A registered nurse with over 33 years’ experience, Noreen had the travel bug since childhood when her family traveled extensively. Married to a retired Naval Officer, she then had the privilege of living in Italy enabling her to travel to 17 different European countries. Now as a travel writer, she not only travels but writes about exciting destinations like Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands. In less than three years, Noreen’s 235 published articles have appeared in 28 different online and print publications. She is a regular contributor for four magazines. Noreen is also the pioneer of Great Escape Publishing’s Travel Writer’s Café, an exclusive writing group designed for travel writers. You can read some of recent articles below.
As German theologian Meister Eckhart once said, “suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” Each new year brings new dreams, new plans, and new starts. And for travel writers, it’s the perfect time to re-examine priorities and improve skills. Every year since 2014, when I launched my […]
I’d like to share something a little bit different with you today. Noreen Kompanik, travel writer and founder of The Travel Writers Café, recently recorded a video talking about her 13 best tips for success in travel writing. Noreen has some great insights into what it takes to be productive, successful, and happy as a […]
I’ve been writing now for five years. When I made the commitment to launch into the world of travel writing after attending an Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in 2014, I honestly had no idea where the journey would take me. Almost 500 published articles later, it’s exciting to share and pay forward what I’ve learned along […]
As a travel writer, I’m often asked how I broke into the field and what I write about. To many, my answers are surprising. That’s because there are so many myths and misunderstandings out there about freelance travel writing. After attending the Ultimate Travel Writers Workshop in 2014, my eyes opened to the myriad possibilities […]
Every freelance writer agrees that seeing their name in print for the first time is exhilarating. So are the perks that come along with the job, as well as receiving that first invitation to an all-inclusive press trip. But what is it that actually keeps writers happy, engaged, and motivated day after day, month after […]
Who doesn’t love a sandcastle? It dawned on me the last time I was on the beach watching an artisan putting the finishing touches on his masterpiece, that finding success as a travel writer is much like building a beautiful sandcastle. Here’s why. Establishing a firm foundation. Breaking into the world of travel writing requires […]
As travel writers, we love and appreciate the perks that come with the job. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, we know how trying these times have been for our businesses. And it’s been equally challenging for the travel writer hoping to land the “on the house” perks we’re accustomed to in exchange for our published […]
As a travel writer, I learned early on how crucial marketing is to travel writing success. Simply put, if you don’t market yourself, no one knows you’re out there. Social media is the ideal way to showcase your profile as a writer, and it’s especially important in today’s world. Initially by trial and error, […]
As travel writers, we all yearn to get published, be paid for our stories, and travel more. And of course, have those travels and adventures not come out of our own pockets. It’s part of the joys of the trade. I heard Tina Turner’s catchy tune What’s Love Got to Do With It? playing the […]
Strategic planner and speaker Carece Slaughter once said, “We start by setting the course, we succeed by staying the course.” Whether you’re a new writer or one with more experience, we all share one thing in common. We’re all navigating through some rough waters these days. But just like a good sailor, we need to […]