Write Better

Life coaches repeatedly tell us that we all have the exact same amount of time, and that’s true. The differences between what some people get done and others don’t, though, is in where they choose to put their efforts. Here are some things to think about as you try to fit travel writing into your busy schedule.

Issues around payment are among the most-asked questions I get, and for good reason: There are very few standards regarding freelancer pay, and there is even less concrete information out there about what a freelance travel writer should get paid. Let’s address some of that, and look at ways to work with an editor to ensure that they show you the money.

Because each trip can yield a hundred very different stories, travel writers have to drill down a bit to find the ideal one that will capture their experiences and meet the needs of publications and their readers. Here are four filters to run your story idea through to determine if it’s a good one.

One draft is never enough. While the first thoughts in your head that you put down on paper are often some of the best, that doesn’t mean you’re done writing — it’s impossible to craft a thorough, thoughtful and error-free piece that’s ready for publication on the first try. Here’s my template for a four-step draft process that can help.

Even though your writing voice is already largely set — based on a variety of factors, including the things you’ve spent time reading over the years, how much you’ve been practicing your writing, and even your confidence level — you can focus more on a few things to ensure that your voice is coming through in your writing. Here are some tips for doing just that.

There are plenty of opportunities out there to write about food, if that is your passion. Or even if it’s not—if you want to be a travel writer, it’s likely that you’ll have to include restaurants in some capacity. If you’re thinking about adding food writing to your repertoire, here are some things to consider.

I’ve been teaching City of Denver employees the ins and outs of navigating social media, and I’ve found that – just as with Great Escape members and workshop attendees – people have the same questions about how social media works. So, I thought I would share what seems to me to be some essential details on making social media happen in your life.

Guidelines are an editor’s way of getting what he or she needs from a freelance writer in order to produce a publication that contains the kind of information it’s known for offering, in a format that works for the publication and its readers. They’re carefully and thoughtfully crafted, specific to the point of being obsessive-compulsive, and packed with useful information that can connect a good writer with a byline. Let’s look more closely at some of the requirements of sample guidelines: