BY TARA BRICKHILL
How do you follow your passion for travel, and make a living from it at the same time? Sometimes you need a little creative thinking and an interesting perspective to achieve it.
Many people think that travel writers just write articles about travelling experiences, providing tips and wonderful photographs that leave us itching to explore a destination.
However, for the writer, it is another story completely. Glossy pages in a magazine mean nothing when you are producing work that fills you with passion, or that has a deeper meaning for you.
Here two well-known travel writers reveal the causes that drive their passion for travel writing.
Writing For Change
April Orcutt is one of those people who is pushing for change through her travel writing.
Throughout her many travel pieces, you can see that there is a huge emphasis on the natural environment that surrounds her. She has been able to use her craft to bring awareness to environmental issues in many parts of the world and still have her travel pieces be engaging to her readers.
She says: “I love writing about] quests with compelling characters in intriguing places.”
Her writing has won her multiple awards, such as the Gold award in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition and Best U.S. Travel Destination article in U.S. Travel’s IPW Travel Writing Awards.
“[I love writing about] quests with compelling characters in intriguing places” – April Orcutt
Other travel writers seem to be on a different journey all together.
Unique Hobby For Writing Twists
Andrew Zimmern is another great example of using writing to its full advantage.
Many people will recognize Andrew Zimmern from the show “Bizarre Foods”. But would it surprise you that he holds some interesting editor positions?
Andrew is a contributing editor of Mpls. St. Paul Magazine and senior editor at Delta Sky Magazine. On top of this, he still freelances and has had multiple pieces published internationally and nationally.
He has been able to turn his love for food and travel into the perfect writing combination. While using a niche that wasn’t really publicized; he has been able to turn it into his field of specialty. This has made him the go-to man if you, as an editor, wanted to do an article on interesting foods in exotic places.
Yet, he still provids a hint to writers and non-writers when it comes to traveling and seeing new places with a unique perspective.
“Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in,” claims Andrew Zimmern.
Many people may find it hard to make a break into the freelancing world, but with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
Just remember:
- Have a unique angle to your story
- Always work with a good attitude
- Don’t be afraid to figure out your niche or cause
We are in an industry where opportunities to become the go-to person for a certain niche that we have carved from our own personal interests is possible. We can be the subtle voice for a cause that is hidden in the words we write.
All we must do really, is write.
“Please be a
traveler , not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. Those are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in.” ― Andrew Zimmern
AUTHORS BIO
Tara Brickhill is devoted to travel, adventure and writing. She has an enormous bucket list of places to go, books to read, crazy sports to try and exotic meals to taste and cook.
