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GoNomad
Website: www.gonomad.com

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Dear Reader,

Earlier this week, we heard from a number of disappointed readers. They'd queried Country Discoveries -- last week's Featured Publication -- only to learn that the magazine is closing up shop.

Our apologies for sending you to the trouble of a query letter for naught. And shame on us for not doing our homework more thoroughly.

This week's Featured Publication, GoNomad, is -- most definitely -- still in business. In today's issue, freelance travel writer Roberta Beach Jacobson (whose work has been published there) reveals the inside scoop on how to land a by-line in this e-zine.

Also, she offers a smart piece of intelligence about how you can get funding for your next trip. See below for all the details.

Have a great week,

-- Lori

Lori Appling
Director, AWAI's Travel Division

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Editor Max Hartshorne of the GoNomad ezine wants unique, entertaining coverage about travel experiences or destinations. To make him happy, think snappy.

If you write for GoNomad, it’s best to avoid guidebook lingo, promotional hype, and extra fluff. [Ed. Note: See "Do you suffer from "Travel Speak?" in the travel writing resources below.]

Give him oodles of specifics – details folks would need to really get the most out of a trip to the destination you are covering, everything arranged in short paragraphs with plenty of sub-heads to keep readers riveted. Typical articles run anywhere from 800 to 2,000 words.

GoNomad solicits several types of articles:

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1.) A first-person account of a unique trip (known as “Journeys” - sidebar information is required for this type of piece) or
2.) A “Destination Mini-Guide” to a favorite region or city.

I did a mini-guide to our little Greek island. You can read what I wrote here:
http://www.gonomad.com/destinations/0102/jacobsen_karpathosmineguid.html

And the good news is that for a mini-guide piece, GoNomad supplies you with a template of what to write about, which makes the job that much easier.

You'll have to sniff out tons of little facts and details to chalk up a sale to GoNomad.

I had to hunt down telephone numbers for cafes, hotels, and restaurants as well as website addresses for businesses and local activities that I covered in my piece. It's a lot of effort for the $25 offered, but I rarely refuse a travel-writing challenge because of the pay rate. After all, it’s another by-line and a clip to add to my portfolio!

Don't get the impression Max wants you to supply him with nothing but a bunch of facts. He encourages writers to get creative. You can submit photos too (sent in .jpeg or .gif). However, your photos will need very detailed captions. And here’s a novel idea: You can also send him sound clips (mp3).

If you’re interested in writing for GoNomad, you should write a query letter first, and keep it to a single page. Query Max at editor@gonomad.com or contact him on Skype (user name gonomad).

However, before you begin, I’d recommend that you read the ezine's comprehensive guidelines for writers: http://www.gonomad.com/corp/writerguidelines.htm.

Here’s a tip to help get you to the top of GoNomad’s query list. If you put a link on your personal website that goes either to GoNomad's guidelines or to a particular story, your query gets scooted up to the head of the waiting list!

And another tip to help fund your travels: Take a few moments to find out about how to apply for GoNomad’s quarterly travel grants. The next deadline is the end of this month, June 2006. You’ll find all the details at: http://www.gonomad.com/contest/contestrules.html


By Roberta Beach Jacobson
For The Write Way to Travel

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Travel Writing Resources:

*** "Do you suffer from "Travel Speak?" Here's the cure...:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/archive/issues/issue_004.php

*** Leave Your Money At Home! If you’re still paying to travel, let us help: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/toolkit

*** Where to find the power words that make your descriptions rich, sophisticated, and professional:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/archive/issues/issue_002.php

*** Discover 46 countries on six continents for under $40…:
http://www.isecureonline.com/Reports/120SWBST/W120G4AW/

*** Think Like a Spy... And Sell More Articles and Photos:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/archive/issues/issue_103.php

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