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American Writers & Artists, Inc and International
Living present
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The Write Way to TravelIssue#39 "Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose. It is a seeking that he who wishes may know the cosmic secrets of the world and that they dwell therein." -- Zora Neale Hurston TODAY:
Advertisement CAN YOU WRITE A SIMPLE LETTER? If you answer yes, you could be in big demand, earning big money, writing just a few hours a day from anywhere in the world you choose to be. Here's how you can learn the secrets of this little-known, lucrative business: http://www.thewriterslife.com/ph/tw89 Dear Reader, No matter how painstaking you are in your note-taking, you'll undoubtedly find it necessary to do additional research -- before your trip, during your trip, and even when you get home and you're ready to write. That used to mean sitting in a library slogging through books, magazines, and microfilmed periodicals. And to a certain extent, you'll still find those sources useful. But for the most part, the Internet has made our jobs a lot easier. Below you'll find 18 sites every travel writer should have "bookmarked." (Instructions for bookmarking sites are at the bottom of Karen's article below.) In the meantime, congratulations again to Wendy VanHatten. I met Wendy in Las Vegas earlier this year when she attended our Ultimate Travel Writer's Workshop. She writes this week. "I just want to let you know I have sold a couple more articles. Trips and Journeys will be printing one on Christmas in Pacific Beach, CA and Go World Travel will be printing one on Punta Bete, Mexico. I have submitted more and so far have positive feedback. A regional magazine, of which I am a regular travel contributor, purchased one on my cat that stays at home while we travel. I will not be able to attend in San Diego. We just returned from Germany, France, and Luxembourg and will be in San Diego in Dec. (we have a son there). Thanks for all the newsletters, etc. I enjoy reading and using them as I write." You can read more about Wendy's story -- how (and why) she went from health-care professional to travel writer -- in our online e-letter archives at www.thetravelwriterslife.com (Issue #9). And if you're still milling over joining us in San Diego, let me assure you it's worth it. The big advantage of these live workshops is that they're designed in such a way that you leave with a publishable article in your hands. I've seen retired couples, opera singers, band members, nurses, sound engineers, photographers, and people from just about every background you can imagine transform themselves into travel writers in just 4 days. You'll find some of their stories here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/workshop/bb Have a great rest of your weekend 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. -- Lori Lori Appling
P.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 PUTTING THE INTERNET TO WORK FOR YOU: 18 MUST-HAVE LINKS EVERY
TRAVEL WRITER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Pre- and post-trip research doesn't have to be (and shouldn't be) painful. The trick is knowing where to look. The internet makes this a piece of cake. I used many of these links in preparing for my trip to Yorktown, VA, and suggest you do the same before your next trip. [EDITOR'S NOTE: Karen took a short day-trip to Yorktown a few weeks back and wrote us about her experience. To find out how she researched her trip and how you can do the same, see issue #35 in our e-letter archives at www.thetravelwriterslife.com ] Here are eighteen websites every travel writer should have at his fingertips: Useful Sites for Research www.towd.com www.google.com www.xe.com/ucc www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook www.newspaperlinks.com Find Press Releases and Press Trips Where to go to Sell Your Article If you're an Ultimate Travel Writer Course Graduate you have an "in" with these publications: Written course graduates can find their writer's guidelines and instructions for submitting their articles under the AWAI umbrella in your course book or live workshop course book. You can also check out Writer's Digest or Writer's Market where you'll find a complete listing of thousands of writer's guidelines. [EDITOR'S NOTE: You'll find discounts for both Writer's Digest and Writer's Market below] Writing Tips www.writersdigest.com www.dictionary.com Travel Tips www.tripadvisor.com www.fodors.com www.onebag.com A word of caution: These sites are great for getting ideas and story leads, but always double check what you read against a credible source. You don't want to confuse someone's opinion with fact. [Karen Pevenstein attended our Ultimate Travel Writers Course just this past May in Paris. Graduates from our live travel writing workshops boast more success and see more bylines than most, which is why these events always sell out. To boost your own chances of success many times over, join us in San Diego this November 11-14. These stateside events mean fewer days away and less travel expense than our overseas programs, so they always fill up fast. To find out more, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/workshop/bb] Advertisement Big Bucks for Snapshots: Photos can be a remarkably strong sales tool when you're approaching an editor with a story. They can significantly increase your chances of getting published (and earning extra income) -- that is, if you know how to take the kinds of photos editors like. Find out the simplest and best camera to take with you (you don't want to be lugging a trunk full of equipment)... how to use time of day... create a mood... how to photograph people versus landscapes and wildlife... and more: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/photos/tw4 NOTE: Big Bucks for Snap Shots is yours free when you enroll in Passport to Romance: The Ultimate Travel Writer's Course at http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/sh/tw4 QUICK TIP: HOW TO "BOOKMARK" A WEBSITE If you're using Internet Explorer: 1. Go to the website you wish to bookmark 2. Right click on the page 3. Select "Add to Favorites." If you're using Netscape: 1. Go to the website you wish to bookmark 2. Right click on the page 3. Select "Add Bookmark." (Note: You might consider renaming the site to something you'll remember if the site doesn't suggest a useful name for you.) Then, when you're ready to prepare for your next trip you can simply click the "Favorites" or "Bookmark" tab at the top of your toolbar and all of the sites you bookmarked will appear in a window off to the side.ready for you to visit again. THIS WEEK'S FEATURED TRAVEL PUBLICATION ISLANDS Magazine focuses on islands of all kinds all around the world from the urban to the nearly deserted. Writing should capture the essence of the island making the reader feel as if they are there experiencing it themselves. ISLANDS is published eight times a year and each issue contains several feature articles. Submit detailed article proposals along with clips or full manuscripts to editorial@islands.com. View the complete guidelines at http://www.islands.com/company/guidelines.asp. OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES FOR WRITERS:
The Write Way to Travel is a FREE weekly newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Institute, available to AWAI students and friends. © 2004 American Writers & Artists Institute To ADVERTISE in The Write Way to Travel or to send comments, news, research, or story ideas, e-mail Lori Appling at lappling@awaionline.com. NOTE: If URLs do not appear as live links in your e-mail program, please cut and paste the full URL into the location or address field of your browser. CHANGE OF ADDRESS? E-mail us at memberservices@awaionline.com with both your old AND new information in the body of the message. |
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