Dear Reader,

Yesterday I sent you a success story and tips on getting press trips from fellow reader and ITWPA member, Dawn-Marie Hanrahan. If you missed it, you’ll find it here in our e-letter archives: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09

Today, as the second issue in our Reader Success Series, I’m sending you a story from reader Linda Steinmuller, who began her writing career after coming to the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop a few years back... and, soon after, managed to sell a series of travel articles to a non-travel publication.

Scroll down to read her story and advice on getting editors to let you write what you love...

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. After coming to the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop, Linda landed a gig writing for her local newspaper. And she’s not the only reader enjoying such success. Bette BonFleur came up with an idea for a travel column for her local TV Station website, pitched it to them, and landed the job. And Dawn-Marie Hanrahan did the same with her local newspaper. There’s plenty of opportunity out there -- you just have to get out there and get started.

Join us at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop this July in Denver, Colorado, and learn from experienced writers and editors exactly how to pitch a piece that’ll catch an editor’s attention. And you could end up catching a lot more than that... like a regular paycheck, writer perks, press trips, and a paying gig doing something you love!

Sign up now and you’ll qualify for a big discount, here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09

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Reader Success Series #2
The Right Way to Travel
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GOT AN IDEA? GET YOUR PITCH TOGETHER, FIRST
By fellow reader, Linda Steinmuller

My writing career kicked off over three years ago, after I attended AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in my hometown of New York City. One important thing that I learned at the workshop was to start “local.”

With little writing experience under my belt, I walked into the office of my local Brooklyn newspaper, the Canarsie Courier, with an article I had written on a local event as a writing sample. They hired me as a freelance writer.

Over the next two years, I wrote feature articles for the newspaper, covering local people’s accomplishments. I dreamed of writing a weekly column for the Courier like “Day Trips from Brooklyn,” but they just weren’t looking for travel articles.

Then, with the onset of harder economic times and last summer’s rising gas prices, people were taking fewer vacations and traveling locally. It seemed a fitting time to pitch my idea to the Courier again.

I approached my editor based on the notion that people just weren’t traveling far. I mentioned that there were tons of great things to do right here in Brooklyn and the rest of New York City -- many of them discounted or free.

They loved the idea and agreed to publish a series of five “staycation” articles over the summer of 2008. Each article focused on a different area and theme (outdoors, culture, etc.) with an emphasis on special savings at each venue.

As a travel writer, I’ve learned to focus on these three important points:

** 1. Be an opportunity analyst. Identify a problem (i.e. what does someone need?) and offer a solution. For example, people need inexpensive trips where they don’t have to spend a lot of money on gas and airfare. One solution is to take a “staycation.”

** 2. Be persistent. You may pitch an idea at one point in time that a publication doesn’t need, but, over time, their needs may change, too.

** 3. Plan your pitch. Don’t just walk up to your editor and say “I’d like to write some articles on staycations.” Present valid reasons why the publication needs your article... and needs it now. For example, “In the present economy, with high fuel costs, people can’t afford to travel as before. Since a vacation is beyond the reach of many families, parents are looking for alternative ways to keep their kids busy. There is a vast array of wonderful things to do in New York City, many of which are discounted or free. I propose a series of articles on staycations that offers advice on things to do in the local area that will save on gas... and suit the family budget.”

[Ed. Note: Writers, don’t forget that sending photos along with a story can sometimes double your pay. If you’re not sure how to get editorial-quality photos, grab a set of Photo Tip Cards to carry with you when you’re researching a story. They’ll help you set your camera right so you can catch all the details of the cookies in the deli case, the flower baskets along the streets, the ideal beach sunsets, and the people and places you’ll want to include in your piece. Grab a set here: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/tip/getstarted .

More details about joining us in Denver, Ecuador or Santa Fe, here:

Denver: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09
Ecuador: http://www.lorisentmeecuador.com
Santa Fe: http://www.thephotographerslife.com/phw/santafe09 ]

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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.

It is coming to you because you are either a member of The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program or Turn Your Pictures into Cash, or you have opted to receive information about getting paid to travel from the AWAI Travel Division.

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