Rolf Potts highlights the benefits of attending writing workshop with a roundup of success stories from previous attendees…
Geeky Traveller has all the info on Wi-Fi shoes and the Traveler’s Notebook has a list of the Top 10 Useful Travel Gadgets & Accessories.
travelblatherer has a couple of posts on a recent Bookseller seminar focusing on travel publishing.
Nerd’s Eye View offers some great tips on How to Keep Your Travelblog Alive When You’re Not Traveling.
The Urban Muse posted about a New Way to Research Magazines. Seems Barnes and Noble offers online print and digital subscriptions. Here’s a list of all the travel magazines they have.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Travel Writer Christopher P. Baker talks....
Christopher P. Baker talks is interviewed on CBS TV's "Eye on the Desert."
In case you missed it, Write to Travel interviewed Christopher in November 2007.
In case you missed it, Write to Travel interviewed Christopher in November 2007.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Off to the 2008 NZ Freelance Conference...
I'm off to Auckland in the morning to attend the 2008 Freelance Conference so there won't be the usual posts this week.
In fact, there won't be any posts this week as I'm leaving the laptop behind...a few days without the computer is just what the doctor ordered.
Instead, I'll be going to the conference and then playing tourist. On the possible tourist agenda -- Skywalk, Minus 5 Bar, and High Tea at the Langham.
As for the conference, I hope to learn lots. I know I did last year (Reflections on the NZ Freelance Conference 2007... )
See you at the end of the week...
In fact, there won't be any posts this week as I'm leaving the laptop behind...a few days without the computer is just what the doctor ordered.
Instead, I'll be going to the conference and then playing tourist. On the possible tourist agenda -- Skywalk, Minus 5 Bar, and High Tea at the Langham.
As for the conference, I hope to learn lots. I know I did last year (Reflections on the NZ Freelance Conference 2007... )
See you at the end of the week...
Monday, May 5, 2008
Travel Writing Miscellanea...
Sandwagon has an Interview with Robin Barton - author of 101 Weekends in Europe
Latest Perceptive Travel Zine Offers Good Reading.
Sex, sunshine and sangria? You must be joking! or more on the Thomas Kohnstamm saga.
World Hum writes about Travel Writing and Tall Tales: An Historical Perspective
Pam at Nerd's Eye View is giving away three copies of Mark McCrum’s Going Dutch in Beijing: How to Behave Properly When Far Away from Home. All you have to do is post about your favorite story about a cultural misunderstanding and leave a link in the comments.
The Matador Network, the interactive travel magazine, is launching 8 new websites. Here's a complete list of their sites:
Matador Travel
Matador Trips
Matador Study
Matador Nights
The Traveler's Notebook
Brave New World
Matador Goods
Matador Pulse
Matador Volunteer.
Latest Perceptive Travel Zine Offers Good Reading.
Sex, sunshine and sangria? You must be joking! or more on the Thomas Kohnstamm saga.
World Hum writes about Travel Writing and Tall Tales: An Historical Perspective
Pam at Nerd's Eye View is giving away three copies of Mark McCrum’s Going Dutch in Beijing: How to Behave Properly When Far Away from Home. All you have to do is post about your favorite story about a cultural misunderstanding and leave a link in the comments.
The Matador Network, the interactive travel magazine, is launching 8 new websites. Here's a complete list of their sites:
Matador Travel
Matador Trips
Matador Study
Matador Nights
The Traveler's Notebook
Brave New World
Matador Goods
Matador Pulse
Matador Volunteer.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Authors@Google...Jeff Greenwald
Jeff Greenwald of "Shopping for Buddhas" and "The Size of the World" fame talks about traveling and writing.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Guest Post Friday: Why I Travel Blog by Karen Bryan.
Welcome to Guest Post Friday: Today travel blogger Karen Byran writes about 'Why I Travel Blog'. Karen blogs at Europe a la Carte and Wanderlust.
Why I Travel Blog by Karen Bryan
I don't think of myself as a travel writer as such. I write travel content for
my UK based online travel business, Europe a la Carte. I started off writing online guides to less well known destinations in Europe, with my site focusing on authentic travel in Europe on a modest budget. My plan was to earn commission from accommodation suppliers featured in the guides and from adverts on the site. My destination guides are more of a resource than a traditional all encompassing guide
My guides are designed to make readers think that they'd like to visit that place and discover it for themselves. The beauty of an online guide is that you can insert links to more information, so if a reader is interested in a specific topic they can find our more by clicking on the link. Using several photos in a online guide is a good way to cut down on the flowery prose.
I started Europe a la Carte blog in October 2006 as a way of marketing my business. Writing a business blog is a balancing act I have to write useful, informative, entertaining content to satisfy readers but I must always bear in mind that it's a business blog and the blog has to increase the number of visitors to the site and turnover for the business to justify the time and effort spent researching and writing blog posts.
In March 2008 I started as editor of Wandalust a UK travel blog which is part of the Creative Weblogging network. I have to write 5 posts a week and the pay is lousy but I did decided to take the job in order to raise my profile. It's a change to able to write about the whole world versus Europe. Also I can write about any interesting topic without having to consider if it will be a good fit with my business.
I still have a part time "day" job as a social research interviewer. Although having a travel business sounds glamourous the majority of my time is spent sitting at the computer, I enjoy my "day" job as I get away from my desk and interact in real life with the interviewees as opposed to my virtual online contacts. I don't have time to travel as much as I'd like. I recently had to cancel a trip to Hamburg, Germany due to pressure of work.
My advice to aspiring travel writers is to always consider carefully what is it about your writing that is going to make readers read your work, plus what is the benefit to them? Travel writing is extremely competitive and I'm sure that only a tiny proportion of travel writers make a good living. Many travel readers will be willing to write for no payment - to get started or because they view travel writing as more of a hobby than a full time profession. However if you love travel writing and are diligent about producing quality, unique work you may strike it lucky.
........
Don't forget - if you have something to say about writing, you can send it through to Guest Post Friday.
Why I Travel Blog by Karen Bryan
I don't think of myself as a travel writer as such. I write travel content for
my UK based online travel business, Europe a la Carte. I started off writing online guides to less well known destinations in Europe, with my site focusing on authentic travel in Europe on a modest budget. My plan was to earn commission from accommodation suppliers featured in the guides and from adverts on the site. My destination guides are more of a resource than a traditional all encompassing guide
My guides are designed to make readers think that they'd like to visit that place and discover it for themselves. The beauty of an online guide is that you can insert links to more information, so if a reader is interested in a specific topic they can find our more by clicking on the link. Using several photos in a online guide is a good way to cut down on the flowery prose.
I started Europe a la Carte blog in October 2006 as a way of marketing my business. Writing a business blog is a balancing act I have to write useful, informative, entertaining content to satisfy readers but I must always bear in mind that it's a business blog and the blog has to increase the number of visitors to the site and turnover for the business to justify the time and effort spent researching and writing blog posts.
In March 2008 I started as editor of Wandalust a UK travel blog which is part of the Creative Weblogging network. I have to write 5 posts a week and the pay is lousy but I did decided to take the job in order to raise my profile. It's a change to able to write about the whole world versus Europe. Also I can write about any interesting topic without having to consider if it will be a good fit with my business.
I still have a part time "day" job as a social research interviewer. Although having a travel business sounds glamourous the majority of my time is spent sitting at the computer, I enjoy my "day" job as I get away from my desk and interact in real life with the interviewees as opposed to my virtual online contacts. I don't have time to travel as much as I'd like. I recently had to cancel a trip to Hamburg, Germany due to pressure of work.
My advice to aspiring travel writers is to always consider carefully what is it about your writing that is going to make readers read your work, plus what is the benefit to them? Travel writing is extremely competitive and I'm sure that only a tiny proportion of travel writers make a good living. Many travel readers will be willing to write for no payment - to get started or because they view travel writing as more of a hobby than a full time profession. However if you love travel writing and are diligent about producing quality, unique work you may strike it lucky.
........
Don't forget - if you have something to say about writing, you can send it through to Guest Post Friday.
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