Ever thought of making a living while exploring the world? That’s the life of a travel author. You will be traveling to different places to write. A new day, a new place, but it’s not all sunsets and beaches every time – it takes effort, strategy, and the right mindset. These three words may look easy while reading, but when you start to do the actual work, you will realize the dedication and passion it truly requires.

We know how it is to be a travel author, and we came up with a complete overview of how to become a travel writer in seven practical steps to help you turn your wanderlust into a career. Follow these steps and start sharing your adventures and inspiring others with your unique perspective and tales from around the globe.

Key Takeaways

1. The Job of Travel Writer – They have the power to inspire, educate, and entertain through their unique narratives. Their storytelling skills take readers to different places, cultures, and experiences, making them feel as if they are part of the journey.
2. Hone Your Skills – Becoming a successful travel author starts with developing strong writing skills. This includes mastering grammar, expanding your vocabulary, and learning to write content that engages and resonates with your audience.
3. Find Your Niche – Identifying and focusing on a niche can set you apart from other travel writers. Whether it’s luxury travel, adventure trips, or budget-friendly tours, finding your voice and expertise helps you attract a dedicated audience.
4. Build a Portfolio – A well-crafted portfolio showcases your writing abilities and experience. It works as your calling card when seeking job opportunities, collaborations, or pitching to editors. Highlight your best work and a diverse range of styles and topics.
5. Monetize Strategically – To make a living as a travel author, diversify your income streams. This can include freelancing for publications, starting a travel blog, creating digital products like eBooks, or offering travel consultancy services. Strategic monetization ensures financial stability.
6. Stay Consistent – Travel writing is not a quick path to success; it requires patience, perseverance, and consistent effort. Building a reputation and growing your audience takes time, but with dedication and persistence, your hard work will pay off.

What a Travel Writer Really Does?

It is not someone who writes about locations and exotic meals. It’s a deep and often complex career that combines the art of storytelling with providing valuable information to readers.

Types of Content

They produce a wide range of content, each serving a different purpose:

Blogs

They do personal blogging to share their travel experiences in a casual, often more personal tone. This platform is ideal for detailed trip diaries, tips, and personal anecdotes.

Articles

These are typically more structured than blog posts and can be found in magazines, newspapers, and online publications. They often focus on specific aspects of travel, such as the best hotels, culinary experiences, or cultural insights.

Guidebooks

Travel writers who contribute to guidebooks provide practical information so that travelers can plan their trips. This includes details on accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and travel tips.

Instagram Captions

Even social media platforms like Instagram are a significant arena for travel writers. Crafting engaging captions and stories can attract followers and provide bite-sized travel inspiration and information.

Do you know Anthony Bourdain?

He was a travel author whose work was part storytelling, part education. Bourdain’s unique style combined vivid descriptions, personal reflections, and a profound understanding of local cultures, making his content both engaging and informative. Remember, just like him, a travel writer’s career is about more than just pretty pictures. It’s about connecting with readers through authentic stories.

Sharpen Your Writing Skills

Solid writing skills are a must for any writer. You don’t need to be the next Hemingway, but you should know how to captivate an audience.

Practice

Consistency is key to improving your writing skills. Make a habit of writing regularly, whether it’s through journaling, maintaining a blog, or taking on freelance writing assignments. Regular writing can develop your voice, refine your style, and gain confidence in your abilities. Consider setting daily or weekly writing goals to keep yourself on track and ensure continuous improvement.

Learn

Investing in your education can hone your writing skills. There are numerous online courses and workshops available that cater to different aspects of writing. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and MasterClass offer courses taught by experienced writers. These courses can provide you with valuable insights, techniques, and feedback to help you grow as a writer.

Edit Ruthlessly

Without editing, your writing may lack the polish and precision needed to effectively convey your message. Good writing often involves multiple rounds of revision. Be prepared to edit your work ruthlessly—cutting unnecessary words, refining sentences, and improving clarity. Don’t hesitate to seek feedback from peers or mentors, as an outside perspective can reveal areas for improvement that you might have missed.

Tools to help you write better:

• Grammarly for grammar checks.
• Hemingway Editor for clarity.
• Scrivener for organizing long projects.

Find Your Travel Niche

It becomes easier when you focus on a niche. Why? It makes you different. Custom professional book writing services can help you if you can’t decide among the ones written below:

Popular Niches

Here are some of the topics people are looking more at nowadays:

Budget Travel

For many, traveling on a budget is important. These writers provide tips and insights on how to explore destinations affordably. This includes finding cheap accommodations, budget-friendly activities, and ways to save money on transportation.

Their goal is to show that experiencing the world doesn’t have to be expensive, making travel accessible to a wider audience.

Solo Female Journeys

This niche focuses on empowering women to travel alone. Writers in this field share personal experiences, safety tips, and advice on solo adventures.

They cover topics like choosing safe destinations, staying connected with loved ones, and finding confidence while traveling solo. This niche aims to inspire and support women to explore the world independently.

Adventure Trips

Adventure travel writers go for thrilling experiences like hiking, diving, and extreme sports. They provide detailed guides on planning and executing adventurous trips, including the best gear, routes, and safety precautions.

This niche is perfect for adrenaline junkies who want to push their limits and explore the wildest corners of the globe.

Eco-Tourism

With increasing awareness about sustainability, eco-tourism is a growing niche. Writers here focus on promoting responsible travel practices that minimize environmental impact. They highlight eco-friendly accommodations, sustainable travel tips, and conservation efforts. Their content encourages travelers to be mindful of their ecological footprint and support local communities.

Travelers: You Can Take Inspiration from

Have a look at those who are making people walk on their path:

Matt Kepnes (Nomadic Matt)

Matt Kepnes, famously known as Nomadic Matt, is a leading figure in budget travel. He built his reputation by offering practical tips and advice on how to explore the world affordably.

His blog and books, such as “How to Travel the World on $50 a Day,” provide invaluable insights into finding cheap accommodations, budget-friendly activities, and saving money on transportation. Matt’s work makes travel accessible to a wider audience, inspiring countless people to embark on their adventures without breaking the bank.

Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is a renowned solo female travel writer with a massive following. She started her blog, Be My Travel Muse, in 2012 after leaving her corporate job and traveling solo to Bangkok. As Medium stated, over the past 7 years, Kristin has hiked, hitchhiked, camped, and solo traveled on six out of seven continents on Earth, and her website, Instagram, YouTube, and more all provide a blueprint for other women to do the same.

Her blog offers practical advice, travel tips, and inspiring stories to help women travel confidently and safely. Kristin has also authored books, including “A Thousand New Beginnings,” and has been featured in major publications like Vogue, Buzzfeed, and Business Insider.

Dave Bouskill

Dave Bouskill and Debra Corbeil, the dynamic duo behind The Planet D, are renowned for their thrilling adventure trips. According to Muck Rack, he is a well-known travel personality in both online and mainstream media. His highly acclaimed travel blog, The Planet D, won the 2014 Gold Medal for Best Travel Blog, and his photography won Best Photo Illustration of Travel by the Society of American Travel Writers.

They share their experiences from over 100 countries, offering detailed guides on activities like hiking, diving, and extreme sports.

Their blog and social media platforms are filled with stunning visuals and in-depth articles that inspire adrenaline junkies to push their limits. Dave and Debra’s work highlights the beauty and excitement of adventure travel, making it accessible to enthusiasts worldwide.

Emma Gregg

She is a top travel eco-tourism writer. Her work focuses on promoting responsible and sustainable travel practices that minimize environmental impact. She writes for prestigious publications like National Geographic Traveller, The Guardian, and The Times, highlighting eco-friendly accommodations, conservation efforts, and sustainable travel tips.

Emma’s writing aims to educate and inspire travelers to make environmentally conscious choices, ensuring that tourism positively impacts habitats, biodiversity, and local communities.

How to Choose Your Niche

Choosing the right niche involves reflecting on your passions and interests. Think about what excites you most about travel. Are you passionate about camping and outdoor adventures? If so, you could become the go-to person for outdoor travel tips, sharing insights on the best campsites, gear, and activities.

Consider what you enjoy researching and writing about. Your enthusiasm for a topic will come through in your writing, making it more engaging for readers. Also, look at market demand and audience interest to ensure your chosen niche has the potential to attract and retain a dedicated readership. Balancing your passion with practical considerations will help you carve out a successful niche in the travel writing world.

Build an Online Presence

You might be thinking about how to be a travel writer as a beginner, as they have fame while you don’t. The answer lies in online platforms. Let’s explore what you need to do to establish your presence on them:

Create a Blog

Starting a blog to showcase your writing skills and attract clients. Platforms like WordPress or Wix make it easy to set up a professional-looking blog. Regularly update your blog with well-crafted posts about your travel experiences, tips, and insights.

This not only builds your online presence but also serves as a portfolio that potential clients can review. By optimizing your blog for search engines (SEO), you can attract a larger audience and establish yourself as a credible travel writer.

Use Social Media

According to Statista, 75% of travelers turn to social media platforms to research and find inspiration for their upcoming journeys. Isn’t it amazing? You should try this too. Try Instagram to share visually stunning photos and engaging captions that capture the essence of your journeys.

Pinterest is great for creating boards that organize and highlight your travel content. Both platforms can drive traffic to your blog and help you connect with a broader audience. Utilize hashtags, collaborate with other travel influencers, and engage with your followers to build a strong online presence.

Network

Join travel writing communities online to share ideas, tips, and opportunities. You can connect with fellow writers, editors, and industry professionals on LinkedIn, travel writing forums, and Facebook groups. It can also help in landing travel writer jobs.

Networking helps you stay updated on industry trends, find writing gigs, and receive feedback on your work. Engaging with a supportive community can also provide inspiration and motivation to continue honing your craft.

Start with a Portfolio

You need examples of your work to get noticed, so do these things:

Write Sample Pieces

To break into travel writing, start by choosing your dream destinations and writing articles as if they’re already published. This practice helps you refine your writing skills and build a portfolio. Focus on creating engaging, informative, and visually rich pieces that capture the essence of each location. These samples will showcase your ability to potential clients and editors.

Guest Posts

Pitching guest posts to established blogs and websites in the travel niche can get you exposure. Research sites that accept guest contributions and personalize your pitches to match their style and audience. Don’t think about how many, as there is no exact number (Legit). Successfully publishing guest posts can build your credibility and expand your network within the travel writing community.

Freelancing Sites

Starting small on freelancing platforms like Upwork or Fiverr can help you gain experience and build a client base. Offer your travel services and take on smaller projects to establish your reputation. As you accumulate positive reviews and portfolio pieces, you can gradually increase your rates and attract higher-profile clients.

Pro Tip: Highlight any collaborations with Premium ebook writing services —it builds credibility!

Pitch and Land Jobs

You need to pitch your ideas to actually get paid, and for that, you should:

Research Publications

Before pitching your travel articles, research the publications you’re interested in. Understand their target audience, style, and content preferences. Knowing what they’re looking for increases your chances of acceptance. Review past articles to get a sense of the topics they publish and tailor your pitch accordingly.

Write a Killer Pitch

Crafting a compelling pitch is crucial. Start with a brief introduction about yourself and your writing background. Clearly present your article idea, explaining why it’s unique and relevant to their readers. Highlight what makes your approach special and how it aligns with their publication’s style and focus.

Follow Up

If you don’t hear back immediately, don’t hesitate to send a polite follow-up email. Editors often have busy schedules, and a gentle reminder can keep your pitch on their radar. Express your enthusiasm and willingness to provide any additional information they might need.

Sites to find travel writer jobs:

• Lonely Planet.
• National Geographic Traveler.
• Freelance job boards.

Monetize Your Travel Writer Career

Making money as a travel author involves diversifying income, and through these ways, you can do it:

Freelancing

To build your portfolio and earn income, you should try freelancing, which is a great way. Write for magazines, blogs, and other publications. Pitch your ideas to editors and demonstrate your expertise in travel writing. As you gain experience and build a name for yourself, you can attract higher-paying clients and more prestigious assignments.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing involves recommending travel products and earning a commission on sales generated through your referral links. Promote products you genuinely believe in, such as travel gear, accommodations, or tours. Share your recommendations through blog posts, social media, or newsletters, providing value to your audience while generating passive income.

Digital Products

As of May 2023, over 46.7 thousand people were employed as tour and travel guides in the United States. That figure was over five thousand people more than the previous year. Up until 2022, the number of tour and travel guides in the U.S. had been declining since 2018.

Create and sell digital products like travel guides or ebooks. These resources can offer detailed information on specific destinations, travel tips, or itineraries. Consider using the best ebook writing services to help you create professional and polished products. Digital products provide a scalable income stream and can establish you as an authority in your niche.

Brand Collaborations

Partner with tourism boards, travel companies, and brands for collaborations. These partnerships can include sponsored trips, content creation, and promotional campaigns. Collaborations provide exposure, credibility, and financial support. Reach out to potential partners with a clear proposal showcasing how you can add value to their brand.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. A successful travel writer career is often a mix of income sources.

Common Challenges in a Travel Writer Career

Every job has its struggles, and travel writing is no different.

Writer’s Block

To end writer’s block, keep a journal of ideas to stay inspired. Note down thoughts, observations, and travel experiences regularly. This practice ensures you have a lot of material to draw from when you’re stuck. Reviewing your journal can spark new ideas and help maintain a steady flow of content.

Competition

Too many people are travel writers, and among them, what can make you the one people run to? Your voice! Focus on what makes your perspective special. It can be anything – your storytelling style, niche expertise, or personal anecdotes. Developing a distinct voice will attract a dedicated audience, and they will remember you.

Inconsistent Income

Unstable income is a common challenge for such writers. To achieve financial stability, diversify your revenue streams. Combine freelancing, affiliate marketing, digital products, and brand collaborations. This multi-faceted approach ensures you have multiple income sources, reducing reliance on any single stream and providing a more stable financial foundation.

If you are stuck with any of these problems written above, then you should hire services like Affordable ebook writing services, which can add another layer of expertise to your portfolio.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—seven clear steps to help you figure out how to be a travel journalist. Achieving success in this field doesn’t happen overnight, but with dedication and perseverance, it’s entirely possible.

You have to stay passionate, continuously improve your craft, and seize opportunities whenever they arise to build a successful career in travel documentation. Your unique voice and perspective can shine in this niche’s writing, opening doors to exciting adventures and stories waiting to be told. Whether you choose to freelance, start a travel blog, or create content for affordable and professional book writing services, there’s a path suited for everyone.

FAQs

What is a travel writer’s typical income?

It varies! Freelance writers might earn around $50 per article, depending on the publication and their experience. On the other hand, established, full-time travel writers can earn six-figure incomes annually. Income depends on various factors, including the writer’s reputation, niche, and the outlets they write for.

Do you need formal training?

Not necessarily. While formal training can provide structure and foundational knowledge, skills and hands-on experience often hold more weight in many fields. Employers and clients frequently prioritize practical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities over formal degrees. With a strong portfolio, self-taught skills, and continuous learning, one can excel without traditional training.

Can I be a travel author if I’m not traveling?

Absolutely! You don’t need to be globe-trotting to be a travel writer. Start by exploring and documenting your local surroundings. Every place has its charm, stories, and hidden gems. You can also draw from past travel experiences, interview travelers, or research destinations you’re passionate about. Create stories, guides, and reviews that engage readers.

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About Author

Hi My name is Micheal Adams, When I am not watching horror movies and helping my kids with homework or reading my favorite fantasy/supernatural novels – I’m writing to guide aspiring authors. I focus on exploring and simplifying both the technical aspects and the often-overlooked details of book writing and publishing so I can empower new writers to climb the Amazon bestseller list and connect with more readers.