Hi all
Since I am totally new to the travel writing, I would appreciate any input you can give me.
I am not sure whether you finance your travels yourself, write on the trip, and then try selling your stories when you come back - or do you sell your ideas before you travel?
Kristina
Since I am totally new to the travel writing, I would appreciate any input you can give me.
I am not sure whether you finance your travels yourself, write on the trip, and then try selling your stories when you come back - or do you sell your ideas before you travel?
Kristina
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Re: How do you do it?
Tue, July 26, 2005 - 12:29 AMIdeally, I think of a trip, sell the idea to several editors before I go (or at least get an idea of how interested they MİGHT be in an idea), and then finance myself. Getting in touch with editors before you go gives you a better idea of what they want BEFORE, so you can plan things a little better.
As for finding ways to finance the trip, there ARE places that will give you discounts or free stuff, but, at least in the USA that's kind of a moral no-no. I think travelwriters.com has listings of press trips, and if you get on their mailing list they'll send you updates. To get the dıscounts, though, you'll need something from an editor saying you're writing for them. I've never done this before, but it's tempting. -
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Re: How do you do it?
Tue, July 26, 2005 - 8:10 AMThank you for the feedback.
It is a moral no-no for danish journalists to receive free stuff too, though many tend to do it. This is mostly for museums and concerts etc. In Germany I heard that journalists are practically sponsored by the large companies. Makes everything a little more corrupt I think ;)
Im sure you have a network of editors lined up, since you have worked with this for some time... But when you are starting out, do the editors not get annoyed when you send them ideas before they know you and your writing style? - I have only had a few articles published, and it has all been in newspapers, but I have submitted the full written articles to the editors the first time I get in touch with them.
Maybe I should take the first trip, write my articles and see what the feedback is.. hopefully resulting in some of the editors wanting more - or is this a bad way to attack it?
Kristina -
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Re: How do you do it?
Tue, July 26, 2005 - 9:28 AMI think editors can get a pretty clear idea of how you write by your letter - spend an opening paragraph giving them a sense what tone the article might have.
Yes, it helps to be able to say, 'I've been published in X, X, and X,' but you have to start somewhere... but definitely attach a couple of clips if you have them.... I don't know if they ever really read more than one or two anyway. -
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Re: How do you do it?
Tue, July 26, 2005 - 9:30 AMps - get a Writer's Guide to the Market, and really, do query a few editors first just to see what their first response is! Even a 'maybe' is better than nothing, and it's a good way to feel out the general interest of the market in the place you're going. -
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Re: How do you do it?
Tue, July 26, 2005 - 1:23 PMThank you again for being so helpful - I will stop worrying and just do it hahaha really I loved writing but I hate the selling part... hope that dissappears with practice ...
Kristina -
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Re: How do you do it?
Thu, July 28, 2005 - 5:25 AMyeah, me, too... but try to think of selling as just another kind of writing maybe...
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Re: How do you do it?
Mon, August 15, 2005 - 1:50 PMi would hate to pimp what i have done, but whatta hell...
did a 13-month expedition and came back this May. in summary:
- set up a blog
- carried two digi-cams and a PowerBook
- wrote a blog entry once in 5 days on the average
- published a 40-60 page (average) electronic magazine once in two months
that's a lot of writing and shooting photos, as well as editing, page-layout'ing, publishing, and try to promote, all on the road.
we tried to solicit support/donations by giving the 6 issues of the electronic magazine subscription. some family members and friends generously signed up, but not much outside the circuit. we are still trying to get the word out after we came back, looking for publishers and further opportunities to write.
it's all doable. the support from families and friends did cover some costs, a small fraction of it, and the rest is all self-funded. i would love to do it again.
if you are interested in the blog, please check:
www.onelove.com/gf_blog/
the last entry is from Bali, and i have not update it since mid-May.
you can do it, too.
