How to Sell Travel Articles: Step Two

Sending an editor the wrong kind of travel article is like trying to feed celery to a cat. It’s a good way to get ignored.

Bonnie here, again, with four easy steps — one per day — to getting your first travel article published.

Yesterday, I gave you the first one, which was…

STEP 1: Pick a publication. Read more on how to find the right one, here.

Today’s easy, get-started tip is…

STEP 2: Read. Yes, once you’ve found a publication that fits your writing style and where you think your story will fit in, read that publication from front to back.

— Pay attention to the length of the articles so that you can tailor your article to match. At the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop that I attended back in 2007, International Living editor Jennifer Stevens said that the easier you make an editor’s job, the more professional you’ll look. And that really sets you apart from other writers.

I wanted to make sure my article stood out from the competition, so I made the editor’s job easy and followed the exact same format as the articles in the publication. It worked like a charm.

— Watch for sidebars. Note whether the publication uses them and, if so, what’s included in them. Do the sidebars talk about places to stay? Do they give tips on what to bring? How long are they? You’ll want to match the length and content in your own sidebar.

— Check out some back-issues. Now that you’ve read through an entire issue, read some back-issues, too. Make sure that your story idea wasn’t recently covered. Notice any seasonal trends in the publication, and generally get a better feel for the writing style and types of articles that run.

[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.]