This Is The Pitch That Landed Me My First Travel Commission
From a cold pitch with no clips…
Sorry for the pandemic, last year I decided I wanted to be a travel writer. I’m completing a distance course from the London School of Journalism, but I have no experience, clips or contacts.
I also live in Norwich, UK, which is lovely but not exactly an editorial hotbed. I read a lot of advice that recommended going and having a coffee with editors. What? I have no idea how I would make that happen.
I was spurred on to write this pitch after reading The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell. It’s inspiring and I’d thoroughly recommend it as a How To guide for freelance writing.
I decided I would pitch regardless, to anyone that would accept it.
I heard about the opportunity in Sonia Weiser’s weekly freelance opportunities newsletter. She scours Twitter for the latest requests from magazines, newspapers and online publications. Here is the one I responded to:
A lot of advice I see says to find out the exact editor that will be responsible for commissioning your piece. I’m a rules-follower though, and if a publication tells me they want them to a specific place, then that’s where I’ll send them.
Subject: Norwich, UK & Europe Writer
Hi Culture Trip,
Norwich was recently named “irresistible” and on a par with Indonesian islands by Vietnam Airlines, and has had increasing tourism publicity in UK publications. Currently, Culture Trip has only a few articles about Norwich, which could be extended to attract the increasing numbers of Norwich tourists.
I love Norwich’s independent character. I’ve spent the 10+ years that I’ve lived in the city avoiding chain restaurants and bars, so I know the best independent places to eat, drink and spend time that your readers won’t have visited before.
Samples of my work can be read on www.bethtravels.co.uk
Here are the articles I think would fit on Culture Trip, with short samples into the first couple.
Best Museums
Once England’s second city, Norwich is steeped in history. It has two cathedrals and it’s one of Europe’s most intact medieval cities courtesy of its hundreds of old merchants’ houses.
From Boudica’s rebellion against the Romans, Kett’s rebellion against wealthy landowners in the 1500s to being home to one of the world’s top climate research universities, Norwich has had a prominent place in history and British culture.
Sometimes that history might be little-known beyond its flint city walls, but these museums will open you eyes to the past lives of the Fine City.
· Strangers Hall
o What is it: Originally a medieval merchants’ house, Strangers’ Hall still has its trading cellar still intact. The building was owned by traders and mayors until it was turned into one of the country’s first folk museums to stop it falling into disrepair in the 1800s.
o Why go: Each room is decorated and furnished in the style of a different era, giving a fascinating insight into how fashion and lifestyles have changed through the centuries.
· Castle
o What is it: Norwich’s biggest museum, it has various permanent exhibitions about local history, including one on Boudica, who was a rebel Queen under Roman rule and almost defeated the Roman army! It also has a great event line up with touring exhibitions. Previous tours have including Viking Britain and Admiral Nelson & Norfolk.
o Why go: Aimed primarily at families, there’s something for everyone to learn. Experts lead the fascinating tours in the Dungeons and Battlements.
· Museum of Norwich at Bridewell
· South Asia Collection
· Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts
· Cathedral silver collection
Best Bars
Norwich won the City High Street of the Year award in 2014, in part because of Norwich Lanes, a collective of over 300 independent cafes, bars and creative businesses. The only city for miles, Norwich has had to make its own fun. Each of the bars has its own unique character and style. Whether you’re looking for craft beers, long wine lists or cocktails, there’s a bar in Norwich for you.
· The Wallow should exist in every city. Step inside and top up a Wallow card, then use this to purchase individual glasses of wine from temperature-controlled vending machines! There is music playing but always quiet enough to be able to carry a conversation with friends, giving it a really relaxed vibe.
· The Last Wine Bar is a restaurant and bar with an extensive wine list. The recently-refurbished brasserie area is a bright, open space to enjoy a glass or their shareable ‘small plates’ of locally-sourced tapas style dishes. The vibe is laid back with an up-market feel, it will make you feel like you’re on a special night out but without the price tag.
· In the shadow of Norwich Cathedral’s flint Ethelbert gate, downstairs at Bond No 28 there’s a rum and whiskey bar. A bartender will make cocktails to your taste as well as classics from a menu. One of the few places in Norwich that’s open late without being a nightclub.
· Drake
· Franks Bar
· Wildman
· The Last Wine Bar
· Bar Tapas
Best Pubs
· Adam & Eve
· Fat Cat
· Fat Cat Brewery Tap
· Murderers
· William & Florence
· The Last Pub
Best Cafes
· Rabbit
· Expresso
· Amaretto
· No 33
· Franks Bar
· Fig Bar
· KindaKafé
· Strangers Café
Best Independent Shops
· Lisa Angel
· Various market stalls
· Norwich Art Supplies
· The Granary
· Jarrolds department store
· St George’s Music Shop
· Ginger clothes shop
Kind regards & I look forward to hearing from you,
Beth Seager
And amazingly, a Commissioning Editor wrote back!
After a few email exchanges, she sent me a full brief. It was a full A4 page! I was so scared I didn’t read it for a week.
Once I’d got past the fear, the brief really helped me shape the article. As such, it only needed a few modifications from the Editor after submission. It’s called How Norwich’s Independent Nature Bucks the National Trend.
Culture Trip paid me when the first submission was accepted, before the final article was complete. Payment on publication would have been awful because it wasn’t published for 4 months after I submitted the final draft.
Now, I look back and I don’t know why I added all the lists! I think it was the first two paragraphs that sold the article: why Norwich is a trending location and why I should be the one to write about it.
Which boils down to what every editor needs:
Why this subject, and why me?
