Writing for Dogs (Oh, and Other Pets Too)

Today:

*** The Write Way to Travel becomes The Right Way to Travel
*** Practical Writing Prompt: Travel Writing for Dogs (Oh, and Other Pets Too)
*** Reader Feedback: Published in Fewer than 30 Days
*** Upcoming Workshops:  Photo Expedition in the Greek Isles

Dear Reader,

I’m sure the members of the Apostrophe Protection Society (and all those other organizations out there trying to save the world, one typo at a time) find me infuriating.

You see, I’ve never been the best speller. But I’m no dummy, either; I’ve made fast friends with the spell-check on my computer.

So I want to say that up top here in today’s issue — that’s no typo. We’re changing our name from The Write Way to Travel to The Right Way to Travel.  Here’s why…

Three years ago when we named this publication, we did so because we liked the play on words — we were all about writing and traveling.

But now that we’ve expanded our focus to include other get-paid-to-travel careers — like photography and import export — the WRITE seems rather exclusionary. The RIGHT Way to Travel, however, makes more sense.

So starting today, we’re making the switch.  And starting next week, you’ll not only receive your weekly Featured Publication, E-letter note from me, and article from Jen Stevens or another of our experts, but you’ll also receive a weekly photo tip from professional photographer, Carol Shields.

Carol’s job is to make sure our readers get a leg up in our new $2,000 Photo Challenge (if you don’t yet know about this challenge, click here for details.

Carol is going to keep an eye on the submissions and report back weekly with a tip for improving your images. If she sees a photo with a lighting problem, she’ll talk about easy ways to get the right light in your photos. If she sees a composition mistake, she’ll dish up some useful pointers for getting that right.

This month’s photo contest theme, incidentally, is Cuppa Joe — and it includes everything coffee-related.

You can see the contest entries to-date by going to that link and then clicking “Enter to Win!” in the right-hand toolbar. Once there, you can click on any of the “new” photos and then toggle through the full roster of entries by clicking on “previous” or “next”.

This weekend, when you’re out and about searching for travel article ideas (I know you will be), think about adding photography to your tool belt.

Grab a cup of coffee at home and see if you can get an interesting shot of it…or head out to your favorite coffee shop and get a picture of the waitress, the tables, or even the shop itself.

Get creative and try taking shots of things you normally wouldn’t look at twice (like the coffee machines themselves, spilled coffee on the floor, bagged coffee on the counter, other people around you enjoying their coffee with a good book or newspaper).  You never know what might make an interesting (and salable) shot.

Then, check your in-box tomorrow for an article by photographer Shelly Perry on breaking into stock agencies. It’s quite possible that the same photo you enter in our contest would make a good stock photo, too.  If it does, you’ll be that much closer to your first sale (see the Further Resources section of Shelly’s article tomorrow for information on how to sell that photo to an online stock agency).

As always, keep me up-to-speed on your travel-writing or photography success. If you have a story to share, send me a quick note at: lori@thetravelwriterslife.com.

A quick aside: We bought our Round-the-World honeymoon tickets last week, and with lots of rain forcast here in Arlington, VA, I’m settling in with my computer this weekend to start researching our destinations. If you have a hotel, restaurant, or activity to recommend in any of the following cities, I’d love to hear about it – Milan, Lake Como, Dubai, Shanghai, Tokyo.

Have a great weekend,

— Lori
Lori Appling
Director, Great Escape Publishing

[Editor’s Note: Learn more about opportunities to profit from your travels (and even from your own home) in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel.]

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PRACTICAL WRITING PROMPT OF THE WEEK:

In issue #111 in our archives freelance travel writer and author of AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program, Jennifer Stevens, gave us advice for turning today’s hottest trends into fast-selling travel articles.

“Pampering your pet,” she said, “is one of those trends… here in Colorado Springs, we can take our dog for canine acupuncture… and you no longer just ‘board’ your dog. These days, it goes to ‘camp.'”

Last night I was walking down King St. in Old Town Alexandria, and I happened upon a Doggy Happy Hour at the Holiday Inn.  I got a quick glimpse inside when one woman opened the door to take her Muffin for a walk.  Water dishes sloshed all over the floor.  I think Muffin had had a little too much to drink.

Point is: Traveling with pets and papering your pet are two of today’s hottest trends.

Take some time this weekend to think about how you can capitalize on them.  Are there hotels near you that allow — and maybe even cater to — pets?  How about doggy day camps, spas, acupuncture, or happy hours?

Re-read Jen’s article on writing a trend-related article, here. Then go out and see what you can find.  Ask your local vet or check the Yellow Pages for services near you.

READER FEEDBACK: Published in Fewer than 30 Days

Dear Lori,

Just to let you know that after thirty years of compulsive but undirected writing, and the occasional inappropriate submission, I’ve just sold my first piece to Travelingtales.  This in my opinion was due largely to the advice in your travel writer’s program, and this is after only the first lesson – a month ago I knew nothing whatsoever about travel writing, or any of the markets for it.  I read and absorbed it, completed the first send-in assignment (still waiting for feedback) and then straight off wrote two more articles, the first of which has been accepted and I’m waiting to hear about the other one.  So I can at long last start building a portfolio and go onwards and upwards.  I wish I’d come across this brilliantly practical program twenty years ago – but better late than never.  Thank you all very much for keeping it affordable, by the way!

Kindest Regards,

David Elliott