Probably the quickest and easiest way to break into travel-writing is to write short articles of about 250 to 600 words. There are literally hundreds of publications in the market for pieces like these: short articles reviewing a great restaurant, an outstanding little B&B, an unbeatable travel deal, and so on.
These short articles typically appear in a particular department within a publication or they might fall under what's known in the business as "front or back-of the-book" pieces. You know the type of piece I'm talking about: they usually run them in the first or last few pages of the publication.
You'll Need to Narrow Your Focus
Magazine space is always limited. That being so, the size of the topic you choose must be limited too. Don't think you can write 600 words about, say, seeing Paris in three days. It can't be done, at least in the space you'll have available. Instead, you'll need to be very specific, to narrow the focus of your topic to something like a new restaurant or maybe an interesting museum exhibit.
Show, Don't Tell
Try to get straight to the point - you have only 250 to 600 words, remember? But in doing so, there's no reason why you shouldn't go for your reader's emotional jugular. Try to pull her in by painting a word-picture of this place or thing you're writing about, but keep it short; you have only a paragraph in which to do it.
Rookie travel writer and photographer, Joe Satto, attended our photo workshop in the Bahamas. While he was there he visited Great Guana Cay and wrote the following piece about one of the resorts for inclusion in my guide book, "The Adventure Guide to the Bahamas":
"Peeking out from the dense tropical landscape, the lodge and cottages are painted in a kaleidoscope of brightly painted colors: the colors of Junkanoo, an annual Bahamian festival, reflect the festive feel of the resort.
"If you're in the mood for a dip, you can head out to the swimming pool or saunter along the short walkway to a five-mile sweep of coral-colored sand with great swimming, beachcombing, snorkeling and kayaking. On a lazy, hazy afternoon, grab a book from the library, a soft drink from the cooler, and while away the hours on your own private deck.
"While the lodge offers 4 spacious rooms and a somewhat luxurious level of living, the tiny one, two and three-bedroom cottages offer a more self-contained experience..."
Get Right to it. Hook Your Readers Right up Front
Somewhere close to the front of the piece, you should come quickly to the point of your article. You know who your reader is, at least you should, and you've pulled her in; now it's time to write a sentence or very short paragraph that shows her the benefit of being there. The sentence that follows your descriptive lead might look something like this:
"If it's a few moments of solitude and an escape from the hustle and bustle of every-day life in the big city you're looking for, you'll find it here, at...on Great Guana Cay where cool ocean breezes blow and the sun shines daily on the glittering sands and the waving palms."
That's how Joe Satto did it in his article. Not bad for a beginner, I think.
Give Your Article Some Substance
Ok, so far we have only about 100 words - it needs more, it needs some substance. Follow your lead with some descriptive facts, statistics, like this:
"The Abacos, of which Great Guana Cay is one, are a mixture of isolated, dusty settlements and neat little towns and villages that might have been lifted straight out of New England. Pastel-colored, clapboard house and white picket fences contrast sharply with dusty, bumpy, deserted roads that all seem to lead nowhere in particular. The Abacos offer sun-drenched beaches, cool ocean breezes, tropical trees and flowers, and quiet country lanes. More than 50 species of wild and tropical birds inhabit the islands, along with wild boar, several species of lizards and, in the surrounding waters, bonefish - the grey ghost of the Bahamas, and the most sought-after trophy fish for anglers from around the world."
You might continue by offering a little more information about the available outdoor activities, restaurants, shopping and so on.
And so you get the idea across that this place is a little off-the-beaten-path, not inundated with the usual cruise ship visitors and their children. It's a place where one can "get away from it all."
Finally: Supply all the Necessary Information Your Readers Will Need
The idea is that you want your reader to quit reading, pick up the phone, and take action, in which case she'll need to find the practical information right there at the conclusion of your article, like this:
"Rates range from $200 per night in the Lodge to $440 per night for a three-bedroom cottage, with discounted weekly rates. EP only. Phone 800-222-3333, 242-333-4444.
www.excellentresort.com"
It's a format that's tried and true. Follow it, and you will write a very marketable little article that could easily find its way into the travel section of your local newspaper or even the front of a major travel magazine.
(c) 2006 Blair Howard
All Rights Reserved