By Sue King
Lockdown was a gloomy time for the majority of travel writers. After March 2020, when people stopped traveling, my income was pretty much non-existent, and I struggled to stay afloat. A year and a half later, the great news is that the future of travel writing is looking brighter. In fact, now that people are planning trips again, travel writing is even experiencing something of a boom. New travel websites and magazines are springing up every day to meet the demand of enthusiastic travelers. Once again, travel writing is a realistic way of making money and right now is a very exciting time for travel writers everywhere.
Over the last couple of months, I have written multiple articles for various websites and made around $2,000 – a massive improvement on this time last year! I also have several gigs lined up over the next few weeks. Here’s how I managed to re-establish myself as a travel writer and take advantage of the increasing number of opportunities available post-lockdown:
Where to Find Travel Writing Gigs
One of the first things I did was to sign up for job alerts with sites such as Freedom with Writing. This keeps me informed of a wide range of jobs and freelance opportunities for which editors were actively looking for writers.
I registered and created a profile with TravMedia, a global travel media network. The beauty of this website is that not only can you respond to editor alerts, but also trawl through the site and contact any of the likely looking publications and pitch them. I secured a contract writing an app guide about my home city with Touchscreen Travels this way. Payment for writing a guide for Touchscreen Travels is 50% of the profits on an annual basis. I also found a job writing an article for Love to Visit, a brand-new company who focus on destinations in England. They pay 5 cents a word, which may not sound a lot, but can easily add up.
I have written a number of articles for Matador Travel over the years. Since things started opening up again, Matador Creators Network have had a wide variety of writing opportunities available on destinations all over the world. After you have registered with them and created a profile, you are notified of available jobs and apply via an online form. I have had four pitches accepted since the summer. Pay is usually $100.00 per article.
Another regular source of income for me has been Great Escape Publishing who publish articles about the business of travel writing, blogging and photography. They pay a generous $150.00 for 300 to 600 words.
One of the few jobs I did procure during lockdown was writing for Thrifty Nomads who paid $75.00 for a listicle of inspiring travel books. Their guidelines specify the type of content that they are currently looking for and they discuss individual rates when you pitch them.
I have also spent a lot of time simply surfing the internet for travel publications/websites that accept submissions. Just typing in ‘travel magazines’ or ‘travel websites’ will potentially throw up a wealth of opportunities. Check out the type of content that each of the publications feature and send them a unique pitch of your own.
An Example Pitch
Here is an example of the pitch I sent to Love to Visit:
Hi – ,
I am a freelance travel writer and am responding to your call out for London content. Although I am based in Brighton, I was born in London, spent my formative years there and still spend a lot of time in the capital. In other words, it’s a city that I am very familiar with!
The pitch that I have in mind is ‘Discovering the Past and Present in Shoreditch’. The article would be based on a day’s itinerary of the area, taking in its history (including Shoreditch’s most notorious resident, Jack the Ripper) and its present, covering its colorful street art, restaurants and bars. The article would start with an introduction which describes the vibe and culture of Shoreditch, followed by the itinerary itself.
I have some photographs which may be suitable to accompany the piece (if required).
Much of my previously published work can be viewed at (portfolio website address)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Kind Regards,
Sue King
The following day, I received a response to my pitch from the editor saying that he would definitely be interested in publishing the article! Although I have been writing for a few years, it’s always a buzz to have a positive response from an editor!
Notes on Pitching
It’s worth taking time to hone the pitch, so that it’s perfectly balanced – with just enough information, but not too much.
If I possibly can, I find out the editor’s name and use it. This demonstrates that I have made an effort and also gives the pitch a more friendly tone. I personalise the email by telling the editor a little about myself (but not too much!) and then give a brief description of the article that I have in mind.
A link to a portfolio is hugely beneficial as it allows the editor to view all of your previous articles together and get an idea of your style. However, if you haven’t been able to create a portfolio because you haven’t yet had any work published, you can still impress an editor by sending in examples of your writing and coming up with a great pitch.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Write about Travel
After most of the world has been in lockdown, people are desperate to start traveling again. Consequently, travel writing is in demand. Even though people might not be doing so many long-haul trips right now, many of us are traveling closer to home. The majority of articles I have written this year have focuses on my home country of England rather than more exotic locations of Mexico or India. Wherever you are located in the world will be of interest to those that live nearby as well as those who are planning future trips further afield.
I must admit to feeling very despondent in those dark days of lockdown. However, I’m happy to say that I have regained my sense of optimism and enthusiasm for travel writing. Without doubt, now is the perfect time to either re-establish yourself, as I have, or bite the bullet and kick off a new career in travel writing.
Sue King is passionate about travel and loves to share her experiences through writing. She has had articles published in a wide range of websites and magazines. She has visited over fifty countries and her favourites to date are Mexico and India.
