Dear Reader,
Yesterday we were reminded by reader Mark Mayo how a little adventurous spirit can help you become a successful travel writer.
Mark visited Chernobyl and won first place in a travel writing contest for his story about it. If you missed it, you can read our interview with him here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2010/07/success_mark.php
Today, reader Maryalice Wood reminds us to make memories out of every day -- no matter how close to or far from home you are. Even better if you can share those memories with people and get paid for them -- which Maryalice does, multiple times for one trip.
Scroll down to find out how Maryalice easily turned a side-trip to Oman into three published, paid articles, plus her top three tips for doing the same in your travels...
-- Lori
Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division
P.S. Attendees at our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop coming up this August 5-7 in Santa Monica, CA will be privy to the same travel article blueprints Jennifer Stevens handed Maryalice when she enrolled in Jen’s written program last year. They’ll also get a list of new trends that are selling well within the industry, query letter samples, editor etiquette, and a host of places to send their stories when they register here.
Sign up before next Monday and save $200:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/santamonica
Or check out our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program online, here:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/twe/pp/website/]
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July 9, 2010
The Right Way to Travel
Reader Success Series #3: One side-trip, three paychecks
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HOW TO TURN ONE SIDE-TRIP INTO THREE PAID ARTICLES
Interview with travel writer Maryalice Wood
By Bonnie Caton in Portland, OR
BONNIE: Maryalice, why did you travel to Oman, and what makes it your favorite travel destination that you’ve written a story about?
MARYALICE: I flew to the Middle East to visit my sister who works in the UAE, but an unexpected side trip opened my eyes to the marvels of Oman. It is a unique destination -- not with the same "in-your-face"
display of luxury and magnificence you find in Dubai, but rather a harmony of great civilization and modern development.
My most amazing Omani experience involves a sleep-over in the desert.
In less than 24 hours, I was hooked, and to this day, Oman continues to captivate my spirit of adventure and zest for discovery.
BONNIE: Were you planning to write a story before you left?
MARYALICE: Long before, but especially since completing the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program, I have been writing about my travels. As usual, on this particular journey, I traveled with my essential tools:
the eye of a photographer, the mind of a writer... and always the heart of an adventurer.
I always travel with possible articles and photos to publish on my mind, but I don’t allow it to make me miss the moment I’m IN. With my camera I capture the details of each setting, but with my eyes and ears, I retain the memories. My hands bring the symphony together on the keyboard.
BONNIE: When and where did you publish your article on Oman?
MARYALICE: I jotted down a few notes the day after my side trip, but didn’t write a longer account about my incredible desert adventure until after returning home. I wrote for a period of less than 24 hours, and from that I’ve sold three articles, including photographs, from my trip to 40plus Travel and Leisure Ltd. (1,800 words and five photos for 55 British Pounds), International Living Postcards (short excerpt plus one photo for $50), and a local newspaper (another short variation with one photo for $25). This article was also printed in four other newspapers simultaneously.
On top of that, I also took a photograph of young Bedouin children that was nominated as one of the “Best of 2009” in the “Faces”category at igougo.com.
BONNIE: Wow, three published and paid articles from one trip! Did you receive any special treatment as a travel writer while you were on your travels, too?
MARYALICE: Not on this trip, as I sent the stories in after returning home. On other trips -- cruises in particular -- I have been upgraded when I wrote ahead to the cruise line and told them I would be writing about the journey.
BONNIE: That’s great. We often say that it’s a good idea to ask for upgrades and discounts in advance if you know you’re only going to get paid a few hundred dollars for your articles because it helps offset your travel costs. Travel writing may not be the most lucrative profession but it’s certainly one of the most glamorous and fun ones out there.
So congratulations to you on all of your travel writing success. Do you have any tips for those reading this interview who would like to do the same?
MARYALICE: Three tips I have for someone who’d like to get started writing travel articles are:
** 1. Research well before you go and don’t be afraid of spontaneity!
** 2. Take LOTS of photos -- let your camera be your daily journal.
** 3. Eat where the locals eat and keep your eyes and ears open.
BONNIE: Where to next?
MARYALICE: My next trip is to Nova Scotia for a Family Reunion where I am sure I will hear a lot of stories... and I’ve just returned from six weeks of circumnavigating Australia and Indonesia. I have several articles and photos in progress for submission from that trip.
Each day, whether at home or abroad, is another memory in the making-- I try to make it mine and then share it with others. And if I get paid for it, that's a welcome bonus!
BONNIE: Thanks, Maryalice!
[Ed. Note: Maryalice is smart to include photos with her travel articles. She knows by now that doing so greatly increases her chances of getting published -- and can sometimes double her pay, too. That’s why I’m sending professional photographer Shelly Perry to the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Santa Monica, CA, this August 5-7 to give everyone a run-down of what kinds of photos sell, what to look for, how to take photos that captivate both editors and audiences, and more. Sign up now and you can also elect to join Shelly for a one-day photo workshop add-on. You’ll find more details about the workshop
here.]
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