FEATURED PUBLICATION: Travel Post Monthly

No more waiting. No more thinking about it, talking about it, or dreaming about it. If you want to be a published writer or photographer, now is the day to do it. Because it’s not going to happen on its own…

And today I’m going to make it very easy for you.

You see, we’ve taken over editorial control of Travel Post Monthly, which has always been a great resource for writers and photographers who need to get their first clips. Now it’s going to get even better.

You’ll start to see changes to the site over the coming months, including a new editorial calendar, which will give each issue its own distinct theme and flavor. Our goal is to improve the look and feel of the magazine, get more content on the site, and drive more traffic there.

Now this is where you come in.

I’m inserting below the first three months of Travel Post Monthly’s 2008 editorial calendar, along with the deadlines for submission to each issue.

Here’s my assignment for you: Take a look at the themes to see if you already have a story or photo that fits, or write or shoot one that does. Then submit it to Travel Post Monthly.

If your story or photo is engaging, sticks to Travel Post Monthly’s how-to theme, and matches up with the writer’s guidelines and the editorial calendar, then I’ll publish it for you and give you a byline or photo credit.

Plus, your story or photo will be seen by a list of editors looking to buy content. If one of them likes what they see, they’ll buy your story directly from you.

Though the theme will change month to month, stories considered for publication must still adhere to the underlying theme of the magazine — that is, sound travel advice that saves readers time, money, and trouble when they travel.

We will also continue to publish short, engaging stories about destinations the world over as long as they’re written with a practical bent. As before, our feature articles won’t just tell a reader what makes a place unique, they’ll also include the how-to information he or she needs to follow in the writer’s footsteps.

You’ll notice that February is going to be an all-photo issue. (You’re welcome to submit stories — but we will be holding them for consideration in future issues.)

Here are the first thee months of the new editorial calendar. Take a look to see if you have a story or photos that fit…

Travel Post Monthly’s Editorial Calendar
Themes and Deadlines
February – April, 2008

FEBRUARY: PHOTO ISSUE
Deadline: Friday, February 1

We’re kicking off Travel Post Monthly’s editorial calendar with an all-photo issue. What we’re looking for is one or a series of photos that tell a story about a person or place.

So if you have a series of travel photos that tell a story and you’re itching to get them published, check out the photographer’s guidelines here: http://www.travelpostmonthly.com/photographers_guidelines .

The deadline for publication is only a week away, so if you’d like to get a photo credit next month, take a look at the photographer’s guidelines and submit your photos soon.

MARCH: FOOD ISSUE
Deadline: Friday, February 15

If you’re anything like me, food is high on your list of travel pleasures. In this issue, we’re looking for food articles that stick to Travel Post Monthly’s how-to feel.

What I mean by that is that I don’t just want you to write about the food. Your article needs to show the reader why it’s so good and how they can find it, how much it costs, what makes it unique, maybe even the history behind a certain dish or restaurant or even the cook’s personal story.

You can write about food in your hometown if you’d like. And you’re not restricted to covering restaurants. We’ll consider stories about unusual foods you’ve encountered, food festivals, cafes, desserts, candy, and other taste-centric topics as well, as long as your text complies with the writer’s guidelines.

Please let us know if you have photos to go with your story.

APRIL: FAMILY TRAVEL ISSUE
Deadline: Friday, March 14

The April issue of Travel Post Monthly will focus on family travel. This is a broad topic that you can take in a number of directions, from international travel with the kids to sister road trips, to family activities in your town.

We’ll consider all sorts of stories — destination-specific, journey-driven, anecdotal, humorous, or even a round-up article.
Again, just be sure your story keeps with Travel Post Monthly’s how-to feel.

Keep watching this eletter through the upcoming months for the next three themes in the editorial calendar, and get ready to submit your stories and photos.

Truth be told, there’s not much to it. We’re pretty content-hungry right now. So all you have to do is closely read and follow the writer’s or photographer’s guidelines, stick to the theme, submit before the deadline, and you’re almost guaranteed a byline.

You’ll find the guidelines, along with directions for submission, here:
Writers – http://www.travelpostmonthly.com/writers_guidelines
Photographers – http://www.travelpostmonthly.com/photographers_guidelines

Depending on submission volume, there may still be room in the issues for the staple articles that we publish each month, but priority will go to stories that follow the theme. And we’ll consider stories submitted with photos before those without.

[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.]