It all started at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in New Orleans in 2016. I took the add-on food workshop and wrote a short 115-word piece for an If-You-Go section. I was happy with my writing, but the problem was my photos hadn’t turned out. I couldn’t even fix them in post-processing. A digital magazine […]
Early in my travel writing career, I learned that I wasn’t finished with an article when the editor hit the publish button. That’s when the marketing phase kicks in, and social media is a crucial marketing component. My most significant social media success has been on Twitter, which has positively impacted all aspects of my […]
I attended The Ultimate Photographer’s Workshop in 2019 in St. Louis. Initially, my goals were to add better photographs to my travel articles, but I quickly became interested in stock photography. Here’s how I got started. 1. Choose a stock site and read the contributor terms and conditions. After reading the terms and conditions, begin […]
As an information technology project manager, I am a “road warrior.” Most weeks Monday through Friday, I travel to client sites. My travel to 42 states and 41 countries has been an adventure. I knew several years ago that I don’t want to give up this lifestyle when I retire. I needed to figure out […]
Getting an article published is a challenging puzzle. It means selecting the right travel destination, the right story angle, and the right publication. Since I’ve begun piecing the puzzle together, I’ve matched over 55 stories with 14 publications to achieve my travel-writing dream. While many people start by looking at their stories and attempt to […]
“You can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.” – Napoleon Hill Sharing what you know in networking groups for travel writers builds your identity as a professional travel journalist, shapes relationships, and keeps you visible. However, without experience or published articles under your belt, you’re left wondering what to contribute. Here are […]
You’ve just set-up a travel blog, but you’re not traveling every day. How do you continue to find new blog post ideas when you’re not always on the road? The answer is closer than you might think… Your hometown and surrounding areas are a destination for someone— and with them, you can generate local content […]
With a full-time job, I spend at least eight hours a day working—often more. Then there’s the commute and the time I take for vacation, holidays, and weekends. To successfully continue travel writing with a full-time job, planning time off is key. While we all have the same 24 hours in a day, each of […]
The build-up to the New Orleans Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in September of 2016 was exciting and motivating. Before the workshop, via the closed Facebook group that’s available to everyone who is registered, we all made plans for bourbon tastings and dinners at restaurants with James Beard award-winning chefs. We had forged virtual friendships. And […]
Opening the email, I closed my eyes and held my breath. The response read, “Thank you for the submission. Your writing style is an excellent fit… We would be happy to publish this article.” “I’m so excited!” I exclaimed as soon as my family answered the phone just moments after I received the good news. […]
