Gordon has been writing travel articles for a long time and has more than 1,700 articles published. I think he is the right person to get me started. I want to sit through his class in person so I can ask a few questions and get the most out of the course. I’m anxious to learn more about being a travel writer. I’ll share what I’ve learned when the class is over. I hope to gain some important insights that will help me move forward with my writing.
I’m really excited to explore travel writing as a way to earn a living and allow my wanderlust to continue! I need to know that I can keep busy and see many new places as I bop around the globe. I don’t want to wander aimlessly – I want to feel that there is a purpose to my travels. This seems like a great way to do it.
I have to choose my first article to propose to a magazine. It’s difficult to choose the first one because I tend to over-analyze things. I want to propose something that is interesting to me and the readers of the magazine. And, of course, the editor of the magazine has to be interested and willing to give the go-ahead. So my challenge this week will be to select three good places to write about. Then I can choose one to pitch to magazines. Some of the destinations I’m thinking about are:
- Sausalito, CA
- Alcatraz Island
- Napa Valley Wine Train
- Fisherman’s Wharf
- San Francisco’s Cable Cars
I’m going to assemble a large list of places to write about and see if I can narrow it down to three choices. Once the writing class is over next month, I’ll select a topic and get a query letter together to start sending out to editors. Sounds easy, but I’m sure that it’s going to be tough at first to get an editor to show interest in what I’m proposing. So it appears that this is like anything else; at first it seems hard, but over time it will get easier. I need to keep that in mind, so I don’t get discouraged. The worst thing I (you and I) can do is to get discouraged before getting started. I have to prepare myself mentally for rejection at first. I’ve heard most people struggle quite a bit before they sell anything. But, I have confidence in my ability to learn what I need to do, and the tenacity to stick with it for the long term.
So who among you has any advice to give me? I’d be very grateful for some. I’d also like to hear about your efforts to write and make a living. I’ll share my wins and my losses with everyone who wants to read about them.
