Posts by Colm Sullivan

As you’re writing your story, it’s a good idea to reference the 5 Ws and 1 H, checking them off at the end to be certain that you’ve addressed each one adequately, to take your story to the next level. Here’s the nitty-gritty on all the Ws and the H, including what they mean for a travel story and how to use them to guarantee that your story contains all the essentials.

Several writers that I’ve been mentoring since the pandemic began have received feedback from or been contacted by an editor over the past few weeks, which prompted more than one panicked email starting out with something to the effect of, “What do I do now?” Here are some tips for interacting with an editor confidently and authoritatively, leaving you ready and able to address anything they throw at you.

We’ve been hearing from freelancers who are still finding a market for their articles and photos, and I’ve also been successful at getting enough work, primarily with local publications in my hometown of Denver, Colorado. The key is to be flexible, patient and creative in generating story ideas and pitching — in other words, it’s time to pivot, or change direction on how you’re structuring your stories. Here’s how.

Not only is being a writing coach about offering feedback and providing guidance to writers, but it also involves a fair amount of answering questions. As our first One-on-One Mentoring Program comes to an end, I thought I would share a few of the questions that came up repeatedly from the writers with whom I worked. My hope is that these answers will help you, too, in your quest to achieve those bylines and join the travel writer’s club