Becoming a world traveler is a dream that very few people get to indulge. You likely have limited vacation days, and those might already be taken up with other obligations. There is also the expense of constant travel, which can really add up quickly. However, if you become a freelance travel writer, you can actually earn a living traveling and writing about it for numerous publications. For many, it is a dream job that is well within reach as long as you arm yourself with information about this career field.
The biggest distinction between being a freelancer writer and a regular one is that you may work for many publications at the same time. You are not an official employee of one company or another, but rather a contractor.
Instead of getting assignments from an editor, you would instead come up with an idea, called a story pitch. You would pitch that story to various editors, and they will then decide if they wish to hire you or not. The pitch could be for a single story, a series of stories, a column, or perhaps even a book if you have lots of stories to tell all at once.
The person you pitched to can hire you for the one assignment only, or ask that you come back and contribute later. You would still be a freelancer, but with a recurring gig that could help you get some financial stability. You would generally still be able to pitch other ideas to other publications. The assignments could be reviews of specific hotels or attractions, or a city or state. You may even get to travel abroad.
While some articles could focus on a country or city, some will have a completely different focus. For example, you may be tasked with writing about the local wildlife and ecology of a place. Perhaps you will write about an entire cuisine instead of simply reviewing a restaurant that serves that cuisine. Some publications will pay for your travel expenses for you, while others will reimburse you later.
To increase the likelihood of an editor accepting your pitch, you will want to show previous pieces of writing, especially ones that have been published. A degree in English, journalism, or similar field is helpful, though not always required.
Though you are not necessarily a journalist, when freelancing as a writer, you should still hold your self to the industry standards as observed by the Society of American Travel Writers. They stipulate that you should never copy from anyone else, even partially. You should not receive payment for a positive review, instead only accepting money for an objective review. Finally, always be considerate of hosts.
The life of a freelancer is fun and full of freedom, but it can also be a little more expensive due to extra expenses such as medical insurance. Since you are not an employee of any particular outlet, you do not get the benefits such as medical cover, sick leave, or vacation days. This is why you should think long and hard about how much money you can accept for each article while still having enough to live on. Plan not for an easier time financially later.
The biggest distinction between being a freelancer writer and a regular one is that you may work for many publications at the same time. You are not an official employee of one company or another, but rather a contractor.
Instead of getting assignments from an editor, you would instead come up with an idea, called a story pitch. You would pitch that story to various editors, and they will then decide if they wish to hire you or not. The pitch could be for a single story, a series of stories, a column, or perhaps even a book if you have lots of stories to tell all at once.
The person you pitched to can hire you for the one assignment only, or ask that you come back and contribute later. You would still be a freelancer, but with a recurring gig that could help you get some financial stability. You would generally still be able to pitch other ideas to other publications. The assignments could be reviews of specific hotels or attractions, or a city or state. You may even get to travel abroad.
While some articles could focus on a country or city, some will have a completely different focus. For example, you may be tasked with writing about the local wildlife and ecology of a place. Perhaps you will write about an entire cuisine instead of simply reviewing a restaurant that serves that cuisine. Some publications will pay for your travel expenses for you, while others will reimburse you later.
To increase the likelihood of an editor accepting your pitch, you will want to show previous pieces of writing, especially ones that have been published. A degree in English, journalism, or similar field is helpful, though not always required.
Though you are not necessarily a journalist, when freelancing as a writer, you should still hold your self to the industry standards as observed by the Society of American Travel Writers. They stipulate that you should never copy from anyone else, even partially. You should not receive payment for a positive review, instead only accepting money for an objective review. Finally, always be considerate of hosts.
The life of a freelancer is fun and full of freedom, but it can also be a little more expensive due to extra expenses such as medical insurance. Since you are not an employee of any particular outlet, you do not get the benefits such as medical cover, sick leave, or vacation days. This is why you should think long and hard about how much money you can accept for each article while still having enough to live on. Plan not for an easier time financially later.
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