Write Better

Starting something new, something you’ve never done before, is hard and scary and often quite confusing. But the only way to succeed is to do the work. Here are some thoughts on how to look at your future as a travel writer.

Passive voice is the hallmark of a novice writer, because it’s easier to write and often sounds more “formal.” However, most of the time, it weakens your story and lacks passion and movement. Here’s how to identify passive construction and make it active.

The lede of a story sets it up so that readers get a sense of what to expect, and it also sets its tone. Here are some tips for crafting a lede that really draws in readers, along with some excellent examples of ledes that work well.

Sweeping generalizations are the hallmark of bad writing, and while there certainly are times when you don’t need to go into excruciating detail, for the most part, the deeper you dig to find the best words, the better your story will be.

Many writers inject clichés into articles because they think it connects the content to the reader. The reality is that most readers roll their eyes and shut down when they encounter them over and over. Here are some tips on how you can avoid clichés and use your own words effectively in your articles.

When you begin transitioning from where you are now to part-time or full-time travel writing, you may find it challenging to be productive when you’re now planning your own schedule (instead of having your schedule and priorities dictated by a boss or manager). Here are some tips for learning how to follow through as a freelancer and set yourself up for success.

Often writers face the task of trying to cut words for length that we still feel attached to or that all seem critical to our tale.
The best way to meet those word counts is to come close from the start, in that first draft. But how to manage that? Here are a few tips …

Many of us became travel writers because we like to share our experiences and turn other people on to the cool, fun things we find during our trips. But, condensing those experiences into short word counts to fit an editor’s needs, can be a challenge. The best way to meet those word counts, is to write a concise draft from the start. Here’s how.

An “If You Go” section usually runs as a sidebar alongside your main story and it includes things like how to get to a destination, how to get around (say, by rental car or bus), where to eat and stay, and what kinds of activities are available. When you’re writing one, here are some important tips to keep in mind.