) today and use their many membership benefits to land your first assignment -- fast. Membership includes: writer credentials (a membership ID badge vouching for your status as a travel writer), business cards with the ITWPA logo printed on them and monthly newsletters that list available press trips as well as markets where you might consider publishing your articles. Plus $200 off any writing-related event sponsored by the organization (including Jen Stevens' live travel-writing workshops). For more details visit their website: www.itwpa.com