Passport to Publication

How to break into the travel-writing market — three travel writers share their secrets.

This article first appeared in the July 2023 issue of Writing Magazine.

Writing Magazine — July 2023 issue

The American travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain said, “Travel is not a reward for working, it’s education for living.”

While a break away at this time of year can be a great way for us to recharge our batteries and top up the creative well, Anthony Bourdain’s quote is apt for some writers. Travel is not just an education for living, it’s how they earn their living.

There are plenty of perks to travel writing. I’ve had to endure overnight stays in luxury five-star country houses, cope with free first-class rail travel and free access to many tourist attractions. But there’s a lot of hard work too. On one press trip, my promised fifteen-minute sit-down interview with the Head Butler, turned into a five-minute chat in the sweltering kitchens as he busied himself with the evening meal because the other dozen journalists over-ran their time slots.

But if you’re prepared to be flexible and open to opportunities, travel writing could become your passport to publication.