Got the itch to be wanderlust? Becoming a travel writer can top anyone’s dream job. Just imagine the privilege it can give. You will be able to go to places while at the same time earning from what you do.
Not everyone, however, gets to be a travel writer easily. In fact, many of those who like to start this venture would find themselves lost in what to do. So if you are really passionate about writing and you are decided to become a travel writer, here are some tips for you.
1. Get a good grip on a goal.
There are those trips that come with physical objectives like to reach the top part of Mt. Everest. Now, knowing the goal of your travel is a good way to put a sense of direction and purpose. Because of this, the reader is bound to stick with you too because of the obvious goal that they are going to get at the end of the article. Hence, you need to have a personal goal about the trip and the writing.
2. Get a clear storyline.
What do you really want from such trip? Remember that the trip itself is not the story, rather the events that happened during the trip. Some of the experiences you had on the travel are better kept as a secret. As a writer, it is a must that you decide the kind of story that you like from such travel.
3. Make it entertaining.
It is common for starters to put their best foot forward by adding too many literary phrases on their piece that they forget what writing is all about. For your information, you write so you can be read. Your audiences are not interested in how well you construct your sentence but they are more into what you can offer them. Do not forget the Hemingway’s maxim: “My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.” That doesn’t mean you can’t be playful and experimental: just don’t do it at the reader’s expense.
4. Pick only those experiences that go well with your story.
You do not need to put the whole experience into writing. Choosing those stories, dialogues, and characters that will fit your story goal is a must. Otherwise, you will fill your audience with too much information that they may want to quit after reading 2 or 3 paragraphs of your work. So create a storyline before anything else, once you are done, it is time to gather only those stories that you think are fitting with your goal. Then, dump the rest.
5. Put all your works in the first paragraph.
It is fine to start your travel writing anyway that you like, but be sure to grab your audience’s attention starting from the first paragraph. It is okay to make use of different approaches like humor, drama, and dialogue. Yes, it is fine to include a dialogue.
6. Make use of the right language.
Most travel writers in their wish to describe the place would use common adjectives like pretty, incredible, beautiful, etc. The problem is, these describing words can be applied to varied destinations all across the globe. Instead of using general terms, go for those words that specifically describe the place so the readers will have a clear picture in mind.