Edited by Lori Appling in Arlington, VA

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." -- Helen Keller

Today:

• Pretend You’re in an Egg: The Difference between Creative Writing Exercises and Practical How-to Tips
• Practical Writing Prompt
• Your Questions Answered: How to Land More Paying Assignments
• Upcoming Workshops:  Only One Seat Left: Join Us on One of the Most Beautiful Islands in the World
• More Opportunities and Resources for Writers
  

Dear Reader,

“Pretend you’re in an egg…” said Jen Stevens in response to my suggestion that we start including "writing prompts" in our e-letters…

“Pretend you’re in an egg and write about what it feels like," she continued.

“I can't stand writing prompts like that.  When the heck am I ever going to be in an egg?" she said.  “Now, I know there are aspiring fiction writers who eat up exercises like that -- those writing-for-writing's-sake sort of things.

"But I tell you, I don't think those are the sorts of writing prompts that are going to help people looking for a career in travel writing.

“I'm not against this idea entirely, but what our readers need is sound, real-world advice… practical tips they can use for finding good story ideas… unearthing the right publications… acting the part of a seasoned professional… writing truly saleable articles… and editing their own work.

“For starters, why don’t you send me a few examples of article ideas from our members, and I'll use them to show how tweaking an idea -- using just a few easy fundamentals -- can transform something merely average into something truly unique and saleable. That will certainly help them more than having them pretend they’re in an egg.”

Now see… that’s what I like about Jen.  When she teaches travel writing she never teaches theory.  She offers up fundamentals, to be sure. But she does so with the "practical" in mind. And as a result, her advice has a way of lingering in the back of your head until the next time you go to put words on paper... when you can make smart use of it.

So, to find fodder for Jen, I went to the Peer Review section of our website forum and sent her the following note, which one of our readers had posted there (paraphrased here):

I'm heading to France in two weeks… driving with a friend through Provence and down to Valencia, Spain.  We’re two single women in our 50's and neither of us speaks French or Spanish. Which of these story ideas do you like best? 

"Beat the crowds on the Riviera and travel in the fall"
"Best Lunches with a view of the ocean/mountains/etc"
"What's so special about ...each town we visit ... "
"Menton, France - They named the town after me, won't someone buy me a drink! "
"Short reviews on the places we stay."
"Traveling to Europe and feeling secure"
Getting ready for the America's Cup in Valencia. etc, etc. thanks for your contributions.

Can you guess which one of these ideas is the most marketable?  Jen’s opinion might surprise you.  Take a minute now to pick your favorite and tune in tomorrow for Jen’s critique.  Like I said, you might be surprised at which she thinks holds the most potential.

** Interested in getting personalized critiques from Jen about your own ideas and articles?

You can next month. A handful of seats are still available for her Masters Workshop in Colorado Springs. 

Jen is determined to get results at this event.  She told me, “I’ve lined up this great press trip with my contacts at the tourist board and elsewhere in town and secured VIP passes to Colorado Springs attractions for any attendee who wants to stay an extra day or two and take advantage of offerings we don't have time to enjoy together -- like the train ride up to the top of Pikes Peak.

"I've got my good name on the line with my contacts here. They're expecting coverage from this press trip -- as they should -- and I'm committed to making sure they get it. Come hell or high water, I'm going to make sure these attendees get their stuff published. Because I have to live here, and I really don't want to make a mess of the perfectly nice relations I have with those tourism folks."

To turn Jen's determination into your good fortune and be one of the ten writers Jen takes under her wing, click here.

And as always, keep me up-to-speed on your travel-writing or photography success. If you have a story to share, send me a quick note at lori@thetravelwriterslife.com.

Have a great weekend,

-- Lori

Lori Appling
Director, AWAI's Travel Division

P.S. Do you like our new e-letter format? Check out the special departments below and let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see here.  You can reply to this email or post your thoughts on our reader forums.