Recently someone told me that Mick Jagger once said, “If I wasn’t a rock star, I’d want to be a travel writer.” While I haven’t been able to verify that quote, I can attest that nearly everyone I meet tells me I have the dream job. Like most, I had to overcome my fears and […]
Lori: Patti, How did you discover you were destined for this line of work? Patti: It was sort of an epiphany. I’d been traveling for my whole adult life and loved it. But it’s expensive, so I wanted to find a way to fund my passion. I’ve always loved writing, so with a little training, […]
I was a lobbyist for 10 years. Sometimes I’d travel to different states to testify in front of legislative committees or speak at town hall meetings. But, most of the time, I sat at my desk, reading and analyzing legislation, communicating with politicians, writing newsletters, press releases, and action alerts, and sending emails to educate […]
Testifying before important legislative committees, meeting with politicians, organizing grassroots activists groups… when I first became a lobbyist, it was exciting. But as the years wore on and I got a peek behind the curtain, I didn’t like what I saw; politics is not pretty. I wanted a way out. I wanted to follow my […]
I’ve taken great strides over the years to become an editor’s best friend. By that, I mean that I am part of their “stable” of travel writers—a go-to person whenever they have a need for an article. I meet or exceed deadlines; I proofread and fact-check each piece; I follow their writer’s guidelines; and I […]
Travel—especially international travel—can be expensive, and even more so if you’re new to travel writing and not getting invited on complimentary trips yet. So, how can you get the most bang for your buck when you’re starting out? One way that I stretch my travel budget is by making sure I get multiple bylines from […]
Recently I was invited to participate on a press trip to Romania and Moldova. I immediately said yes—and what a great decision that was. Romania is one of the prettiest countries in Central/Eastern Europe: Enchanting town plazas that date back to medieval times, rolling hills as far as the eye can see, Transylvanian castles cloaked […]
At some point in time, nearly everyone I know has asked me, “What’s your favorite destination?” “That’s like asking me which of my children I love the best!” I respond. But truth be told, having the ubiquitous “bucket list” is a lot of fun. In addition, the actual planning of a trip and the anticipation […]
“What’s the secret to your success?” I hear that a lot… from colleagues, friends, and even strangers. The travel writer’s life is dreamy. It’s the job everyone would do, if they could. But can anyone become a travel writer? The answer is…yes. For me, it started with an epiphany. My passion was travel – especially […]
