Writing Challenges 2008...

If you’re looking for a way of challenging yourself as a freelance writer, then check out this two writing sites.

Inkthinker (aka Kristen King) is offering the 2008 Inkthinker Query Challenge.

What is the Inkthinker Query Challenge ? It’s a place to obtain encouragement, advice, and and hear about success stories from freelance writers just like us. The goal is for each participant to send out 120 query letters in 2008, the theory being that the more you send out, the better you get at writing query letters and the more chance you have of getting some accepted. So if your planning on sending out query letters this year, then it’s worth signing up for the Query Challenge for the support and encouragement that it provides.


All Freelance Writing (aka Jennifer Mattern) is offering monthly writing challenges to help freelance writers improve and grow their writing business. Each month a new writing challenge will begin. Here’s the lineup so far…

January Monthly Challenge - E-book writing.

“…you’ll be challenged to write an e-book in 14 days (the final 14 days of the month). During the first half of the month, I’ll be offering a selection of lead-in articles on topics like e-book pricing, e-book covers, e-book distribution / delivery, e-book formats, and writing a sales page for your e-book.”

February Monthly Challenge - Writer’s Website

“…covering some very basic HTML and CSS that writers really should know these days (especially if you’re a Web writer, where these things can get you gigs), as well as a tutorial or two on editing free or purchased Web templates to make them your own. I’ll also take a look at a few content management systems for those of you wanting to be able to edit and update your websites from anywhere you are, directly online.”

Go for it.

Challenge yourself.

The 2007 Perfomancing Blog Awards...

Performancing.com are holding their first annual Blog Awards. There are 28 categories covering most topics found in the blogosphere. Head on over and nominate your favorite blogs today.

Official Categories For The 2007 Performancing Blog Awards:

The Best Overall Blog
The Most Influential Blogger
The Best Blog Design
The Best Blog Typography
The Best Blog Name
The Best New Blog
The Best Blog Community
The Most Improved Blog of 2007
The Best Blogs You've Never Heard Of
The Best Blog Podcast
The Best Use of a Corporate Blog
The Best Video Blog
The Best Writing/Blogging Blog
The Best Science/Technology Blog
The Most Controversial Blog
The Best SEO Blog
The Best Celeb/Style Blog
The Best Business/Money Blogs
The Best Photo Blog
The Best Sports Blog
The Best Blog WebHost
The Best Family and Parenting Blog
The Best Political Blog
The Best Food/Health Blog
The Funniest Blog
The Best Travel Blog
The Best Education Blog
The Best Entertainment Blog (Music, TV, Movies)

How well do you know the world?

Think you know your world geography?

Up for a challenge?

Then head over the the TravelPod site and play their interactive Traveler IQ Challenge.

I warn you now, it's a time waster.

Travel Blog of the Week...Cool Travel Guide

This weeks ‘Travel Blog of the Week’ is Cool Travel Guide by Lara Dunston, a self confessed perpetual traveler and travel writer. Lara has written over 20 guidebooks and is frequently published in travel magazines around the world.

Read this very first post (Aleppo: no practicalities) of Cool Travel Guide and you’ll immediately see why I love this blog.

"I want to share with you the things I find cool when I travel. The things I can't share with you in the guidebooks I write. Take this scene from the Aleppo souq. It's two in the afternoon and this man's asleep at his shop. It's a cane shop. And they certainly look like nice canes. But that's not the point. I can't write about a cane shop in a guidebook. Who wants to buy canes? Canes don't make great souvenirs. And regardless, including this man's little cane shop would be a headache. It doesn't have a name. There's no phone number. I can't even remember which alley it was on, so how do I answer the editor's query about the practicalities (you know, that practical information in fine print). But what I want to tell you is to make sure you wander the Aleppo souq during siesta when the shopkeepers are taking their naps. You won't be hassled. You won't have to fight your way past boys on donkeys. And you'll witness these moments. A slice of souq life. Of humanity. They're touching. These are the moments that make travel cool for me. Tell me about your cool travel moments."

I was hooked and I’ve been reading the Cool Travel Guide ever since, travelling throughout the world and discovering unique, intriguing, and interesting places hidden in plain sight. Places that you will never discover in a travel guide book.

Cool Travel Guide also maintains a brilliant blogroll of travel related blogs, travel websites, travel media, magazines, and guidebooks -everything an aspiring travel writer needs at her fingertips.

Stop by. Check it out. I promise you won’t be disappointed.

New Travel Writing Contest...

Enter the Where in the World? Travel Contest being held by Spongefish.com and win $200.

All you have to do, according this Vagabondish post is

“…write about any place you’ve visited and convince SpongeFish readers why they should want to go there (or not) too! The story with the most views wins a $200 Visa gift card. C’mon, you’re already blogging about your favorite trips anyway! You might as well put your inner Hemingway to work for you.”

You can find more details here or here.

Weekly Top 4 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. How To Apply What You Learned In 2007 For Continued Success in 2008

2. Top 10 Blog Posts for Writers (The Best From the Best in 2007!)

3. 5 Hard Questions You Should Answer Before Starting a New Project

4. Waiting for Dollars: Pay on Pub vs Pay on Acceptance

It's the day after Christmas here in New Zealand, but for everyone who's in the Christmas zone now...



Hope Santa is delivering everything that you wished for...

2007 Writing Goals...Revisited

With 2008 looming, I figured it was time to dig up my ‘2007 Writing Goals’ and see whether I managed to follow through with any of them.

This is what I wrote on 31 December 2007

Goal #1 - to have one article published in a print magazine each month
Goal #2 - to have at least one article published online each month
Goal #3 - to obtain a paid blogging position
Goal #4 - to create more exposure for myself as a writer
Goal #5 -to become more proficient at networking
Goal #6 - to continue to learn about the business of writing
Goal #7 - to take a vacation and get paid for it
Goal #8 - to buy a new office chair

Wow, I had very high ambitions back then. Actually, I had highly unrealistic ambitions given that I work fulltime. But I always say dream big and good things will follow.

So how did I do ? Let’s see.

Goal #1 and #2 very quickly fell by the wayside as I started to concentrate more on online writing and less of sending out article queries to print magazines and newspapers. In the end, I only managed to get two articles into print magazines. I’ve had a few articles published online but mostly I ended up focusing on blogging.

Goal #3 was my most successful goal. At the beginning of the year I picked up a paid blogging position with b5Media network on Alzheimer’s Notes and then earlier this month I scored another paid position with b5Media on Healthbolt. I also had the Christchurch Tour Guide blog with Home Turf Media until it closed it’s doors last month.

Goal #4 and #5 are ongoing and I feel that I am creating more exposure for my writing. However, my aim of developing as a travel writer is starting to take second place to becoming a health writer. It wasn’t what I’d planned but it makes sense. Health is what I know and health writing, it seems, is what is earning me money at the moment.

Goal # 6 is also ongoing. I am learning a lot about writing by simply maintaining this blogging and in particular by conducting the weekly ‘Interview with a Travel Writer’ series. I’ve also learned a lot by doing the weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers and reading all the other great writing blogs out there.

Goal #7 was partially successful. I had a wonderful month long vacation in Spain and New York City. I didn’t get it paid for but I’m still formulating query letters and aiming to get some articles about Spain and New York published.

Goal #8 was the easiest goal and yet I never got around to it. I’m still sitting in the old chair with the stuffing falling out. But the years not over yet and there are sales coming up so it’s still do-able.

Looking back, I’ve done good. I’m writing more, being paid for my writing, and getting more exposure. I might even be able to drop down a day at work next year….so I can write even more.

Come back next week to find out what my 2008 Writing Goals will be.

Travel Site of the Week...Travercial

Travercial is the place to go for all your travel video viewing. They've traveled through cyberspace finding travel videos from around the world. At last count, they had over 2,500 videos for you to watch - free of charge.

So grab a coffee or wine, sit back and dream a little while you watch some amazing footage from other peoples travels.

Travercial recently announced their selection of the '10 Best Worldwide Travel Videos for 2007'. They are

1 – Return to Tibet
2 – Aurora Australis ((Antarctica)
3 – Botswana Safari
4 – Cairo Time Travel (Egypt)
5 – Helicopter Ride over Angel Falls (Venezuela)
6 – Spiritual Thailand
7 – Maasai Life (Kenya)
8 – The Andes (Equador)
9 – Lapland (Finland)
10 – Panama Canal Time Lapse

My favorite is Massai Life



What's yours?

Weekly Top 5 Posts for Writers...

1. What Henry David Thoreau Taught Me About Travel

2. Rolf's Very Subjective Guide to Bookstores

3.How to Get - and Keep Getting - Paid Online Travel Writing Gigs

4. Mastering Your Market: An Interview With a Niche Dominating Writer

5. Before It Disappears

Interview with a Travel Writer...

The ‘Interview with a Travel Writer’ series has finished for this year. Will be back again in the new year once all the dust from the holidays settle.

Meanwhile, check out this interesting interview with Ross Borden, co-founder of Matador Travel

Authors@Google...the fake Steve Jobs talks.

Fascinating interview with Daniel Lyons, the man who blogged as Steve Jobs...

Travel Related Top Ten Lists…

I was thinking about creating a top ten travel list and then discovered that there were so many out there that another one wasn't really needed.

So I made a 'Top 10 List of Travel Related Top Ten Lists' to save you from having to find them yourselves...

Travel Books: ten of the best from The Telegraph (UK)

The best travel books of 2007 from Timesonline (UK)

Travel Picks: Top 10 destinations for New Year's Eve from Reuters (UK)

10 best Christmas gifts for business travellers from Timesonline (UK)

10 Travel Gear Gifts for Under $20 from Booklocker

Top 10 travel flicks of the year from MSNBC (USA)


Two for the future…

Top Ten Luxury Travel and Lifestyle Trends for 2008

Top Ten Travel and Tourism Trends for 2007-2008


Two oldies but goodies…

Top 10 Coolest Travel Gadgets

Top 10 Beaches with WiFi internet access


And one that couldn’t stop with just ten…

Top 50 Ecotourism Websites

Travel Blog of the Week...The Travel Photographer

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and no where is this more true that at The Travel Photographer. Maintained by Tewfic El-Sawy, a freelance photographer, this blog is a mixture of photojournalism and travel photography.

The blog highlights photos from around the world, providing information about photographers, links to photo websites worth visiting, information on photo events and gallery shows, and practical information about taking photographs.

Tewific El-Sawy also leds photographic expeditions to remote areas of Asia and India. And after looking at the amazing photo essays and gallery photos on his expedition page, all I can say is sign me up, I really, really, really want to go…

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. 12 lessons learned from a life on the road

2. 10 Tax Saving Tips for Writers

3. 11 Tips for Nuking Laziness Without Becoming a Workaholic

4. Six Interviewing Tips (for Writers)

5. 7 Unhealthy Eating Habits of Unproductive Bloggers

Interview with a Travel Writer...Claire Walter

Today we talk with Colorado based travel writer and blogger Claire Walter. A prolific writer, Claire’s writing can be found in many national magazines and newpapers such as Sunset, Budget Travel, Hemispheres, and American Way.

She's the author of over a dozen books on topics as diverse as travel, skiing, fitness, and vacation home buying.

Claire has also been bitten with the blogging bug and currently maintains three great blogs - Travel Babel, Culinary Colorado, and Nordic Walking USA.

Hi Claire and welcome to My Year of Getting Published. Thanks for taking time to talk with us.

1. Did you always want to be a writer? How did you get started in writing?

I was a government major, with ill-formed ambitions to join the Foreign Service for the opportunity to see the world. Then I learned that in order to take the Foreign Service exam, I would need a master's in intl relations. I was really tired of being in school, so I settled on a B.A. and went to NY. My first job was for a now-defunct, brink-of-bankruptcy photographic magazine. Pay was miserable, but promotions and opportunities to edit a lot and write a little came fast. I liked the field and stuck with it on an editing/writing continuum.

2. What do you consider your first "break" as a travel writer?

My last magazine job was as managing editor of SKI magazine. Every editor got the opportunity to write one or two travel features a year. I then worked for a public relations agency handling ski accounts and was subsequently hired by one of my clients (an international airline) as a sales promotion writer. By the time I started freelancing, I had a decent writing portfolio.

3. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into travel writing?

At this time, I would think about it very carefully. It sounds a lot better, more lucrative and more fun that it is. At this time, I would say: "If you have a strong narrative voice (AND can find editors who wish to use your work), the future can be bright. For the rest of us, travel writing has become a grind. Everyone who has ever taken a vacation seems to think that s/he can be a travel writer or photographer -- and many give their work away or write for a pittance for marginal markets, just so they can travel. That makes freelancing very difficult for the rest of us."

4. What do you see as the future for travel writers in the printed media and online ?

The first person I knew who earned $1/word for magazine pieces was John Jerome back in the 1970s. Then, when myself I started freelancing, many features ran 2,500 words. Now, 1,800 or 1,500 words (sometimes less) is common. Many publications are still paying $1/word. Same per-word rate but fewer words (in most magazines) means that many freelancers now work harder for fewer dollars than a generation ago.

The newspaper travel market used to be decent, especially if a writer cold resell the same story to several non-competing papers. That is no longer the case, as papers fold or at least use more wire service or syndicated material than ever.

Writers' rights have also eroded severely. Many publications now insist on Work for Hire contracts, which force writers to turn over ownership of the creative efforts and intellectual properties to (often) huge corporations. Print journalism is not encouraging.

The future, I believe, lies with new media -- a field that is still evolving. Currently, writing for pay is impacted by all the citizen journalism and writing for free out in the cyberworld, but that will shake out in time as well. My toehold in that realm is blogging. I have three, including a well-received travel blog

5. Which travel writers and/or travel books have influenced you?

Since I didn't set out to become a travel writer, I can't really answer that directly. I was inspired to travel out of plain curiosity and probably by books (fiction or not) set elsewhere and by magazines (Life, National Geographic) that covered a wider world. Traveling, whether seeing new places or revisiting familiar ones, is tonic to me. I want to share my travels and encourage other people to travel as well. One of the hopes for the future of the world lies in seeing how others live, and hopefully, understanding one another too. Writing about it seems natural.

6. As a writer and traveler, what are the biggest challenges you face on the road ?

I don't get paid to travel, only to write, so balancing those is difficult. I now always travel with a laptop and spend at least 2 hours a day on writing and E-mails so as not to get too far behind.

7. Finally, what is your favorite place and why ?

Where? Wherever I happen to be at the moment. In October, it was England, the Isle of Man, Portugal and Spain. Last weekend, it was Whistler, BC, and this weekend it will be Colorado's Vail Valley. Why? Because I prefer to live in the moment rather than dwell on the past are look too far ahead into the future.

Healthbolt.net has New Bloggers.

Well, the contracts all signed and sealed so I can now spill the beans on my new paid blogging position.

I'll be co-blogging over at Healthbolt.net.

I'm really excited about this as not only does it pay but it also means quite a lot of exposure for my writing.

Seems that when it comes to writing about travel or about health, health is winning. Guess that old saying 'write about what you know' is true.

But that doesn't mean that I'll be giving up on travel writing - that is still my dream. It just means that I'll be able to afford more travel...

Come on over to Healthbolt and say hi. You might even find you quite like it there. It's not your run of the mile health site, sprouting forth on how to stay healthy. It's more about discussing unique health related topics.

And it's fun - just check out my recent post "Nine Christmas Gifts for the Hypochondriac in Your Life."

Free E-Book: Time Management for Creative People…

I’ve just been reading Time Management for Creative People by Mark McGuinness and I have to say it’s full of helpful ideas for anyone having time management issues.

I’ve already implemented some of the tips in Chapter 5 ‘Get Things Done By Putting Them Off Until Tomorrow’. I now have a cleared email inbox… and hopefully will be able to keep it that way if I follow Mark’s advice.

Of, course, I’ll still need to work through the Backlog folder that I created until it too is gone away.

Download your copy of Time Management for Creative People here.

Travel Blog of the Week.... Nerd's Eye View

Last month I interviewed Pam for the ‘Interview with a Travel Writer’ series. At the time, Pam was off to Hawaii to do research for a guidebook about...Hawaii.

Since then I’ve been avidly reading her blog Nerd’s Eye View and following her trip around the Hawaiian Islands, vicariously living the life of travel writer through her writings.

Anyone considering the life of travel writer should read this blog. Apparently researching a guidebook is not all a bed of roses. Not even if the place you’re researching is Hawaii. For example…

‘Yesterday I sat down and scribbled the most absurd email ever. I had to cancel our reservation for a (free) 3.5 hour back country by 4WD tour of the waterfalls of the Kohala Coast. I felt, as you might imagine, like a complete idiot, even though there’s a perfectly logical reason for the cancellation. It’s this: I don’t have enough time.’ (Tropical Frustration)


You can read all Pam’s posts about Hawaii by clicking on the Aloha Oy in the Categories section.

Posts I’d highly recommend:

Playing for the house - about the fine line on comps and freebies

For Travel Writers: Seven Lessons from the Road

For Travel Writers: Seven Successes from the Road

But it’s not only about travel. It’s also about food (Fish Wednesday),
Ukulele’s, and Seattle .

Nerd’s Eye View is definitely worth a visit…especially on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

New travel article at SeniorDiscounts.co.uk...

I've got a new article online over at SeniorDiscounts.co.uk ...

Seeing Madrid by Segway

I'll be writing one travel and one health article for Senior Discounts each month from now on.

And (drum roll here please) I have some really exciting news to share...

I've got a new paid blogging position on a high profile blog. Check back next week when I spill all...

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. 7 Warning Signs That You’re Drunk on Your Own Words

2. How Do You Know When You’re Ready to Move to the Next Level?

3. How to Become an Online Celebrity by Emulating Jay Leno

4. A Guide to Better Travel Writing (Part 3): Insight and Inspiration from the Pros

5. A Complete Guide to Finding and Using Incredible Flickr Images

Plus One:

20 Tax Deductions for Freelancers

Authors@Google Interview with Anthony Bourdain

Quote of the Week...

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

- Mark Twain

How Much is Your Blog Worth?

Want to know how much your blog is worth ? Then head over to Dane Carlson’s Business Opportunities blog. I don’t know the accuracy of it, but it’s sure fun to try.

According to his calculator, this blog is worth ...

My blog is worth $37,824.18.
How much is your blog worth?

Amazing!!!

Calculate your blog's worth now...

Treasure Chest of Internet Resources and Tools...

Looking for useful resources and tools around the internet to help with your writing?

Then head over to HR World and explore The Toolbox Toolbox: 100-Plus In-Depth Resource Collections for Web Workers. This comprehensive guide will provide you with all you ever wanted to know about internet and computer tools that you can use to help with productivity, communications, multimedia, and web design.

Check it out, especially if you're interested discovering new widgets, tools, and tips to utilize the web to it’s full potential.

Here’s a couple of resources that caught me eye…

7 Apps for Online Note-Taking: With these Web-based notebooks, you'll never be far from your ideas and to-do lists

Over a Dozen Web Resources for Techie Travelers: The tools allow you to get connected, save on gas and access your computer remotely.

Five Reasons to go to a (travel) writers conference…

Last week I posted a list of Travel Writing Conferences and Workshops being held around the world in 2008.

But they are not cheap. The registration fees are usually over a hundred dollars and often you have to travel a great distance to get there.

So why go at all?

1. To network, network, network - it’s the best chance you’ll ever get to meet and network with writing professionals, including editors and agents. At many of these conferences, attendees have the opportunity to have one-to-one meetings with editors. Where else would you have an chance to pitch your idea face to face. Have business cards and portfolio at the ready.

2. Support and Empathy - it’s a great place to meet fellow writers and trade ‘war stories’ about writing. Let’s face it - your family and friends might support you but it doesn’t mean they understand the agony and ecstasy of working up a pitch, getting an assignment (or not) and seeing your work in print.

Writing is a solitary pursuit, so grab the opportunity to meet and mix with writers. Don’t know what to say - easiest opening line ‘what do you write about?’ or ‘who do you write for?’

3. Inspiration - the workshops and seminars offered at writer’s conferences can stimulate the brain and thought processes with new ideas and possibilities. You’ll be surrounded by creative people whose minds are buzzing with ideas and insights - be a part of it and share ideas and thoughts. Don’t be shy.

4. Education - conferences and workshops are an excellent place to continue your education on writing techniques and the business of writing. Check out the list of seminars and choose ones that are appropriate for you. Aim to pick up some nuts and bolts tips on everything from time management, query writing to filing taxes as a freelance writer. It will pay off in the long run.

5. New Markets - there are always free sample publications available as well as writer’s guidelines and business cards to collect. Always have pen and paper handy to write down websites, editors names and email addresses. And again, take plenty of business cards to hand out.

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. How to be a Happier, Healthier Blogger

2. How to Doggedly Pursue Your Dreams in the Face of Naysayers

3. 6 Steps to Succeed As A Travel Writer Abroad

4. Seven Editing Tips For Professional and Nonprofessional Writers

5. The Nasty Four-Letter Word That Keeps You From Writing



Plus Two:

The Blogger’s Guide to SEO

How to Boost Your Creative Output

Interview with a Travel Writer (s) ...

Check out these great travel writer interviews…

Travel Writer Kate Siber was interviewed over at Vagablonding by Rolf Potts.

Rolf Potts was interviewed over at Wittenburg Door. Apparently Rolf sold his very first article to this religious humor magazine fifteen years ago and they thought it would be interesting to find out what he has learned since then.

Tim Leffel, travel writer and editor of Perceptive Travel, was interviewed over at Brave New Traveler.


Best quote : [Aiming to] “Break into travel writing” is a good goal, but “making a living at travel writing” is a whole other goal, one much higher and more difficult to attain—and getting harder I might add. I would suggest reading this: The 7 Myths of Being a Travel Writer.” (Tim Leffel)

Top Travel Blogs and Websites 2007...

It’s the season of list and here’s what’s available regarding travel websites and travel blogs.

The 7 most influential travel bloggers of 2007

* Mark Ashley at Upgrade: Travel Better

* Paul Brady at Jaunted

* Arthur Frommer at Frommers

* Holly Hegeman at Plane Buzz

* Wendy Perrin at The Perrin Post

* Ben Popken at Consumerist

* Rick Seaney at Rickseaney.com

Best Travel Websites 2007 from Travel-Rants, on the other hand, has a list of Best Travel Websites presented in award form. The categories include travel community, travel in the media, travel inspiration, holiday/hotel reviews, travel search, and Best of the Web.

Other travel blog lists worth checking out include…

Top of the blogs from Benji Lanyado at Guardian Unlimited.

Top 10 Big Media Travel Blogs from Igugo.

50 Best Travel Websites of 2007 from Times Online.

New Article at 'the traveler's notebook'...

I have a new article online at the traveler's notebook ...

How To Work New Zealand Wineries

FYI: Am off to Wellington for the weekend so there'll be no posts till Monday.

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. A Guide to Better Travel Writing Part 2

2. 4 Reasons Why Curiosity is Important and How to Develop It

3. Gifts for Your Favorite Writer

4. The Yogi Berri School of Persuasive Writing

5. Be An Expert in Less than an Hour

Interview with a Travel Writer…Abha Malpani

Today we talk with Abha Malpani who is in the process of developing her career as a travel writer. Currently she blogs for a number of sites - Written Road, Gridskipper, Vagablogging, and Gadling as well as writing for Map Magazine and Travel Mag.

I had the chance to meet up with Abha when I was in Madrid earlier this year. We sat and talked writing over a beer in the Plaza Santa Ana on a warm summer afternoon. Since then, I thought it would be interesting to interview Abha for My Year of Getting Published. Luckily, she agreed.

Hi Abha and welcome to My Year of Getting Published. Thanks for taking time to talk.

1. Did you always want to be a writer? How did you get started in writing?

In school I used to edit the school magazine. I always enjoyed that. After that, I hardly wrote at all. Occasionally I would get writing fits and just write in my journal; sometimes I would gift people personal write-ups for their birthdays, that’s about all the writing I did.

Then I went to University, but the school didn’t accommodate journalism courses with my marketing and management major – so I missed out on any formal training at Uni. In attempt to nurture my writing into some form, I signed up to do the UK based Writers Bureau Writing Course, but never finished it!

After a working for a few years in advertising, I moved to public relations when I realised that was where I could blend my marketing skills with my desire to write. But public relations writing didn’t hit the spot as I couldn’t write what I wanted the way I wanted. I was whipped into writing subtle marketing copy for press releases of big multinationals that really wasn’t much fun.

So, as you see writing never was my primary focus – it has always been lurking around though. My Indian roots and pressure to have a high-flying career perhaps was another element that subconsciously didn’t let me fully focus on a writing career; but that’s retrospection.

So just wanting to write (and rant!) I opened a personal blog. Now I write for five blogs, two of which pay me! From blogging I have made quite a few connections and today do manage to get the odd paid gig in magazines.

2. What do you consider your first "break" as a travel writer?

Bored and depressed with my public relations job, I would spend hours online looking for a way out of it. I didn’t know what I wanted, what else could I do? I was so lost. All I knew was that I was 26, and this couldn’t be my life. I knew I wanted to travel. I knew that I wanted to leave Dubai (where I had been working in a high-stress corporate environment for the last 4-years). So I started looking for ways to move abroad with a mission to do with something I liked.

That’s when I came across the website Transitions Abroad where I found a piece written by Newley Purnell. He had a similar background as me, with similar interests and he was travelling the world, living where he wanted, teaching English and writing. I got hooked onto his life, read his blog religiously and one fine day, wrote to him. At the time, he was a contributor to Gridskipper, and when the editor of Gridskipper planned a trip to Dubai, Newley told him to get in touch with me. He interviewed me for a report on Dubai, and then asked me my plans. By then I had decided to move to Spain – so he asked if I would like to contribute to Gridskipper from Spain! That was my first break, and it was a really lucky one that resulted from random networking.

3. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into travel writing?

Well, I think there are a few important things to keep in mind here. You have to write -- a lot -- all the time! And don’t give up your day job to be able to do so; or if you do, make sure you have some other form of income because it could take you a good while before you live off travel-writing.

After blogging continuously for 2-years, other than my blog, I now write for 5 blogs – all in the travel industry -- 2 pay me, but they really don’t pay for more than my beer. I teach English to pay my bills, and I don’t see that stopping anytime soon. I couldn’t have written as much as I do now with my PR job, English teaching allows me to work on my time, so it’s a good mix.

The other thing is networking. You have to know people in the industry, and keep a tab on what they are doing. There are many ways to make this happen; most of it can happen from your computer in your house. Know who edits what site / what magazine. Pitch stories, leave comments, interact with these people. If they are in your country, try to meet them.

Join a writers group. Every place has them. You will be surprised who you may land up meeting. In my writers group here in Madrid, I met a travel-writer who wrote the Moon Handbook to London. Now the book needs updating and he wants help – maybe I have an opportunity there. What did I do? Have a beer with him in some bar. I met Liz from this blog also through online connections. When she came to Madrid, we had a beer, now I’m being interviewed for her website! So yeah, network network network.

Lastly, be persistent and don’t give up. I got my Written Road gig from networking online and being persistent. The regular writing I did on my blog showed my writing style and skills, and that’s all I needed to demonstrate that I like to, and want to write. I was pushy about getting that gig so my determination coupled with persistence (and perhaps a tinge of aggressiveness) got me blogging at Written Road. Things just rolled on from there really.

4. What do you see as the future for travel writers in the printed media and online?

I think a plethora of opportunities have opened up for writers, thanks to the shift online. Even though they don’t pay as well as print media, I definitely think online travel-writing is the future. Be it news, features, opinion, experiences, advice or even travel guides, it’s all moving online at an incredible rate. The amount of content available and needed continuously is phenomenal so I think it is easier to get published online, and the demand will only increase. Yes, it is competitive, but everything is.

5. Which travel writers and/or travel books have influenced you?

I read Rolf Pott’s Vagabonding about two years ago. That book gave me the final push I needed to quit my job and pursue my dream of travelling, living abroad, and writing. The book is narrated beautifully, and is full of personal stories and anecdotes from Rolf, as well as from a dozen others who have done the same. Very inspiring indeed.

The other two writers who I enjoy reading, and I’d like to match (one fine day I hope!) is Bill Bryson and Pico Iyer. Bill Bryson has this warm and friendly voice, and a great sense of humour that jumps out of the page. Pico Iyer has this profound style of writing that takes you to another world. His descriptions are fascinating and written in a way I wouldn’t have imagined, yet I can completely relate to.

6. As a writer and traveller, what are the biggest challenges you face on the road?

You have to write a lot. I am currently committed to write about 25 (blog) pieces a week. It’s hard and I don’t always make it, and I hardly make any money. I find myself perpetually at my computer trying to write. It’s a lonely and many a times frustrating profession, so I’m glad I teach English as it gets me out of the house and talking to people. I work on my own time, but that also means that there is no such thing as weekends -- I often feel like everyday is Monday. But when you see your writing out there, and you see people commenting and reacting to it – it makes it all worth it.

Another challenge is keeping up with things. With the Internet, things are moving so fast that it’s easy to be left behind. If I don’t check my 1000 RSS feeds one day, the next day I have way too much catching up to do. This can be overwhelming. But I suppose this refers more to online blogging.

And lastly, it has all got to do with self-discipline. It’s very easy to switch off and say, today I don’t feel like writing so I won’t, and that’s easy to make into a habit when no-one is breathing down your back. Once that happens, it’s a deep black hole you will have to claw yourself out of. You perpetually need to get over your tiredness (that often leads to laziness) and get on with it, many times at the expense of not going out. So yeah, it can be tough.

7. Finally, what is your favourite place and why?
This is the most difficult question to answer! I have loved and enjoyed many a places to be able to pick just one!

One of my super-favourite places is Havana, Cuba – simply because of how different it is from the other places I have visited. The communist regime, rum for breakfast, cigars, waiting in line to get your ration for the day, and dancing son on the streets is all so surreal, yet that’s how they live in Cuba. And, they always have the biggest smiles. I loved it there and would like to go back and spend some more time travelling around the country.

Quote of the Week...

"Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long enough and loud enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody."

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Travel Writing Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars 2008...

Thinking of going to a travel writing conference, workshop, or seminar next year ? Then check out this partial list of what’s available when…

January

15 - 17 January - Travel Writing Workshop at Puerto Escondido, Mexico. A hands-on three day travel writing workshop conducted by travel writer Michelle Peterson.

25 - 27 January - SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography in Orlando, Florida.

25-27 January - Heritage House 2008 Travel Writing Workshop at Key West, Florida. Led by Robert Haru Fisher, former editor of the Fodor Travel Guides, this workshop is limited to 15 participants.

February

1-3 February - another Heritage House 2008 Travel Writing Workshop

25 - 28 February - Traveler to Travel Writer: A Writing Workshop at San Miguel, Mexico. Conducted by bestselling travel writer Gina Hyams, this two-day workshop will explore the practicalities of the freelance travel writing process.

April

14 - 24 April - Writing in Italy with Don George & Book Passage at Albisano, Italy. This 10 day workshop includes directed writing assignments and close critiques by award winning travel writer Don George.

17 -20 April - Travel Classics Europe 2008 Writers Conference at Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on the shores of Lake Como, Italy. A conference that you have to audition for, so to speak, with only 35 qualified writers accepted.

June

15 - 20 June - Travel, Food & Wine Writing Class at St. Emilion, France. Run by The Writer’s Workshop, this six day intensive travel writing class aims to provide the essential techniques of travel, food, and wine writing.

July

2 - 20 July - Paris Writing Workshop. Travel writer Rolf Potts is one of the instructors at the Paris Amerian Academy with a workshop focusing on nonfiction storytelling.

24-26 July - The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop at San Francisco, California.

August

14 - 17 August Book Passages Travel Writers & Photographers Conference at Corte Marda, California features some of the top travel writers .

October

30 Oct - 2 November another Travel Classics Writer Conference this time in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Have I missed any…

Give Words for Rice at Freerice.com

I saw this on the local news the other day and thought what a great way of putting technology and people together for an extremely beneficial cause.

Freerice.com has two goals...

- Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
- Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is how they go about it...

Freerice.com has recreated an interactive vocabulary quiz which shows a word and four possible answers. You clck on an answer and if you're right, the rice bowl on screen fills with rice - for each right answer 10 grams of rice are donated on your behalf through the United Nations to help end world hunger. If you choose a wrong answer, the right answer appears. So you win both ways - by donating and by learning.


The rice is paid for >"....by the advertisers whose names you see on the bottom of your vocabulary screen. This is regular advertising for these companies, but it is also something more. Through their advertising at FreeRice, these companies support both learning (free vocabulary for everyone) and reducing hunger (free rice for the hungry). We commend these companies for their participation at FreeRice."

I just spent the last few minutes at Freerice.com and donated 1020 grams of rice. Would have been more but some of the words stumped me. But not to worry, I plan on going back again and again to help donate rice and prehaps also improve my vocabulary...

Freerice.com has been online since 7 October 2007. The first day only 830 grams of rice were donated. Five days later, the daily rice donation as over 4 million. Yesterday's donation was just shy of 200 million. And the grand total so far... 2,296,622,790 and growing.

Please make an effort to stop by and play for rice...I warn you, it will be addictive.

Freerice.com

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers...

1. Interview:Tim Leffel On Travel Writing In The Internet Age

2. Denise Schipani Talks About Breaking into the Women’s Markets

3. Gloves off: tensions between the travel writer and the travel PR

4. Leveraging Your Site to Land That Dream Job

5. A Guide To Better Travel Writing Part One

Plus One:

23 Places to find freelance writing jobs and freelance blogging jobs

Interview with a Travel Writer...Christopher P. Baker

Today we talk with award winning travel writer Christopher P. Baker whose publishing credits include Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Islands, and Christian Science Monitor. He is also the author of numerous guidebooks such as Moon Handbook Havana, National Geographic Traveler Costa Rica, and Lonely Planet Jamaica.

Hi Christopher. Thanks for stopping by ‘My Year of Getting Published’ and sharing your experiences in travel writing.

1. Did you always want to be a writer? How did you get started in writing?

Yes, I did always want to be a writer. My first travel reports were dispatches from the U.S., published in my local newspaper in Yorkshire, and dispatched during a six-month hitchhiking journey around North America in 1978. During the following two years I also wrote about land issues in Latin America for a London-based political journal, Land & Liberty. I wanted to be a political reporter, and I also always wanted to attend UC Berkeley. In 1980 I got a Scripps-Howard Foundation Scholarship to attend the Graduate School of Journalism, but around the same time I fell in love, quickly got married and decided to find a job. Fortunately I ended up working within the adventure travel industry, quickly realized that I could be paid to write about travel, and the rest, as they say, is history.

2. What do you consider your first "break" as a travel writer?

While employed in marketing for Adventure Center, in California, I was asked to write a report of a travel agent's fam trip to Australia. The report appeared in a travel industry publication, and I received $250. It flicked on the lightbulb for my future career.

3. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into travel writing?

Mentor successful travel writers.

Attend at least two workshops on travel writing, and read at least two books on how to become a travel writer.

Realize that you need to view this as a business and focus on gaining the marketing knowledge and skills as much as the writing skills.

Network!

Learn about the travel industry.


4. What do you see as the future for travel writers in the printed media and online ?

We're in an era of increasing specialization. Traditional markets continue to shrink, and the successful travel writers are those whose specialist expertise is recognized and in demand. Newspapers continue to shrink, as do the stories they buy (if they buy at all). But new and increasingly focused magazines continue to launch, and there will always be a future for magazines. Online continues to offer broadening opportunities for travel writers, but very little of it is creative feature writing.


5. Which travel writers and/or travel books have influenced you?

In the early days Paul Therouxand Graham Greene. Real-life adventure reporting, such as Chris Bonnington's Everest and Geoffrey Moorehouse's The Fearful Void. I've always preferred English travel writers. I can't explain why!

6. As a writer and traveler, what are the biggest challenges you face on the road ?

For the past 15 years, I've specialized in authoring guidebooks, so I'm often working seven days a week for two or even three months at a time researching tropical countries. Keeping going day in day out, staying focused on the task without skipping anywhere is a challenge. And getting back out at night to check out the entertainment scene when my body and sore feet want to rest.

7. Finally, what is your favorite place and why ?

I still love Cuba. It's surreal, it's inspirational, it's entirely unique, and the people are profound and gracious. And India for the way it sets all the senses buzzing.

(Note from Liz: Christopher has written a number of books about Cuba one of which Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro’s Cuba, won the 2002 Lowell Thomas Award as "Travel Book of the Year.”)

.....

Christopher is on the faculty of the annual SATW Institute for Travel Writing and Photography being held from January 25 to 27, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.

Quote of the Week...

'If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.'

- Lin Yutang (Chinese Writer, 1895-1976)

Authors@Google...George Saunders.

George Saunders talks about his new book The Braindead Megaphone, a series of nonfiction essays.




Interview:

George Saunders: Loose in the Real World

Book Review:

Elements of Style

Stretch the Brain with the '100 Word Writing Contest'

Gotham Writer's Workshop is holding a '100 Word Writing Contest'. It's an interesting opportunity to stretch your brain and creativity. Here's what you have to do...

"If you're up for a writing challenge that takes both prescience and imagination, enter our What's the Buzz(word)? contest. Create a buzzword that you think might emerge in 2008 and give us a brief definition of the word and a sample sentence using the word. Entries are limited to no more than 100 words for the buzzword, definition, and sample sentence."

The winning entry receives a free 10-week writing workshop.

Deadline for entries is December 30, 2007. You can enter here.

SATW Institute for Travel Writing & Photography

The annual SATW Institute for Travel Writing and Photography is being held from January 25 to 27, 2008 in Orlando, Florida. This weekend long course is for...

"...writers, travel writers and experienced travelers who want to learn travel writing for articles and guidebooks or who already are travel writers and want to improve their performance. This travel writing course teaches how to prepare article queries and book proposals, how to negotiate contracts, how to work with editors, how to organize your time, how to self-publish your own books, and how to publish your travel writing on the Internet.”

Costs: $345 which covers course material, all meals, breaks, and social events.

Location: The course is being held at the Courtyard at Lake Lucerne, a historic inn in downtown Orlando.

Faculty for this course include Christopher P. Baker, Sandra Friend, Bruce Whipperman, and Veronica Gould Stoddart

Sounds like a course for anyone interested in breaking into guidebook writing.

FYI: I have Christopher P. Baker lined up for next week’s ‘Interview with a Travel Writer’.

The Blog Facelift...Step One.

It's only a small change.

You might not even have noticed it.

I have learned (finally) how to categorize my posts and I'll be spending the rest of the week on this project (whenever I can find a free minute or two)...

Categories so far:

- Book Reviews
- Interviews
- Press Trips
- Videos
- Weekly Top 5
- Writing Markets

...with more to come.

Hopefully it will make navigation around the site much easier.

As for the Name Change...am still working on that. The poll is still running so stop by and vote.

Press Trip Announcement: Arizona Rocks

Mike Finney of AZ Communications Group is looking for

“ writers with assignments for a media tour in northern Arizona. The tour will feature the ARIZONA ROCKS region of Page, Williams, and the Navajo Nation.

Participants fly into Phoenix on Sunday, April 20. Air transportation from major cities to and from Phoenix, transfers in Arizona, meals, attractions and lodging are provided by the hosts of Page, Williams and the Navajo Nation.

If you are interested in participating, please contact us with credentials and story commitments.

Space is limited to 8 only.”

Trip dates: April 21 - 25 2008

Contact Mike at mediatours@azcomgroup.com. Send in your bio, recent clips, and assignment/placement potential.

Weekly Top 5 Blog Posts for Writers

1. Platform Development 101: A Winning Attitude

2. 5 Steps Away from Overwhelmed

3. Are You Writing with Clarity?

4. Find Your Own Way

5. The Importance of Socializing for Freelancers

Plus two:

5 Signs you’ve Made It As A Freelance Writer

The Power of the Pre-Write

Interview with a Travel Writer...Pam Mandel

Today we talk with travel writer Pam Mandel. A dedicated blogger, Pam is travel editor over at BlogHer and writes the highly entertaining Nerd’s Eye View. Her writing can also be found over at Snowshoe Magazine, World Hum, TravelRoads.com, and Jetsetter Magazine.

Having just finished working on a guidebook for Vancouver BC, Pam has just headed over to Hawaii to collect information for a new guide book she is working on. But if you think being offered a book contract to write a travel guide is all wine and roses, check out Pam’s post ‘Aloha? Oy, or, a Travel Writer’s Angst'

Hi Pam and welcome to ‘My Year of Getting Published’. Thanks for taking time out from your travels to talk with us.

1. Did you always want to be a writer? How did you get started in writing?

It was never that intentional. I always wrote postcards and journals while I traveled, and even when I was little I wrote stories. I guess I never thought I'd work as a writer, it was just something I did, but then, it was the 90s and I was in Seattle and it seemed that anyone who could scribble a phrase got a good job doing something with writing. I was hired to write captions for the art history section of a digital encyclopedia (I have an art degree) and that was that, as far as the career shift to writing was concerned.

2. What do you consider your first "break" as a travel writer?

Has it happened yet? I'm only sort of kidding. I think I just got it, I'm currently working on a travel guide to Hawaii, but I got that because the writer they wanted to do the guide had taken another job and I'm the closest to the islands on their contact list - plus, I got a nice word of mouth recommendation. Oh, and I'd just done a fact check for them on another guide, work I didn't really enjoy but was hoping it would lead to more writing work.


I once got paid 750 dollars for a travel story, and that seemed like a huge break, but it didn't lead to continued lucrative assignments. What seems like a "break" is often just a little gig, and maybe it leads to something else and maybe it doesn't. It's a funny market.


3. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into travel writing?

Write. A lot. All the time. Keep a professional looking blog and do your best writing there - it gives great visibility to your work - if it's good people will find it and read it and who knows what that can lead to.

Don't, don't, don't quit your day job - I haven't quit mine and don't imagine ever doing so.

Don't go in for the money, because wow, is that the fast track to disappointment.

Don't believe the hype about how it's a glamorous free ride.

Don't stay home because you don't have a plum assignment to the exotic destination of your choice.

Write. A lot. All the time. Did I say write?


4. What do you see as the future for travel writers in the printed media and online ?

Print media often feels like this impenetrable fortress to me - I look at the glossy travel mags and think about how much I want a story in there, but truth be told, I do much of my reading about travel online and it's often more appropriate to my travel experience, making all those glossy mags seem more like brochures than anything else.

I love that story telling is in such a public forum, but I do tend to worry that with everyone giving it away, the opportunity for income travel writers collapses to the select connected few.

On the other hand, I like that online media means that authoritative credible voices come from just about anywhere and that I can connect with a travel writer in Australia who can recommend me for gigs out of Great Britain...I also enjoy that the clout that online media is gaining means that providers contact insignificant hacks like myself because they think our opinions matter.

I don't yet see grand possibilities for travel writers to make better bucks, but I do see an increase in real, credible voices when it comes to writing about travel. That doesn't really answer your question, but if I could see the future, I might not get on that next flight!


5. Which travel writers and/or travel books have influenced you?

I recently read Linda Ellerbee's Take Big Bites, I loved that. I enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love too. I've been a long time fan of Paul Theroux, though he aggravates me sometimes with what seems like misogyny, I adore Vikram Seth (though I suppose he's not traditionally a travel writer). I love to hear David Sedaris talk about Paris, and Cormac McCarthy - again, not traditionally a travel writer - has that traveler's sense of moving through unknown spaces. Alice in Wonderland is my favorite travel book, ever, and I'm a huge Gabriel Garcia Marquez fan because I love magic realism - it captures that "did you see that?" aspect of the traveling life.

6. As a writer and traveler, what are the biggest challenges you face on the road ?

I don't have enough time or money to do it all, and oh my, I really really really really want to. Also, I'm a big fan of slow travel and while this makes for great literature style travel writing, for most projects it's not an appropriate approach. You run about trying to absorb as much as possible in as little time as possible because you only have 16 hours in which to capture the zeitgeist of, oh,let's say Vancouver, Canada (I recently did this to shoot photos for a project and it was crazy) and it's frustrating because what I want, more than anything, is to squander the slow part of the afternoon chatting with the very nice staff at the Turkish cafe, asking them about their food and how they ended up in Vancouver from such a far away place. It's also hard to walk away from things that aren't appropriate for an assignment when they're things I personally adore. I was in a tiny place in the Dolomites to write a story about a snowshoe race and there were all these medieval castles nearby. I did not have time to visit them, and I love castles. Instead, I spent time talking with the athletes. They were fun, but oh, the castles... the castles...I still have not seen those damn castles.

7. Finally, what is your favorite place and why ?

The place I'm going next is always my favorite place. It's the undiscovered sense of it, of not knowing entirely what I'm getting into. I love that feeling. It's why I travel.

Time for a facelift...

No...

Not me...

Although sometimes I look in the mirror and think maybe a little nip and tuck here and there wouldn't hurt!!

It's 'My Year of Getting Published' that's in for a facelift and re-do.

I'm going to look at design, structure, updating links, etc.

But the first step is to find a new blog name. A name that reflects this blogs character and mission...which is to provide information, resources, and community for new and established writers, especially those focusing on travel related issues.

I've got a few names floating around my head but I'm just not really sure...

Can you help me out?

Have a look at the names below and tell me what you think...




Vote for your favorite or leave a comment if you think of another more appropriate name for the blog.

Thanks

World Hum Roundtable...Part Two.

Last month I posted about a discussion over at World Hum amongst four successful travel writers - Terry Ward, Catherine Watson, Stephanie Elizondo Griest, and Liz Sinclair -about the pleasures and pitfuls of a woman traveling solo.

Since then, they have added two more posts - (De)Parting Words by Liz Sinclair and Hitting the Road by Catherine Watson - summing up why everyone should try solo travel.

In the words of Catherine Watson "...traveling alone forces you out of your comfort zone. It requires you to talk to people. And—a selfish reason, but a real one—it leaves your mind free. You don’t have to feel guilty or torn because you got interested in some bit of serendipity when you were supposed to meet your traveling companion and had to choose between pulling yourself away—or standing them up. The autonomy of this is amazing."

Nominations open for 'Top 10 Blogs for Writers'

Michael Stelzner at Writing White Papers is once again seeking nominations for his annual Top 10 Blogs For Writers .

Vote for your favorite writing blog by leaving a comment here. Nominations must be received by Nov. 30, 2007.

More travel writing opportunities...

Budget Travel magazine turns 10 next year and they are celebrating this anniversary by devoting the entire June 2008 issue to their readers. In other words, the readers will help write the magazine.

Here's how you can participate...

Take the cover photo contest

Submit your dream assignment

These are just a couple of the options that Budget Travel magazine is offering budding travel writers and photographers...

Check out the full details here.

Top 5 Weekly Blog Posts for Writers...

1. Busting Your Writing Rut

2. 9 Things I Learned About Travel Writing At Book Passage

3. How to Stick to Your Goals When Life Disrupts ‘Em

4. How-To Price Freelance Projects Successfully

5. Useful Links for Freelance Writers

Interview with a Travel Writer...Mark Hodson

This week’s interview is with London-based travel writer Mark Hodson.

A journalist for over 20 years, Mark now freelances for the Sunday Times. Specializing in travel, his articles range from practical travel tips (The Top 10 Travel Websites) to features (A Fairytale Setting in Slovenia).

Mark also runs Travel SEO, a company that provides search engine optimisation strategies for the online travel industry.

Hi Mark and welcome to My Year of Getting Published. Thanks for taking some time to chat with us.

1. Did you always want to be a writer? How did you get started in
writing?

Towards the end of my philosophy degree I realised I ought to make
some career plans and I thought journalism sounded fun. A
particularly useless careers advisor tried to dissuade me, even
suggesting I might be too "thin skinned". That was really all the
encouragement I needed.

2. What do you consider your first "break" as a travel writer?

I had been in full-time journalism for about five years when I left a
job as a sub-editor to travel the world. I spent three years travelling in the winters and working summers at a newspaper in London. I wrote some travel articles about my experiences in Asia and Latin America. They were quite good for a beginner, but no editor would publish them because I wasn't a "known" writer. Finally, I found a sympathetic editor at The Financial Times in London and once I was published, other editors became interested.

3. What advice would you give to someone who wants to break into travel writing?

Study the publications you want to write for, so you know exactly
what they want, then tailor your proposals and submissions to their
style, content and readership. Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Most
editors know what they like - they just want more of the same. And
don't make the mistake of trying to start at the top. Many people
think travel writing is all about the big reads, but editors also
need short pieces, newsy stories and "how to" guides.

4. What do you see as the future for travel writers in print media
and online ?

There will always be a demand for good writers, and good travel
writers, but today it's more important than ever to be nimble and
adapt to the changing media landscape. I think print media is in slow
decline, but it's not dead just yet.

5. Which travel writers and/or travel books have influenced you?

Video Night in Kathmandu by Pico Iyer worked for me.

6. As a writer and traveler, what are the biggest challenges you face on the road ?

Guilt. I try to banish all thoughts of my wife at home looking after
our two kids, but sometimes it's hard. (joke!).

7. Finally, what is your favorite place and why ?

India is hard to beat for its full-on sensory impact, but the key to
enjoying any place lies in the attitude of the individual traveller.

365 days later….

Wow! I just realized that today My Year of Getting Published turns ONE…



Seems like only yesterday that I decided to go out on a limb and announce to the world (ie cyberspace) that I was on a journey to become a freelance travel writer.

Here’s what I said (October 31, 2006)

“I’ve been saying for years that I am a writer. Problem is, I haven’t done much about it, expecting, I guess, someone to come along and say ‘want to write for us’. This year, I finally decided to do something about this desire to write - I started writing and reading and planning. A business plan was developed, I researched the business of freelance writing, created a website and started blogging. And now it is time to get published.

So this is ‘my year of getting published’ and it starts on Halloween night . Might as well feel the fear and do it anyway.”

Since then I have written 368 posts discussing my successes and failures, provided writing tips and resources, and generally rambling on…

Along the way I have learned a great deal, made lots of ‘blogging’ friends, and discovered the joys and trials of freelance writing. And I found other travel writers, many of whom were generous enough to offer tips and advice and even participate in my ‘Interview with a Travel Writer’ series..

I also discovered online writing.

Before My Year of Getting Published, my focus was tunnel visioned - trying to get published in print magazines and newspapers. Now I realize that there are just as many, if not more, writing opportunities online.

I can now call myself a ‘professional blogger’ with my paid writing gig over at Alzheimer’s Notes and Christchurch Tour Guide.

I feel that I have managed to dip my toes into the water but am still a long way away from being able to swim.

A BIG THANKS to everyone for spending time with me and my blog. Without you all, My Year of Getting Published would have quickly sunk. The support, comments, and help that been offered throughout the year has ensured the survival of the blog and my determination to continue pursuing my dream...

Stick around…there’s so much more to come.

So much more to learn…
So much more to discover…
So much more to share…