How to begin travel writing?

Okay, so you wanna get into travel writing? That’s awesome! It’s a dream job for a lot of people, including me, and honestly, it’s totally achievable if you put your heart into it. Forget stuffy guides, think real stories. Here’s how I see it, from my own stumbles and successes:

So, You Wanna Be a Travel Writer? Here’s the Real Deal:

1. Be Real, Like REALLY Real: Seriously, ditch the “everything’s perfect” facade. Write about your experience, the messy, the amazing, the downright awkward. Did you get lost in a maze of alleyways in Marrakech and end up eating the best tagine of your life with a family who spoke no English? Tell me about it! Did your “luxury” eco-lodge turn out to be infested with mosquitos and you barely slept? Spill the tea! People connect with honesty. I mean, who wants to read about a perfect trip? We all know those don’t exist, right?

2. Paint a Picture with Words (Show, Don’t Just Tell!): Okay, this is a classic writing rule, but it’s crucial for travel writing. Don’t just say “The sunset was beautiful.” Show me the fiery orange bleeding into the turquoise sea, the salty air thick with the scent of grilling fish, the rhythmic lapping of waves against the shore. Make me feel like I’m there with you. I remember once trying to describe the sound of a Balinese gamelan orchestra, and it took me like five tries to get it right, to really capture that shimmering, otherworldly sound. It’s worth the effort, trust me.

3. Revision is Your Best Friend (Even When You Hate It): Ugh, revision. I know, it’s the worst part, right? But seriously, don’t skip it! Let your first draft be a brain dump, then go back and refine it. Read it aloud. Does it flow? Does it make sense? Get a friend to read it and give you honest feedback. I swear, fresh eyes can catch so many things you miss. I often find myself moving paragraphs around or totally rewriting sentences. I mean, sometimes you think you’ve written gold, and then you read it the next day and it’s just…meh.

4. Share the Highs and the Lows (Authenticity FTW!): Don’t just focus on the postcard-perfect moments. Travel is an adventure, and adventures have bumps along the way. Did you miss your train in Italy and end up stranded in a tiny village? How did you handle it? Did you have a moment of complete culture shock? Write about it! Balancing the awe-inspiring moments with the challenges makes your writing relatable and, well, real. I remember one time I was backpacking through Southeast Asia and got incredibly sick. It was awful, but writing about that experience, the vulnerability, the kindness of strangers who helped me, it ended up being one of my most powerful pieces. See? Even the bad stuff can make for great writing!

So, there you have it. My two cents on getting started with travel writing. It’s a journey (pun intended!), but it’s so rewarding. Good luck! And don’t forget to have fun with it! After all, you’re writing about travel, right?