Travel Writing
Travel writing has the potential to be an adventure for its writer, allowing you to see the world and explore a country's history and culture as well as its beaches!
There are certain things a writer NEEDS-TO-KNOW before he/she decides on becoming a travel writer.
Travel writing had its initial fifteen minutes of fame in the eighties and authors flooded the market with titles on Japan, Turkey etc. This great success for the genre had a more negative effect on the writer's of today. While travel writing can be a lucrative career, it's a hard business to break into.
Another thing would-be writers should be aware of is that Travel books are often revised and republished every two years or so. The author is generally paid a much smaller sum for their new edition. However this does further a books potential for income.
Writing The Best Travel Book
The first thing you need to do, is decide if you are writing a guide or a book.
A guide is a reference book with basic phrases in the native language and a few tips on traveling cheap. A book is more than this because it gets into the soul of a country and its culture. For now let's concentrate on writing a book.
Anecdotes are a must in any half decent travel book. Keep a notebook in your hand at all times, not just when you expect to be taking notes. This way, relaxing at the bar after a hard day's sight seeing, you can take note of your conversation with the witty barman for example.
Jot down phrases and half sentences on everything you see, hear or experience. Your delicate command of the english language can come later!
Be open to the unexpected. Sometimes the best chapters are formed from unexpected happenings on your way to see a sight or visit a museum. A writer can easily overlook the entertainment value of these events if he/she is too focused on what they planned to write about that day.
In summary, the intention of your book should be to examine all aspects of life in a certain country. You cannot write about life between 10am and 1pm and then break for lunch! Life is something continuously happening around you, therefore you must always have your notebook at the ready. It is this attitude that can make your book stand out from the rest.
Life doesn't stop for your convenience. If you want to write about life in a particular country then you must live there.
Escape the Capital Travel writing doesn't mean staying in a five star hotel and reviewing the spa facilities or the bar! Luxuries don't often come about in this field of writing. In fact some of the best travel books were written on solo journeys taking less than first class train rides or hitch hiking. These are the books that get off the beaten track and out of the country's capital city. Escaping the pull of the capital is important as these European or Americanised parts of an otherwise diverse and interesting country, often lack their own unique indigenous culture. In fact, you could say, they look 'just like home'. Outside of those borders is terrain for exploration. Places that reflect the history and events that shaped the people, local restaurants serving local dishes and so on. Think of it like this: Why have burger and chips? You can get that back home. | If you have any comments or questions concerning travel writing please email: With the subject heading 'Travel' Questions regarding travel writing will be posted here for others to see and answer. If you'd like to advertise jobs for Irish Writer's please consult our jobs section first. |
