There’s nothing quite as enticing, for the armchair traveller, than sinking into a comfy couch to read about places you’ve never seen, and never been to. And it’s a travel writers job to immerse you in that world. Caroline Hurry, editor-in-chief of Travelwrite, offers 20 tips to travel writers on how to make their copy sing, and keep those readers engaged with their travel tales.
1. Make a basic outline before you start writing to see how various aspects of your story can relate and flow in an engaging way.
2. Develop an interesting narrative. Dialogue with someone other than your spouse. Talk to the locals. How else will you learn about the place?
3. On the subject of spouses and family members, unless they’re pertinent to the tale, we don’t want to hear about them. Really, we don’t.
4. Find a fresh angle to the story. Most places have been written about before so find something original that will grab a reader’s attention.
5. Details, darlings, details. Travelling as a writer is not the same as writing as a tourist. Take notes, ask questions, get quotes and jot down the little details of your trip. How much did it cost? What’s the name of the district it’s in? Always be specific.
6. Develop and analyse a list of 25 of your favourite travel writers. What makes them so readable?
7. Avoid clichés like the plague … Eish! Lose the “best kept secrets”, “city of contrasts” and “unspoilt gems”. Why do lodges always “nestle” at the foothills or “perch” vulture-like atop a mountain with “breathtaking views” over a “rustic” village? Stop, already. Try some originality.
8. Lose the unremitting good cheer. Among all the stories I had read about Egypt before I went, nobody had prepared me for the filth, the cruelty to horses, the stray dogs and starving camels eating cardboard from rubbish dumps. Be more realistic. Otherwise get into Pee Aar.
9. Read, read, read: Rinse and repeat. Only good reading can make you a better writer. Dip regularly into your list of 25 favourite travel writers. You will never develop a voice and style without reading.
10. Add historical or political context to assist the point you’re making in your piece. As Thomas Swick wrote in Roads not Taken (//www.thomasswick.com/articles/roadsnottaken.html) “It is the job of travel writers to have experiences that are beyond the realm of the average tourist, to go beneath the surface, and then to write interestingly of what they find … Good travel writers understand that times have changed, and in an age when everybody has been everywhere (and when there is a Travel Channel for those who haven’t), it is not enough simply to describe a landscape, you must now interpret it.”
11. Don’t compare one country to another, as in Camps Bay in Cape Town is the new Corfu. It’s very irritating. Not to mention complete bollocks.
12. Seek to entertain and educate your reader in a light, breezy way.
13. Write, write, write: You have to write even when – especially when – you don’t feel like it.
14. Paint with words: Take the reader on an armchair journey. Include sensory details. What did the place look like? Feel like? Smell like? Taste like? Remind you of?
15. Develop a specialty: If you want to stand out, it pays to be an expert on something that you’re passionate about.
16. If you can’t afford to travel, write about new activities in your local area. Become a travel expert on your own city. Does it have any unusual landmarks, remarkable museums or attractions? How about festivals?
17. Don’t give up. Successful writers stuck it out, writing and learning as they went along.
18. Show. Don’t tell: Lose the adverbs and flowery descriptions. Choose the perfect verb instead.
19. End with a punch or at least ensure the ending captures the point of the story. Don’t you dare say you can’t wait to return to wherever you went. Arghhhhhhhhhh! It’s been done to death.
20. When your piece is finished, read it out loud. Seriously. You’ll surprise yourself. It’s also a great way to find your “voice”.
Caroline Hurry is a member of SAFREA.
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23 Comments
Sgordon
Great advice for any aspiring travel writer, in fact not travel alone. Read the last tip, take note freelance writers too.
Monica Cromhout
Thanks Caroline. This is motivating and practical. Have copied it on to a group of writers I know.
Trevor Frost
Caroline, thanks so much. I’m busy scratching my way through what will be my second book. I have learned so much from not only your comments, but your frankness that makes them far more compelling.
Nick Harman
‘Lose the unremitting good cheer. Among all the stories I had read
about Egypt before I went, nobody had prepared me for the filth,
the cruelty to horses, the stray dogs and starving camels eating
cardboard from rubbish dumpsr.’
Yes I tried that once and the editor said it was borderline racism! I suspect the real issue was a stonking great ad from the country’s tourist board on the next page (not egypt I hasten to add)
My negatives were severely watered down. Lonely Planet books always seem rather loth to criticise 3rd world countries in any way but happy to be rude about western europe, kind of double standards I feel
tell it like it is if you can is my opnion
Miruna Corneanu
Good post, Caroline.
Thanks for sharing.
Regards
Tom Plant
Flat out excellent tip. Bravo, Caroline!
Johanna Bradley
Thank you
Caroline Hurry
“I suspect the real issue was a stonking great ad from the country’s tourist board on the next page ” … mmmmm, I feel your pain Nick!
Mary Coons
Great ideas; thanks for sharing.
Mark Footer
Speaking as a commissioning editor of travel articles, I could not agree more with your list, Caroline. All I’d add is that a bit of humour alongside the gritty realism rarely goes amiss.
Cindy Hanson
Great info! Thanks for sharing!
Elaine
Thanks for the tips, I’ll try again and again to perfect my travel stories as you have suggested.
Gayle
Well said Caroline …. I would love to put this up on my website (www.letstravelmag.com) for future/potential contributors to read!
Let me know if you’re happy for me to do so, naturally with the appropriate credits and links!
Gx
Caroline Hurry
Hi Gayle, that should be fine … pse email me directly on caroline@travelwrite.co.za … btw is the above link correct? I got through to a page totally unrelated to travel …
Jeannanash
Thand you for posting Caroline – good tips.
Melody Wren
thank you so much. simple tips but important to think about while I am working on so many articles at once. I have now subscribed and anxiously await updates.
Wandering Educators
fantastic tips – especially the details part. there’s nothing that makes me more annoyed than reading about a place and not getting enough information.
and i love talking with locals. it makes the WHOLE experience better.
Heather Hapeta
good stuff .. will add it to resouces for my Travel Writing workshop students … with you name/ details of course 🙂
foodepedia
I always tell young uns to print it out then read it, funny how what
seems okay on Word on screen is not so okay when on a piece of paper
Simon Ball
Good stuff particularly points 8 and 10
Grathy
Wonderful tips. I’ll keep them in mind.
Taylor William
Great work..Thanks for these tips…I would surely follow them when ever i travel.t
Caroline Hurry
You’re welcome, Taylor. Thanks for your kind comment!