Friday, December 22, 2017

Becoming A Freelance Travel Writer

By Douglas Moore


Becoming a world traveler is a dream that very few people get to indulge. You likely have limited vacation days, and those might already be taken up with other obligations. There is also the expense of constant travel, which can really add up quickly. However, if you become a freelance travel writer, you can actually earn a living traveling and writing about it for numerous publications. For many, it is a dream job that is well within reach as long as you arm yourself with information about this career field.

The biggest distinction between being a freelancer writer and a regular one is that you may work for many publications at the same time. You are not an official employee of one company or another, but rather a contractor.

Instead of getting assignments from an editor, you would instead come up with an idea, called a story pitch. You would pitch that story to various editors, and they will then decide if they wish to hire you or not. The pitch could be for a single story, a series of stories, a column, or perhaps even a book if you have lots of stories to tell all at once.

If the editor in question decides that they want your article, they will hire you. Always do your best work, because based on that, they may ask you back for other assignments as a recurring freelance writer. The assignments they could give you are endless, and may include traveling abroad, or going local and reviewing specific hotels, a new resort, or even a local attraction or restaurant for people who have not been.

Some pieces have a more specific focus, such as adventures and thrills, ecology, culture, food and more. You will usually have strict deadlines, so as soon as you arrive, you must get to work. You are paid per assignment, and may be asked to pay for your own expenses up front, with reimbursement to come later. In other cases, the editor will make and pay for the travel arrangements up front.

It is a good idea to show proof of previous published pieces to the editor, as this will increase the likelihood that they accept your pitch. Having a degree in English or journalism helps, but is generally not required in order to get hired.

Though you are not necessarily a journalist, when freelancing as a writer, you should still hold your self to the industry standards as observed by the Society of American Travel Writers. They stipulate that you should never copy from anyone else, even partially. You should not receive payment for a positive review, instead only accepting money for an objective review. Finally, always be considerate of hosts.

The life of a freelancer is fun and full of freedom, but it can also be a little more expensive due to extra expenses such as medical insurance. Since you are not an employee of any particular outlet, you do not get the benefits such as medical cover, sick leave, or vacation days. This is why you should think long and hard about how much money you can accept for each article while still having enough to live on. Plan not for an easier time financially later.




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