The Travel Writers Life tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1 2009-07-02T21:20:45Z Movable Type 3.32 Recycle wine corks into wall and floor tiles tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.635 2009-07-03T21:07:17Z 2009-07-02T21:20:45Z Recycle wine corks: What comes from tree bark, flies through the air, then turns into a floor tile? A champagne cork, of course! recycle wine corks, too. See today’s Travel Tip #3 for details, below... And here's yesterday’s Travel Tip, with photos, on using buttons as earring holders. Don’t forget -- while I’m sending you these travel tips, you can get a whopping 75% off on some of our very best books, programs, and resources during our 4th of July sale. We’re even discounting the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program -- one of our biggest and best resources that can help you get paid for travel stories... and even score free trips. I really don’t think I’ll offer it at such a huge discount again any time soon. So grab it for 75% off while you can. TRAVEL TIP #3:

Recycle Wine Corks

Whenever you open a new bottle of wine -- whether traveling or at home -- keep the cork. Once you’ve got a drawer-full, you can package them up and send them to Yemm & Hart. They’ll turn your old wine stoppers into beautiful, pressed cork floor and wall tiles, like in this photo: To recycle wine corks, send them to: Wine Cork Recycling Yemm & Hart Ltd 425 North Chamber Dr Fredericktown, MO 63645 Besides recycling wine corks, Yemm & Hart makes flooring material out of tire rubber and colorful key rings, clipboards, countertops, and furniture out of recycled plastic. Send them your old wine corks and they’ll put you on a list to receive a sample of the recycled wine cork tiles. Note: if you drink a LOT of wine (or you know someone who owns a restaurant, vineyard, or wine bar), you should really make certain you start saving your stoppers. Soon, Yemm & Hart is planning to pay for cork. If you can send between 10 and 60 lbs of cork at a time, you can register as a supplier. Further resources: Recycle wine corks, register to be a supplier, and get more information, at Yemm & Hart. Recycle wine corks by turning them into crafts and gifts with these ideas. ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. This newsletter 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. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Buttons as Earring Holders tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.634 2009-07-02T14:39:10Z 2009-07-02T16:38:06Z Use buttons as earring holders to keep your earrings secure. Simply put the earring post trough the button hole, as you can see here... Use Buttons as Earring Holders When you’re packing jewelry, be sure to also pack a drinking straw and a few buttons. Drinking straws can protect your necklaces from tangling. Simply thread one end of the necklace though the straw and secure the clasp. The straw will keep it from tangling and knotting in the bottom of your bag. (See pictures of this trick here.) And buttons can hold and keep your earrings secure. Simply put the earring post trough the button hole, as you can see here: Then, place the back of the earring on the other end, like this: This keeps them out of the creases of your jewelry bag (making them harder to lose). And you can put the other earring in the same button, to keep them together, like this: That way, they’ll be easier to find when you’re dashing out for dinner. Note: Don't miss yesterday’s tip on how to save wet electronics with rice. And remember, you’ll find all our best travel tips bundled with our Get Paid to Eat program for 75% off during our 75% Off 4th of July Special this week. Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. Our Ecuador and Santa Fe workshops are still on sale this week, too, here: Ecuador Travel Writing and Photography Santa Fe Stock Photographyhttp://www.thephotographerslife.com/phw/santafe09 ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Free Press Trips: How to Turn Your Interests and Hobbies into Free Travel tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.633 2009-06-28T00:24:43Z 2009-06-27T00:42:54Z A free press trip to Borneo and other perks convert “non-believer” into a true travel writer. AWAI Success Stories Today, let’s take a look at the success story of another one of your fellow readers. Alan McBride is using his writing to land exotic, free press trips, yoga lessons, resort stays, and more. He writes: “I purchased the Travel Writer's Program in 2001, and it took me until 2008 to start working on it. Sad, I know! And until earlier this year, when I re-did my web page and started in earnest, I was a little skeptical about writing for a living. But I wanted to let you know that I'm now off and running! “So far, I've written several articles for WorldReviewer.com. I've had a two-week, all-inclusive tour to Borneo... I'm waiting to be approved to visit Panama on a free press trips to write about birds and natural history. And just this morning, I was invited to France for another free press trips to complete a story I pitched last week. “Not bad for a ‘non-believer!’ Thanks for all the help your program provided!” You’ll find a complete interview with Alan that explains how he got started below. Enjoy... -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. You don’t have to be a seasoned writer to start cashing in on travel writing perks. Take past workshop attendee, Sandra Kennedy. Before the workshop, she’d never written a travel article. Now, she’s gone on multiple free press trips. One took her to an eco-resort in Patagonia, where she stayed in her own log cabin on a glittering lake. She enjoyed hikes, excursions, local wineries, even a massage -- absolutely free. Click here to read more about her story, and how you can start going on free trips and scoring VIP perks, too. P.P.S. Reminder: right now until next Monday, June 29 only, you can get a free copy of our Summer Photo Guide when you test-drive Turn Your Pictures into Cash. ******************* June 27, 2009 The Right Way to Travel ******************* WRITING IN EXCHANGE FOR FREE VACATIONS Interview with reader Alan McBride TRWTT: Hi Alan. Let me get straight to the chase. Were you a writer before you started the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program? ALAN: No. Not really, I was in business for thirty years, more than ten of which were spent restoring under-performing assets for large corporations. Before that, I had 20 years in advertising sales for TV and radio stations. I had done a little copywriting for radio clients and, of course, I have 30 years of writing presentations, business reports, documents, web pages contribution, etc. TRWTT: In your note, you mentioned writing for WorldReviewer.com. How did you get into writing for that site? ALAN: Someone recommended me to them as an expert birdwatcher. So they asked me to contribute. I don't know who recommended me. I wrote a story on Christmas Island and Kakadu. I think when readers or editors look at it, they can see it is a credible site, which is what I want to market myself as: credible. TRWTT: You recently went on a free press trips to Borneo. Can you tell us how you landed such a cool trip and where you’re planning to publish the stories from it? ALAN: It was a two-week, all-inclusive tour. I went to write about everything but orangutans. I visited the fabulous Sabah Festival for their opening night celebrations, Sandakan, Sepilok, and the fantastic Borneo Rainforest Lodge in Dannum Valley. I got the free press trips by writing to Sabah Tourism and suggesting that I could write on endemic birds and mammals. They had a trip going to write on Sabah Fest 09 and asked if I was interested. One birding story from that trip is going into a US birding newsletter. And a Sepliok story is already on WorldReviewer.com. I’ve also just finished 2,000 words on Giant Clams that I’ll send to some natural history magazines and dive magazines. From that trip, I’m writing about five other stories, mostly on birds and/or jungle lodges. While I was in Borneo, I also helped a hotel (the Nexus Resort) with their "Bird List." It’s a sheet of paper that they give to guests with photos of birds found around the resort. Part of it was incorrect. So I organized with a photographer friend to come up with some updated and correctly named photos. He and I are now supplying this to the hotel. As payment, we get annual visits to the resort for a couple of days. TRWTT: And you’ve just been invited to France, too. Can you tell us a little bit about how that came about? ALAN: France is the same as Borneo. I had an idea and sent off a suggestion. They said yes, and I’ll go there on a free press trip in September. I’m also waiting to hear back about an idea for a Panama trip. TRWTT: Well it sounds like you’re off to a great start. What are your goals for the rest of the year? ALAN: All of this has been a marketing exercise. I need to establish a name and a style. But my primary goal is to get paid for stories. The travel writing is great and the trips are sensational. I also need to upgrade my camera and equipment, so I’m looking for a client who wants to barter a Canon EOS 1Ds and 5Ds and lenses in exchange for copywriting services. I'd also love to attend a workshop somewhere. ** Further Resources: Find free press trips when you sign up as a Journalist on Media Kitty. Transitions Abroad has a good list of places to get free press trips. [Ed. Note: Find out more about how to turn your travel writing into free press trips, meals, spa treatments, and other perks, from freelance writer Steenie Harvey, a.k.a. “the freebie queen.” This Monday evening, she’ll be talking with freelance writer Jennifer Stevens about how to get the best perks during our Get Paid to Travel Teleconference. Grab a seat for less than $20.] ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> More AWAI Success Stories tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.632 2009-06-26T19:58:16Z 2009-06-26T20:09:04Z AWAI success stories from our mailbag. Do AWAI programs work? AWAI Success Story mailbag you can use as inspiration -- along with some of my advice for beginners: AWAI Success Story #1 Lori, In my short time as a member, I have been impressed with everyone's courtesy and their willingness to share information. Without Jen Steven's suggestions, I doubt that I would have had my first piece published in such a short period of time. My second article has just been published with my photos and the third article with photos will be published in the next issue of SCENE magazine, a local publication for Sarasota. I am looking forward to meeting some of you in Ecuador. Thanks again, Fred Braun LORI: Fred, thanks for the kind words. We’re a small group here (there are only four of us publishing and managing 27 products, 3 newsletters, 6 websites, 10 live workshops a year, over 300 e-mails a day, and 50,000 subscribers), but we do our best to answer every e-mail and phone call we receive. Our gurus are widespread. But our readers can interact with them at workshops (like the events we have coming up in Denver, Ecuador, and Santa Fe) or hear from some of them on the Get Paid to Travel Teleconference call on Monday. ------ AWAI Success Story #2 Hi Lori, I just wanted to drop you a line and let you know how useful your tips have been, especially the three in this current newsletter. And how much I love the Turn Your Pictures into Cash program, because that's exactly what I'm doing!! I took the advice of Rich Wagner and started taking pictures of my local area. You may think, well, plenty of others are doing that, but my hometown is called Silverton. It's in the middle of outback Australia and has a population of 45. It's a historic village with lots of character and lots of people with more experience than me have taken photos of every nook and cranny in the place. I took all your advice and started looking at this little town in a way no one else had. I have sold four fine art photos since April and dozens of smaller photos presented purely for the tourist trade. I can't keep up with them. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your newsletters and tips. Keep them coming. I've even got my two daughters-in-law hooked on photography. Regards Helen Murray LORI: That's awesome, Helen. Beginners need to know what I said last week -- it’s not the size of the dog in the fight... it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Our most successful workshop attendees are never the best writers and photographers in the group. They’re always just the ones that get out there and do it. If you missed last week’s note, you’ll find it here: Sell your travel articles. Best, -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. We also have these travel writing and photography resources to help you get started... ** How to Break into Foreign Markets ** How to Break into In-flight Magazines Join the International Travel Writers & Photographers Alliance (ITWPA) Read more AWAI success stories here. ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Birder’s World: A Niche Byline Opportunity tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.631 2009-06-25T17:23:52Z 2009-06-25T17:41:48Z At Birder’s World Magazine, the pay is good, the pages are beautiful, and you don’t have to be a bird enthusiast to get your stories published here. Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program to publish his writing, and to go on trips. Alan combines his interests in birding, natural history and travel to publish his writing and photos in niche publications. He’ll tell you how he does it in Saturday’s issue. He’ll also let you in on how he got an invitation to visit and write about France, and possibly to Panama, too. In the meantime, here’s this week’s Featured Publication. It’s a niche magazine where you can pitch bird-related travel articles and photographs... even if you’re not a bird watcher. -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. Past attendee turned prolific writer, Roy Stevenson, combines his interests in war history, athletics, and travel, to write for niche magazines, too. It works so well for him that he’s had over 330 by-lines in just two years. To hear how he does it, listen in to our Get Paid to Travel Teleconference, coming up next Monday evening. June 25, 2009 ************************* Featured Publication: Birder's World Website: http://www.BirdersWorld.com *************************

Birder's World: A Surprise Travel Writing Niche

By Janette Jones in Cambridge, Maryland Not far from the “armchair travel” realm of Conde Nast and Budget Travel, is Birder’s World. With crisp photos spanning its glossy pages, it’s the ultimate “armchair birding” magazine. And it’s a good example of a non-travel magazine that accepts certain kinds of travel articles. The pay is good. The by-lines are beautiful. And you don’t have to be a scientist -- or even a bird enthusiast -- to get published here. BirdersWorld.com does a great job of promoting its bimonthly printed magazine. It gives helpful hints for attracting and feeding birds, identification tips, photography pointers and information about where to find birds, including birding hotspots and great birding destinations. If you’re not a bird watcher, start by writing for the “Hotspots Near You” section. Stories in this section are feature-length (1750-2,250 words), and tell readers about great places to see birds. With a little light research, you can find and visit a birding spot in your area and write it up for this section. Be sure to include how to get there, what there is to see, when the best time is to go, etc. Query first. And if you’re targeting the Hotspots section, here’s a little query tip from Birder’s World editors: “When choosing hotspot articles, we look for good answers to one question: Why will our readers want to read this? The better your answer, the better your chances of selling your article.” Birder’s World only prints six issues per year, each with four or five features. So be sure to read the writer’s guidelines, and send a query first, not a manuscript. Also send samples of your published writing. Payment is $400 for most published feature-length articles, and less for shorter pieces. Email your query and clips, here. Or, mail them with a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) to: Birder’s World Editorial Dept., Kalmbach Publishing Co., P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187. Another way to get published in Birder’s World is to come up with a good idea for a photo essay (See page 4 of the writer’s guidelines). Photo essays should have journalistic or educational value and a strong theme. Here are five other ways to publish your photos in Birder’s World: 1. Submit them on the Bird Photography Forum. It’s a discussion area open to all online readers who register for free with the site. 2. Send them in to the Online Galleries. A photo-sharing area on the website, it’s also open to all online readers who register. 3. Participate in Photo of the Week, a bird-centric photo contest. 4. Submit photos and a short article to the Your View section. Covering two to four pages in every issue, it features stories and snapshots of birds that readers find in their backyards and beyond. 5. Get on the editors’ photo “want-list.” Here’s a way to get paid for sending the editors what they’re looking for. New photographers are welcome to the list, so brush up your portfolio and read over the photographer’s guidelines for details. View the photographer’s guidelines . Payment for photos is $250 for a cover, $200 for a full two-page spread, $150 for a full page plus, $125 for a full page, and $100 for less than a full page. For a one-column photo based on a three-column page, use in a prepress cover survey, or a cover inset, it’s $50. Further Resources: Sign up for a free Birder’s World online membership and get access to more online content. Read a Birder’s World Hotspot feature article. [Learn more about combining your photos with articles to make double the income at the , coming up this July in Denver.] ]]> The Rule of Thumb (with examples from Delta Sky Magazine) tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.630 2009-06-20T15:30:21Z 2009-06-19T15:41:20Z When it comes to writing for in-flight magazines (or any magazine really), use the “rule of thumb” like these examples from Delta Sky Magazine... The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop this July in Denver. But if you can’t make it there, let your thumb be your guide in long articles. And in shorter articles, be sure the biggest benefit to your reader (and the main point of your article) is in the first one to three sentences. Here are a few good starter sentences that really get to the point. I found these just by looking through some old Delta Sky Magazines here on my desk... From Delta Sky Magazine, January 2008... * Despite its name, New York City's trendy meat packing district is known more for its thriving club scene than as a place to get a steak. * Rediscover the Big Easy -- Rule number one: don't try to do too much. Ambition will only get you out of sync with the place. People here like to enjoy the moment. If you spend too much time plotting... you'll miss the point. From Delta Sky Magazine, December 2007... * The fence with medieval-style letters spelling out "Bar Marmont 8171" suggests a haunted house within. But, in fact, you've reached the entrance to one of Hollywood California’s most famous bars with butterflies on the ceiling, a stuffed peacock in the corner and drinks served in glass jars. Notice how you can tell exactly what these articles are about just by reading the first one to two sentences. And you also see what you, as the reader, will take from them. That’s your goal. Do it well, and you’ll be paid accordingly. -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. Remember, if you’re new at this (and you want to get started fast) our Get Paid to Travel Teleconference is coming up in just a few days on June 29, 2009. Click here to register. Further Resources: Read this month’s issue of Delta Sky Magazine. Learn more about writing for in-flight magazines, like Delta Sky. ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Sell More Travel Articles: The Theory of Accelerated Failure tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.628 2009-06-19T15:40:27Z 2009-06-19T15:30:11Z When it comes to selling travel articles, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. Here’s how to get started... sell your travel articles and photos. Here’s another sales tip I picked up from my publisher’s meeting in France last week... (By the way, if you missed them, check out my first tip on making your articles worth more money, and Shelly Perry’s photography sales tip on making your photos worth more.) TIP #3: Accelerate Your Failures In the publishing business we’re taught that you don’t always know what will work until you try it. So fail as fast as possible and learn from your mistakes like you do from your successes. Build and grow.

How to Sell More Travel Articles

The same is true in travel writing and photography. So many times I hear of workshop attendees and/or readers that write their article and/or take a bunch of photos and then never send them anywhere because they don’t think they’re good enough. Meanwhile, it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that matters. It’s the size of the fight in the dog. Our most successful workshop attendees are never the best writers and photographers in the group. They’re always just the ones that get out there and do it. One of my mentors, writer and author Bob Bly, calls the act of studying and thinking about something without actually doing it “analysis paralysis.” And he has a 25-25-50 rule for getting past it. Divide your time as follows, he says:
  • 25% studying - i.e., reading about your craft, attending workshops, etc.
  • 25% of your time observing what successful people are already doing
  • And at least 50% of your time actually DOING the thing you are studying and observing.
Freelance travel writer and author of The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program, Jennifer Stevens also has a cure for conquering what she calls “the scaredy-cat syndrome.” Read about how to get past your inner "scaredy-cat" and sell more travel articles here. Point is: When you’re first starting out, you don’t know what will sell and what won’t (aside from the tips we give you here). So just get out there and try. Hurry up and fail so you can learn, build and move on. Travel writing and photography are supposed to be fun. That’s why you’re reading this newsletter, right? Don’t stress about getting started. Just start. -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. Our workshop attendees are always our most successful readers. And that’s likely because of what I said here today -- they leave the workshop with a publishable piece and then quickly send it off without worry. They don’t sit on it. And they let the excitement from their first by-line lead them to their second, third and twenty-third. If you’re thinking about joining us in Denver, let me assure you that you’ll get everything you need to get started so you can hit the ground fast and easy the minute you return home. In fact, if you’re staying at the Magnolia Hotel (where we’re hosting the workshop sessions) your room rate includes breakfast and free internet access so after the publication Expo on Friday night, there’s no real reason you even need to wait till you get home to get started. Kyle Wagner’s going to give you sample letters you can model to send to editors (like her) to get your stories published. And Jen Stevens will guide you through the art of writing your article and picking the right publication to send it to. You can get started before you even leave the hotel. Click here for details: The Ultimate Travel Writer's Workskhop Or, if you can’t make these July dates, you might consider listening in as Jen talks about getting started in our live Get Paid to Travel Teleconference. More on how to sell your travel articles: How to sell your travel articles to non-travel publications Featured Publication: Wend Magazine - Sell your travel articles here for a slick, glossy by-line. ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Data v. Wisdom: There’s money in the difference tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.627 2009-06-16T15:54:27Z 2009-06-17T15:57:45Z Dear Reader, I don’t normally send reports to you on Tuesdays, but I’m just back from a publishing meeting in France, and I picked up a few tips that apply directly to travel writing and photography -- tips that can... http://www.thephotographerslife.com/saleable_sunsets) and you’ll find more success in selling it. -- Lori Lori Allen Director, AWAI Travel Division P.S. When you understand what editors are willing to pay for, it’s a lot easier to sell your stuff. That’s something our experts are going to talk about in detail next month in Denver at our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop. And they’ll show you exactly how to go from idea to article to by-line in a magazine. It’s fun. It’s easy. And it’s downright glamorous, too. For all the details -- and a discount (until this Friday only) -- go here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Three trends to write to now tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.626 2009-06-12T21:25:44Z 2009-06-12T21:54:40Z Dear Reader, Jen Stevens here -- sitting in as your guest editor once again. (Lori, lucky duck, is still in France.) Yesterday I mentioned that writing about your hometown can give you an edge with editors. You’re a credible source... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09). I’ll be giving a full presentation on this topic there, profiling a dozen or so trends you can use as springboards for stories. But here’s a sneak preview -- three trends to keep in mind when you’re coming up with travel-story ideas for 2009... THREE TRENDS TO WATCH **1.) Lavish is out. Have you heard about shoppers at Tiffany’s asking clerks to brown bag their purchases? Even among the well-heeled, flaunting wealth is no longer chic. Thriftiness is in. As one financial advisor quoted in the New York Times put it: “Saving money is the new black.” **2.) Retro is cool. When times are tough, people tend to retreat to “safer ground.” They romanticize childhood icons and symbols of the past, times when things were easier, simpler, happier. Have you noticed those cute little fifties-era sweater sets are back in vogue? And I just read that record sales (I’m talking vinyl here) have increased 89% since 2007. **3.) Intimacy is important. Seems the great drive to profit has left people feeling less-than-fulfilled. There’s a greater focus now on intimacy, connectedness, family, quality time. As Forbes reported recently: “Experts agree that tough economic times can motivate couples, as well as singles, to turn to simple pleasures.” So what do those trends mean for you as a travel writer? Tune in tomorrow and I’ll show you how you can easily capitalize on them to come up with articles editors will love. Or join me in Denver next month, and I’ll show you, step-by-step, how to use these trends and others to land by-lines faster than you ever thought possible. Our live program is really hands on. That’s part of the reason it works so well and graduates see so much success. (It’s like taking a cooking class. It’s ok to watch somebody make something. But it’s more fun -- and you “get it” faster -- when you roll up your sleeves and get your hands in the dough.) So that’s the approach we take. You can come in thinking, “I have no idea what I’m doing, but it sure would be nice to get paid to travel.” And I guarantee: you’ll leave knowing exactly how to make it happen. As Mary Anne Lonze put it after last year’s event, “35 days ago, I walked into The Ultimate Travel Writer's Workshop in San Francisco. Prior to that day, I'd never written a thing. Today, I have a by-line! Thanks to your terrific program…” We only get our experts together like this once a year. And right now you can grab a chair in the room with them at our Denver workshop for $300 off. You’ll find all the details posted here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 Hope to see you there, -- Jen Jennifer Stevens Guest Editor P.S. A few weeks before our Denver workshop begins, I’m hosting our Get Paid to Travel Teleconference. As an ITWPA member, you can listen in for FREE and find out from a panel of successful freelancers the easiest ways to break into travel writing (even if you’ve never written an article in your life)... how you can combine your interests (anything from knitting to teaching to music) with travel and sell articles fast... how to start cashing in on great perks like free meals or discounted hotel rooms... and more. To grab a seat at our “virtual table” on June 29th, go here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tel3/letushelp ************************* *** Know a friend or two who'd enjoy the freedom and independence of a writer's or photographer's life? They, too, can sign up to receive this free e-letter here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/eletter ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Featured Publication: TravelingInTheUSA.com tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.625 2009-06-11T14:40:36Z 2009-06-11T14:43:21Z Dear Reader, This week’s Featured Publication, TravelingInTheUSA.com, pays for articles from both published and unpublished writers. It’s an ideal place to send your quirky hometown stories. Writing about your hometown gives you an edge. After all, you can finger the... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tel3/getstarted June 11, 2009 ************************* Featured Publication: Traveling In The USA Website: www.TravelingInTheUSA.com ************************* WHY VISIT THIS PLACE? By Janette Jones in Cambridge, Maryland Why should I go? That’s the basic question travel writers answer, and at TravelingInTheUSA.com they do it in a very personal way. Stories published here include the writers’ personal thoughts, feelings, and experiences as they recount their travels within the United States. Creator Jerrold VanNocker started this site (and others) as a means to learn web design. Over the years, with the help of his wife Allison, he’s grown it into an approachable place for newbie and professional travel writers to get published. What this site lacks in visual sophistication, it more than makes up for with its welcoming attitude toward never-published writers and its personal interest in readers’ travel experiences. And it pays well, too. The site seeks stories from professional writers, aspiring travel writers, and people just wanting to share their travel experiences. Articles about local, lesser-known (or virtually unknown) but interesting places are mixed in with mainstream destinations -- a plus for writers starting small and local. To write for TravelingInTheUSA.com, think about the quirky bars, hidden cafes, and popular activities that make your hometown special. For example, the featured article on the website right now is titled “Nothin’ Finah,” and begins, “Anything you want to know about Portland, Maine can be found at five in the morning at Becky’s Diner.” Just think -- your own community probably has the equivalent of a Becky’s Diner that you could write about for this site. When you do, here are three things the editors look for in travel articles: uniqueness, personal experience, and photographs. (Articles without photos are less likely to be published.) The editors, “seek only original articles and original photographs for publication... [The] travel article must communicate that you have personally been to the destination and are writing from a personal perspective.” That should be easy enough, especially if you’re writing about your hometown. Plus -- and here’s a great opportunity for continuing bylines and checks -- Jerrold and Allison are willing to, “entertain suggestions for regular travel columns from writers that wish to commit to writing several articles on a specific theme.” To submit an article to TravelingInTheUSA.com, first read through the writer’s guidelines, here: http://www.travelingintheusa.com/travel/writers.htm Then simply paste your story into the body of an email and send it to: profwriters@travelingintheusa.com. Mention whether or not you have photos, but don’t attach them until they ask. If you’ve been published before, be sure to submit a listing of previously published work. Payment for “professional writers” is $200 to $350 for a feature article with photographs. If you haven’t yet been published, TravelingInTheUSA.com pays aspiring travel writers $50 for travel articles published on the site. [Ed. Note: There’s no more efficient way to jump start your success as a travel writer than to spend three power-packed days in the company of seasoned writers and editors willing to share what works for them. You can do just that next month at our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Denver. Our speakers are extraordinarily generous in sharing their hard-won secrets. And that can cut years off your learning curve. They hang around. They answer questions. They tell you their stories. And they make you laugh. They share their own experiences (including the mistakes -- so you don't make them). And they guarantee that this long weekend is not just eye-opening and inspirational -- but a lot of fun too. If you’re ready for a life where you can travel wherever and whenever you like and enjoy the freedom of an income from anywhere in the world, go here to grab a spot -- and a $300 discount: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 ] ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> How going local is paying off for travel writers tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.624 2009-06-07T23:20:58Z 2009-06-10T23:23:47Z Dear Reader, Yesterday I told you that writing about places close to home -- for small-market publications -- can be the surest, easiest way to land a by-line. With a few articles under your belt, I explained, you’ll have the... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tel3/here ******************* June 6, 2009 The Right Way to Travel ******************* WHY STARTING LOCAL MAKES MORE SENSE THAN EVER By Jennifer Stevens in Colorado Springs, CO Try a “Beer Yoga” class Sunday mornings at Bristol Brewing Co. -- comes with yoga instruction, a bottle of water, and a beer... Spend the night at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and learn about the residents’ nocturnal habits... Bring your dog to Sunday brunch at Nosh -- they put a pool on the patio and keep canine treats at the ready... Those are just three of the quirky business-boosting ideas I’ve spotted recently here in my hometown. But they’re indicative of the creative offerings you’ll find all over these days if you just go looking. In a New York Times piece a few weeks back, I learned that 150 people turned up at the city’s Museum of Modern Art for a Saturday yoga class conducted in the second-floor atrium. Back in April at the Hammer Museum, which is part of the University of California, Los Angeles, there was a “bike night.” You could ride your bike into the courtyard, have it valet parked, and enjoy cocktails and a screening of the movie “Breaking Away.” With the economy contracting and people reigning in their travel budgets, U.S. destinations look better than ever to vacationers hoping to spend a little less this year. That’s good news for you. Writing about your own hometown has always been a smart way to break into travel writing. But editors are more receptive than ever to “local” stories. And right now, there’s more than ever to write about. It’s good news because it means you’ll have something out of the ordinary you can peg your story to. Editors love a legitimate “excuse” to write about a place. So it’s worth your while to ferret out the quirky offerings I’m certain you can find. How? Try this... ** 1. Ask your tourist board how they’re marketing your city in these penny-pinching times. Ours here in Colorado Springs, for instance, has published a list of 100 free things you can do in town. What great article fodder. ** 2. Poke your head into a few local eateries and ask: “You guys have any interesting ‘events’ coming up? Or special deals with other businesses nearby?” I’m willing to bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you discover. ** 3. Call a handful of nearby hotels or inns (or simply check their websites) to see what sort of creative -- or just bargain -- package deals they may have on offer. The luxurious Broadmoor Resort near me recently ran a weekend special that slashed room prices to equal those that you’d typically pay at a cheapo motel. ** 4. Touch base at the places you take visitors when they come to see you. Have they launched any special, attention-grabbing programs or deals? The nature centers near me, for example, are offering all sorts of quirky programs this summer, ranging from guided hikes on full-moon nights to “Mushrooming for Beginners.” [Ed Note: Jen Stevens will be heading up our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop this summer in Denver. She’ll pass along not only the practical secrets you need to come up with story ideas that will sell, but step-by-step guidance to help you easily (and more quickly than you ever imagined possible) get your ideas onto the page and into print. For details about this fun, engaging -- and effective --program, go here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 ] ******************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> How realistic is this, honestly? tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.623 2009-06-05T23:12:00Z 2009-06-10T23:20:51Z Dear Reader, Jen Stevens here again today as your guest editor. I’m sitting in for Lori, who’s still in Paris. People have been calling all week to register for our upcoming Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Denver (http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09). But a... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09). But a handful of skeptical readers, though intrigued by the workshop, have called to ask: How realistic is this, honestly? Can I really get published? Can I really visit places, free? For the record, the answer to both those questions is: Yes. Absolutely. You can get published. And you can land yourself great travel perks, too. Are you going to see your by-line in Conde Nast Traveler right off the bat if you’ve never written a travel article before? Not likely. Can you just call up a city’s tourist board and say, “Hello, I want to be a travel writer, could I come for free?” I wouldn’t advise it. But aim for a smaller-market publication and write about someplace close to home, and immediately your chances of seeing your name in print go way, way up. And once you have a few published articles you can wave around... then you’ll have the credibility you need to land those great travel perks. It’s like anything else in life: You get out of it what you put in. But in this case, what you have to “put in” is actually really fun. I mean, you could go to a new museum exhibit and write about it... or spend a weekend camping in a nearby national park and scribble a page with tips about good tent spots and hikes… or go out to dinner and write up two or three paragraphs recommending the place… Here are some success stories your fellow readers have sent in over the past two months alone. None of these folks had ever published a travel article before. But they took those first, small steps to get started. And quickly they were on their way -- ** 1. Richard Callaby took The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program and then landed a free month-long stay in Rome, Italy, to learn Italian and write about his experience: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/04/5successstories.php ** 2. Laurie Racca came to our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in San Francisco last year, and then snagged a regular gig as the Sacramento Outdoor Travel writer for Examiner.com: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/05/examiner.php **3. Dawn-Marie Hanrahan landed a column in her local paper, snagged a long-weekend, expenses-paid jaunt to British Columbia, and then sold a story from that trip to another publication: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/05/column_trips.php **4. Linda Steinmuller attended our Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop a few years back in New York and then approached her local community paper in Brooklyn. Today, she’s authors a regular travel column there: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/05/nontravpub.php **5. Rachel Christophe Baker combined her idea for a travel article with know-how from her day job to land a by-line in a nursing journal: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/05/trademag.php I hope you’ll take ten minutes to read those stories. You’ll see, when you do, that while they’re all unique, most have one thing in common: The writers began by writing about someplace -- or something -- they know. It turns out that right now is a great time to be writing about where you live. Because times are tough and people are reigning in their overseas travel budgets, publications are looking for more domestic, more “local” coverage. Plus the kinds of places you’ll likely write about -- museums, parks, restaurants, theaters, attractions of all kinds -- they’re finding remarkably creative ways to attract visitors today. I’ve spotted everything from “brunch with your dog” to “sleepovers at the zoo.” Stay tuned... tomorrow, I’ll show you how you can cash in on this “local and quirky” trend. If you know the best places to eat, shop, and visit in your town, you’re already on your way to a by-line. I’ll talk more about how you can get paid to share your local expertise (and your thoughts on exotic destinations, too) in a special Get Paid to Travel Teleconference I’ll be hosting June 29th. Just today we set the date and confirmed our guests. I’d love to have you dial in. I promise a lively hour-long conversation between me and two of my favorite travel-writing colleagues. You’ll hear from Steenie Harvey (a seasoned freelancer, she was my go-to writer when I edited International Living) and Roy Stevenson (he attended our travel writing workshop in Portland two summers ago and has landed 339 by-lines since then). We’ll talk about what it really takes to be a success, how you land perks, how to write one story and sell it two, three, even five times… and more. If you’re interested in hearing the real-world scoop about what the travel writer’s life is really like, from people living it, then reserve your spot now for less than $20. You’ll find details here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tel3/getstarted Cheers, -- Jen Jen Stevens Guest Editor P.S. Today I had a nice chat with Andrea Gross, one of our new guest speakers for the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop coming up in July. Andrea and her husband, Irv Green, sell article-photo packages to all sorts of publications -- from travel e-zines to trade magazines like Woman Dentist Journal. (She writes the words, he shoots the photos.) They’re enjoying the perks of a travel writer’s life, including the fun of exploring new places on somebody else’s dime. Next month in Denver, they’ll share their story -- along with practical tips you can use to jump-start your own travel-writing career. Seats are filling up quickly, so I encourage you to grab yours now. You’ll find details (and a discount) here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 ************************* *** Know a friend or two who'd enjoy the freedom and independence of a writer's or photographer's life? They, too, can sign up to receive this free e-letter here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/eletter ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Featured Publication: TravelLady.com tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.622 2009-06-04T15:42:21Z 2009-06-05T15:54:40Z Dear Reader, Jen Stevens here again. I’m filling in as your guest editor while Lori is in Paris. Today’s Featured Publication, TravelLady.com, is an ideal place to send your travel articles if you’ve never been published. It doesn’t pay for... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 June 4, 2009 ************************* Featured Publication: TravelLady Website: www.travellady.com ************************* PAVING YOUR WAY TO FREE PRESS TRIPS By Bonnie Caton in Portland, Oregon TravelLady.com is an online travel magazine for everyone -- not just ladies. It offers a searchable database of over 10,000 travel articles. The most recent stories fill up the first page, and the rest are categorized by special interest (film, fishing, beaches, beauty, inns, luxury...) and destinations, including... oh, just about anywhere you can travel. The stories here are incredibly varied, and don’t seem to follow any particular theme, though they’re generally light, chatty, and useful. Most also include a paragraph or two of further information and links at the end. Whatever you like to write about, if your articles are at all travel-related, you can probably get them published here. TravelLady.com doesn’t pay for articles, but the exposure is very good. And there’s another special bonus to writing for this site... If you get at least five articles published here, you’ll be eligible for an assignment letter from the editors -- a powerful tool you can use to get free press trips. (Find out more about getting free press trips from reader Dawn-Marie Hanrahan, here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/2009/05/column_trips.php ) To help you get started, we asked TravelLady editor, Madelyn Miller, what kinds of articles she likes best. [Note: You can get the full editor interview, along with interviews from editors of over a dozen well-respected, approachable publications at our Publications Expo. It’s like a “job fair” for freelancers, and it’s free for attendees this July at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop, here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/tww/denver09 ] Here’s what she said: “Send first person stories. We are most interested in stories from warm destinations, particularly Mexico. We want evergreen stories -- do not submit stories on a hotel package or performance that ends in two weeks.” Madelyn also mentioned her pet peeve: when writers don’t read the Writer’s Guidelines and don’t follow directions. You’ll see when you read through the Guidelines (here: http://www.travellady.com/guidelines/guidelines.htm ) that they are numerous... and very specific. So make sure to pay close attention. ** TIP: TravelLady only accepts articles that include photographs, so if you’re not sure what to write about, you might start by looking through your best travel photos. Or, if you’re starting from scratch, don’t forget to bring your camera along as you research your story. ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Travel Better for Less Tip #6: Road trip, gas covered tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.621 2009-05-25T23:36:32Z 2009-05-27T23:42:05Z Dear Reader, Today’s Travel Better for Less Tip introduces a way to take a free road trip across the country... by transporting someone else’s car from state to state. If you don’t have a car, or you don’t want to... http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/ifm/website ************************* The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers & Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com ]]> Travel Better for Less Tip #5: Where to find coupon codes tag:www.thetravelwriterslife.com,2009://1.620 2009-05-24T23:33:53Z 2009-05-27T23:41:49Z Dear Reader, Today’s Travel Better for Less tip shows you where to find discount codes that can help you save on your hotel, car rental, or show tickets when you plan your summer vacation. Scroll down for details... Don’t forget,... http://www.thephotographerslife.com/sum/website -- Lori TRAVEL BETTER FOR LESS TIP #5 - FREE COUPON CODES If you have ever booked a flight, hotel, show ticket or car rental online and wished you had a discount code for the fill-in box you always see, your wish has been granted. Try CouponAlbum.com, where you can find promotional codes for Choice Hotels, Extended Stay Hotels, Thrifty Car Rentals, Legends Ticket Service, and other travel and non-travel companies. Some codes are worth up to $100 in savings. Or, if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you can search the ever-changing offers on CouponCraze.com for discount codes on luggage, hotels, flights, and tickets. If you live in the United Kingdom, your one-stop source for voucher codes is: MyVoucherCodes.co.uk. ************************* 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. (c) 2009 American Writers & Artists Inc. 245 NE 4th Ave., Ste 102 Delray Beach, FL 33483 Phone (561) 278-5557 Fax (561) 278-5929 memberservices@awaionline.com To LEARN MORE, visit: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com http://www.thephotographerslife.com To unsubscribe click here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/unsubscribe/ ]]>