Press trips and other PR insights for travel writers | Interview with a PR turned freelance writer

$17K month as a travel writer | How to get those big retainers

Georgie Darling just hit her biggest month and year as a travel writer, pulling in $17K in one month alone. Her secret? Multiple retainers, and going after clients with big budgets. Take a look at our conversation in the video. Georgie's LinkedIn AMA: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7372188475426521090/ [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7372188475426521090/] Georgie's coaching: https://thefreedomroute.com/ [https://thefreedomroute.com/] Travel writing career tips: https://www.skool.com/mediamatrix/about [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbkJSbzU3XzRsdFFjWnlRaklmdTlCS0F6cFRwZ3xBQ3Jtc0tubGw1a2haRUxBb1lieFdCZ3dxWnlwTkJOalFCMVpuRzUtNWxicjhJS0VlaGlSZ1dhQWNDNUVYZXJPb0EwcGhKVVNTck40dHhYTktlX3lhV1ZYRlg0NVpwVWxFbHFtTFRlZzZxME5GQVU5NE9JY2RJTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.skool.com%2Fmediamatrix%2Fabout&v=cQa7vzZwr2Q] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

How to sell stories to BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure & more with no experience

When Phil Thomas was made redundant from a white collar corporate job, he took the opportunity to chase his dream of being a travel writer. Starting from zero (no experience, no network) he took just a few months to see his name in BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure, The Independent, Conde Nast Traveler and more, getting paid for his stories. So how did he do it? Phil's blog: https://www.someoneelsescountry.com/ [https://www.someoneelsescountry.com/] Phil's BBC Travel article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20250801-are-the-worlds-most-beautiful-islands-in-danger [https://www.bbc.co.uk/travel/article/20250801-are-the-worlds-most-beautiful-islands-in-danger] Travel Writing Skool: https://www.skool.com/travel-writing/about [https://www.skool.com/travel-writing/about] More travel writing interviews and videos: https://www.youtube.com/@travelwriting [https://www.youtube.com/@travelwriting] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

'Lazy' travel blogging | No goals, just fun

I talk to David Gilbert, a software engineer by training and a digital product manager by trade, but a travel blogger by night/spare time. He has written his blog randomwore.com for 20 years, and has a refreshingly 'no goals' approach to his blog. No traffic goals, no money goals, very little SEO optimisation, just travel blogging for the joy of it. You can also watch this interview on YouTube: Topics covered: 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=0s] - Introduction – David’s background as a product manager and blogger 01:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=64s] - How the Blog Started – An escape from everyday work 02:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=136s] - Became a Travel Blog After Moving to China – How relocating changed the blog’s direction 05:22 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=322s] - Organic Traffic from Reddit, Google, and Email – How people find the blog 06:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=395s] - Why David Has Chosen Not to Monetize – No ads, no revenue, just passion 07:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=430s] - No SEO Either – Writing purely for enjoyment, not optimization 07:46 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=466s] - Choosing Not to Compete with Mainstream Topics – Avoiding over-covered locations 08:22 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=502s] - Focusing on Lesser-Visited Places, Especially Pilgrimage Trails – Interest in hidden gems 09:35 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=575s] - How Day-Job Burnout Led to a Two-Month, 1,400-km Trek – A life-changing journey 10:13 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=613s] - 50 Blog Posts and a Book from the Pilgrimage – Writing daily during the journey 12:06 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=726s] - No Pressure, No Schedule for Posts – A relaxed approach to blogging 13:14 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=794s] - Looking for Visually or Historically Interesting or Under-Exposed Stories – What makes a good post 14:28 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=868s] - Researching Experiences After, Not Before – Allowing for serendipity while traveling 16:16 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=976s] - Not Worried About Irregular Posting – No stress over breaks in content 17:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1039s] - Trying to Mix Asian and European Topics – Transitioning after moving to Germany 18:27 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1107s] - Design and Tech Also Mixed In with Travel Posts – Observing user experience in Japan 20:18 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1218s] - How an Observation About Subway Gates Led to a Popular Post – Cultural design differences 22:04 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1324s] - How a Post About Website Design in Japan Became the Most Popular – A viral article 24:25 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1465s] - Writing About the Most Dangerous Pilgrimage Trail in Japan – An intense 10-day trek 25:39 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1539s] - On His Functional Writing Style Blended with Personal Feelings – A simple but effective approach 26:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1612s] - Avoiding Controversy and Being Responsible as a Travel Blogger – Staying mindful of influence 28:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1728s] - Doing All This Without Speaking the Languages in China or Japan – How he manages 29:59 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lwssl4jcXek&t=1799s] - Final Thoughts & Blog Details – Where to find David’s work 📖 Check out David's blog: randomwire.com [http://randomwire.com] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Press trips and other PR insights for travel writers | Interview with a PR turned freelance writer

Chris Dwyer, formerly the Director of Communications at CNN and Turner Broadcasting in Hong Kong, gave up that comfortable corporate life to become a freelance food and travel writer. Here he describes how writers can build relationships with PRs, and what you need to to know about how PRs work in order to score press trips. You can also watch this interview on YouTube: (00:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=43s]) Transitioned from CNN to freelance writing after 14 years in corporate PR.(03:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=189s]) Started a food blog, leading to paid travel writing opportunities. (10:48 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=648s]) PR background helps in pitching and building industry relationships. (11:20 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=680s]) Creating solid relationships that result in press trips. (14:36 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=876s]) Prepares for press trips by securing assignments in advance. (19:32 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=1172s]) Reporting the truth, even when it's 'negative' or critical. (23:15 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=1395s]) How he discovers his next story. (26:33 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=1593s]) How he got into food writing. (29:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=1740s]) How food writing always gets traffic, stoking opinions and cultural pride. (33:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4tHhNabLs&t=1985s]) Consultancy spans industries, supporting his writing career. More about Chris: https://www.chrismdwyer.com/ [https://www.chrismdwyer.com/] Previously on the WEW podcast: Should you join a writing society? Interview with Pres. of the Society of American Travel Writers [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/should-you-join-a-writing-society] The 'enshitification' of travel writing - this publisher has a warning for travel brands [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/the-enshitification-of-travel-writing] 'Voice' in travel writing | Interview with writer, editor, author Chuck Thompson [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/voice-in-travel-writing-interview] Travel writing from scratch - Interview with Portugal journalist Lucy Bryson | Travel Writing Skool [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/travel-writing-from-scratch-interview] Niche vs generalist: Interview with 'dog-friendly travel' writer Lottie Gross [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/niche-vs-generalist-interview-with] How a struggling travel writer finally wrote for CNN, SCMP, NatGeo and more [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/how-a-struggling-travel-writer-finally] Interview with Lola Akinmade, travel photographer & writer for NYT, Nat Geo, Travel + Leisure and many more [https://whatedswant.substack.com/p/interview-with-lola-akinmade-travel] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Should you join a writing society? Interview with Pres. of the Society of American Travel Writers

I sit across Zoom with 'Chez' Chesak, a travel writer, veteran of the travel industry, Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and recently elected President of the Society of American Travel Writers. Also available on YouTube (below), Apple Podcasts and Spotify: Topics of discussion include: (01:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=111s]) - How Chez still pitches like the rest of us (when he has time) and his disappointment with some of the feedback he gets from editors (03:52 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=232s])- His aims with the associations he runs, and how he hopes to build communities that collaborate to form a kind of symbiotic, harmonious ecosystem of travel industry stakeholders (11:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=660s]) - What introverts can do to get over the intimidating aspects of networking and event-going (17:05 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=1025s]) - How the blogging world offers an alternative way to get your stories out there (19:09 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=1149s]) - The costs, time and financial, of attending networking events, and to make sure you get what you can out of them (23:19 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=1399s]) - The red flags to look out for in badly run associations (32:49 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFixqBioE2s&t=1969s]) - How influencers represent a new challenge for associations and brands alike Further reading: Chez's personal website: https://chezconnects.com/ [https://chezconnects.com/]Outdoor Writers Association of America: http://www.owaa.org/ [http://www.owaa.org/]Society of American Travel Writers: https://satw.org/ [https://satw.org/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe [https://whatedswant.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]