Hey there, travel writer!
As a seasoned travel writer, I've seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of the world of magazines. Allow me to take you on a journey through the inner workings of magazines and the art of pitching travel stories.
First things first, it's important to understand that magazines are run by editors. These are the gatekeepers of the stories that make it to print. So, if you want your travel tales to be published, you'll need to impress these folks. And how do you do that?
With a query letter, my friends.
A query letter is essentially a love letter to the editor. You're selling your story, yourself, and your writing style. Think of it as a first date with an editor. You want to make a good impression, be engaging, and make them want to see more.
Here's the secret to crafting a winning query letter: make it personal.
Research the magazine, find out what kind of stories they publish, and tailor your pitch to their specific interests. Also, don't be afraid to show off your writing skills. Use vivid descriptions and make the editor feel like they're right there with you on your travels.
Remember, editors are busy people, so keep your letter short and sweet. Stick to the essentials, and leave out the fluff. And most importantly, make sure to follow the guidelines! Magazines often have specific instructions for submitting query letters, and failing to follow them is a surefire way to land your letter in the reject pile.
It can be tough to start from scratch though, which is why I wrote a post that will help you craft your own customizable query letter template:
How to Create Your Own Customizable Query Letter Template
Travel writing is a passion for many. A way to document their adventures and share their experiences with others. But getting your travel stories published in a reputable publication can be a challenging task.
This is where a query letter comes into play – it’s a crucial tool for travel writers who want to get their work in front of the right audience.
A well-crafted query letter can make all the difference in getting your travel story noticed by a travel editor. But for many writers, the process of writing a query letter can be daunting, especially if you’re not sure where to start. That’s why we’ve put together this blog post.
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Please do *not* mention me as the person who referred you in your applications and pitch emails. Just because I'm sharing these with you does not mean I am a reference and dropping my name won’t help you get the job :)
👉 Katie from Going is looking to commission assignments to writers who live in/are from/spend *extensive* time in and are *deeply familiar* (not a few-week trip) with Guatemala, Finland, Nantucket, Atlanta, Egypt, South Korea, Austria, Lebanon, Kuala Lumpur, Latvia, Kerala, Faroe Islands. Read her Tweet for more info.
👉 Fodor’s Travel is a source for expert travel advice. They’re accepting pitches at pitches@fodors.com. They pay between $300 and $375. They commission a variety of pieces including personal travel narratives, slideshows, and destination pieces. To learn more, refer to their senior editor’s Tweet and their about us page.
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👉 If you have lots of travel writing experience, know how to lead a team, and really want to cover the business side of flying away for vacation, Forbes needs you as their Senior Travel Editor! This is also just for US applicants, but it's full-time and pays $95,000 - $105,000 a year!
👉 Unique Home Stays is taking on a freelance copywriter. Learn more and apply here.
👉 Rough Guides is looking for a freelance content editor to upload guidebook content online. No writing required but CMS experience is a must. This position is ideally for 4 days a week, although part-time hours will be considered. Start asap, initially for a month, with the possibility of extending. Fee: £2000 a month for 4 days a week. Email Amy Hopkins with details of your experience and availability.
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*Remember if you want first access to these leads, call-outs, and opportunities as well as the ones I don’t share in the newsletter, plus exclusive guides, templates, resources, and pitching sprints, you can join the Wildly Successful Travelpreneurs membership for only $9!
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Until next week…
With love,
Daniella