Becoming a world traveler is a dream that very few people get to indulge. You likely have limited vacation days, and those might already be taken up with other obligations. There is also the expense of constant travel, which can really add up quickly. However, if you become a freelance travel writer, you can actually earn a living traveling and writing about it for numerous publications. For many, it is a dream job that is well within reach as long as you arm yourself with information about this career field.
While a regular worker would be an actual employee of a magazine they write for, you as a freelancer would not be an employee, but rather a contractor. You may work with several companies at one time in actuality.
Usually, your boss or editor would give you an assignment, whether you liked it or not. As a freelancer, you would instead have to come up with your own ideas, then schedule a meeting to pitch the story to an editor. The idea could be for a magazine or newspaper column, an ongoing set of articles, or a single article, or even a book.
The person you pitched to can hire you for the one assignment only, or ask that you come back and contribute later. You would still be a freelancer, but with a recurring gig that could help you get some financial stability. You would generally still be able to pitch other ideas to other publications. The assignments could be reviews of specific hotels or attractions, or a city or state. You may even get to travel abroad.
While some articles could focus on a country or city, some will have a completely different focus. For example, you may be tasked with writing about the local wildlife and ecology of a place. Perhaps you will write about an entire cuisine instead of simply reviewing a restaurant that serves that cuisine. Some publications will pay for your travel expenses for you, while others will reimburse you later.
To increase the likelihood of an editor accepting your pitch, you will want to show previous pieces of writing, especially ones that have been published. A degree in English, journalism, or similar field is helpful, though not always required.
Though you are not necessarily a journalist, when freelancing as a writer, you should still hold your self to the industry standards as observed by the Society of American Travel Writers. They stipulate that you should never copy from anyone else, even partially. You should not receive payment for a positive review, instead only accepting money for an objective review. Finally, always be considerate of hosts.
It is also important to note before you get started that since you are not an official employee of a company, even if you work for them often, that you do not get the associated benefits. That means no vacation days or sick leave, and no medical benefits whatsoever. These must be paid out of your own pocket, so make sure you charge enough for your articles to pay for all of these extra expenses. A little prior planning helps ensure you have a smooth transition.
While a regular worker would be an actual employee of a magazine they write for, you as a freelancer would not be an employee, but rather a contractor. You may work with several companies at one time in actuality.
Usually, your boss or editor would give you an assignment, whether you liked it or not. As a freelancer, you would instead have to come up with your own ideas, then schedule a meeting to pitch the story to an editor. The idea could be for a magazine or newspaper column, an ongoing set of articles, or a single article, or even a book.
The person you pitched to can hire you for the one assignment only, or ask that you come back and contribute later. You would still be a freelancer, but with a recurring gig that could help you get some financial stability. You would generally still be able to pitch other ideas to other publications. The assignments could be reviews of specific hotels or attractions, or a city or state. You may even get to travel abroad.
While some articles could focus on a country or city, some will have a completely different focus. For example, you may be tasked with writing about the local wildlife and ecology of a place. Perhaps you will write about an entire cuisine instead of simply reviewing a restaurant that serves that cuisine. Some publications will pay for your travel expenses for you, while others will reimburse you later.
To increase the likelihood of an editor accepting your pitch, you will want to show previous pieces of writing, especially ones that have been published. A degree in English, journalism, or similar field is helpful, though not always required.
Though you are not necessarily a journalist, when freelancing as a writer, you should still hold your self to the industry standards as observed by the Society of American Travel Writers. They stipulate that you should never copy from anyone else, even partially. You should not receive payment for a positive review, instead only accepting money for an objective review. Finally, always be considerate of hosts.
It is also important to note before you get started that since you are not an official employee of a company, even if you work for them often, that you do not get the associated benefits. That means no vacation days or sick leave, and no medical benefits whatsoever. These must be paid out of your own pocket, so make sure you charge enough for your articles to pay for all of these extra expenses. A little prior planning helps ensure you have a smooth transition.
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