Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass

Over One Power-Packed Weekend (from the Comfort of Home)

Discover the Secrets to Traveling the World for Free… Meeting New People… and Getting Paid as a Travel Writer

“As it turns out, travel writing becomes even more interesting when the world stops.”
Sarah Firshein, NY Times Travel

Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass
September 12-13, 2020

Dear Reader,

If you like the idea of getting paid to travel… of enjoying VIP treatment and on the-house invitations for experiences in your own hometown or in spots as far-flung as Hoi An, Vietnam or Lisbon, Portugal or Punta del Este, Uruguay…

If you’re intrigued by the idea of seeing your name in print… of turning an interest in writing into an income (no experience necessary)…

Then I’d like to invite you to participate in something brand-new we’ve put together—our first-ever Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass.

Over two power-packed days spent with a hot-shot group of accomplished writers and editors, you’ll—

  • Discover the little-known techniques travel writers use to land concert tickets… meals… vacations… and more… without paying a dime…
  • Know exactly what to do to get your name and articles published everywhere—from local newspapers to the world’s most prestigious travel magazines…
  • Find out just how easy it is to start exploring the planet (once we can do that again, of course), meeting new people, and enjoying the freedom and independence of a portable income, no matter where on the planet you choose to live or spend time.
  • Learn how to create your very own short publishable piece… gain the contact information for editors we know who are happy to work with you (even if you've never been published before)… and get personalized feedback on an article from one of our expert presenters.
  • And so much more…

Our overriding goal: accelerate your success and cut years off your learning curve—so that sooner than you imagine possible, you can be getting paid to travel and enjoy the perks and VIP treatment in-the-know travel writers can enjoy.

This is Jennifer Stevens. I’m the author of GEP’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program and Executive Editor of International Living.

I realize we’re still hunkered down at home for the moment (sure, maybe you’ve had a friend or two over for dinner on your deck or even enjoyed a few nights’ getaway on a road-trip)…

But mostly, it’s probably safe to assume you’re pretty locked down. So you may be asking: “What could I write about now?”

Thankfully—all sorts of articles need writing today. And savvy travel writers who understand this are already getting in on this action—one friend of mine told me she had a whopping 10 articles published last month.  

In many ways, you’re uniquely suited to write the sort of articles editors are looking for today.

I’ll explain why in a moment, but first, let me say:

There’s arguably never been a better time to get your “ducks in a row” to learn the ins and outs of this travel-writer business, beef up the skills you need to get your name in print, and make yourself attractive to the tourist boards, resorts, and airlines that will be eager to offer effective travel writers complimentary trips and experiences once borders are open again…

That’s why—the weekend of September 12-13, 2020—I’ll be hosting a program with a group of expert writer and editor colleagues, which you can attend online from right there at home.

Over two power-packed days, you’ll gain all the expert advice and insider guidance you need to jump start your travel writing success so you can break into this world of writing and adventure—fast and efficiently. 

Like Jed, who was a sales rep for high-performance flooring before he got laid off and reinvented himself with our guidance.  Today he spends part of the year on Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, writing about all there is to do nearby and selling stories about his adventures. “I wouldn’t trade my remote-income lifestyle for anything!” he says.

Or take Barb, who was working in the cosmetic industry before she learned the inside scoop on travel writing from our experts and pivoted with great success. Not only does she have lots of bylines under her belt today, but she’s cashed in on all sorts of VIP perks, like tea for two at the Ritz in Paris. She says, “Travel writing has opened unimaginable doors… [and] changed the way I view the world.” 

If they can do it—so can you. And this September, I’d like to prove it to you.

Join me and my colleagues for this Online Masterclass, and you’ll login at the beginning of Day 1 with this idea that you might like to be a travel writer. You’ll wrap up at the end of Day 2 excited, confident, and armed with everything you need to make it happen.

You’ll have opportunities to ask questions along the way. And after the two days comes to an end, you can have an article reviewed personally by me or one of the other presenters so you’ll get feedback specific to you and your story.  

I’ve structured this program to be practical—not theoretical—and that means everything you’ll learn will help get you that much closer to living a life where you’re truly engaged no matter where you go… a life where you’re learning new things and exploring new places and enjoying a real adventure. 

And we’ll show you how you can make that true, even in these crazy times.

Consider these successful travel writers, none of whom started out in that career, but all of whom are, today, enjoying the good life…

Turn Your Love of Travel into a Lifestyle—Just Like These Folks Have…

Tim, for instance, was a corporate recruiter based in Minneapolis, specializing in architecture and engineering. He’d never written a travel article in his life. But he liked to travel. And he was tired of the cold Minnesota winters.

So he met up over a weekend with the same experts you can hear from in September. He learned the ropes, and today, he says, “I review 5-star resort amenities, discuss what flavor of rum mixes well with pineapple juice, and interview golf course professionals. These are all occupational hazards that I wouldn’t change for anything.”

In recent years, he’s gotten paid to travel to Costa Rica, Panama, Turks and Caicos, Los Cabos and the Riviera Maya in Mexico, and Great Exuma in the Bahamas—and along the way gotten lots of perks on the house, from rounds of golf to complimentary villa stays.

“My favorite types of articles focus on the Caribbean, golf, and writing about entrepreneurs,” Tim says. “A best-case scenario involves an article that combines all three. I got started travel writing by penning an article about a golf course in Turks and Caicos. I parlayed that article into subsequent pieces on the Caribbean.”

Then there’s Kurt. He was a chef and a real estate investor from Baltimore who’d, in his words, “burned out after the crash of 2008” and was looking for something new. He loved to travel, but he didn’t have a budget to do as much of it as he wanted to. So, like Tim, he spent a few days with the same experts we’re gathering for our Masterclass, and he put what he learned into practice. Within seven months, he’d had nearly 40 articles published. And he’s enjoyed plenty of perks along the way…

“I landed a two-night stay in a boutique wine country cottage in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand’s North Island,” says Kurt.

“Then… I had two trips to Las Vegas that featured comped lodging, a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, and other free activities… [and] I bagged stays at three Colorado hotels. Two of them were expensive ski-in/ski-out Aspen favorites!”

They’re not the only ones who took the same secrets we’ll share in this upcoming Masterclass, and turned them into freebies and published articles…

Take Noreen, a retired nurse from San Diego. Though she enjoyed writing and was well-traveled, she’d never penned a travel article in her life. That changed after she took a weekend workshop with the same experts ready to share their get-published secrets with you during our September Masterclass.

In her first year of writing—part-time as she was still working—she got 47 articles published. By the second year, she had 150 under her belt. Today, she’s authored more than 500 articles.

“Last year [in 2019],” Noreen says, “I was privileged to be invited on 26 individual and group press trips, both national and international. Among the destinations were the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos, Europe, Hawaii, plus several California coastal communities and wine regions.

“I was hosted by five-star resorts and wined and dined by top restaurants and wineries. I sailed, kayaked, paraglided, rafted, and even got to see The Rolling Stones in concert in their final world tour from a luxury box at the historic Pasadena Rose Bowl.

“My calendar for 2020 had already begun filling up with familiarization (FAM) trips, and before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I’d already managed to land four press trips and turned down others because of scheduling conflicts. More trips were on the books to Mexico’s Riviera Maya and Belize, but they were canceled due to the pandemic.

“There’s no doubt within our travel writing community that we will all travel again… some reps are already starting to throw out ‘feelers’ to see which writers are interested in their destinations.”

This Is Your Chance, Right Now, to Land Bylines and Position Yourself for Perks—We’ll Show You How

There’s no question: This craziness will pass, eventually, borders will open up, and we will travel again… but in the interim: It’s the ideal time to position yourself well for success.

Right now, we can’t put you in a room in person with our experts, but that’s why we’ve created this Online Masterclass. This way we can come to you. We’ll show you how it’s all done, and you can soak in the secrets—from the comfort of your home.

The good news is: Seeing your name in print, selling your stories, landing freebies—those are things anybody—with the right guidance—can achieve.

You DON’T need a degree in journalism or a mastery of the English language to become a travel writer. I mean, you need to be able to put a sentence together—but you don’t have to be Hemingway.

You don't need a fancy laptop or lots of money.

What you DO need is curiosity, and an interest in seeing new places and meeting new people. You need to be willing to share an opinion about the experiences you have.

And you need a willingness to learn the techniques, tricks, and secrets the pros rely on to write the kinds of stories that editors want… and land the amazing perks just sitting there waiting for you to grab them.

This September at our first-ever Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass, that’s exactly what I and my team of professional writers and editors will show you.

You’re Uniquely Qualified to Find, Tell—and Sell—Engaging Stories

I mentioned earlier that you’re uniquely qualified to be a successful travel writer. I say that because…

First, if you’re typical of our readers—you have a bit of life experience under your belt, and that  is immeasurably helpful when it comes to finding and telling interesting stories.

That’s because you’ve seen things. You have points of comparison. You can, in fact, make informed judgement calls about whether something really IS interesting or unique or underappreciated—or not.

You bring to any situation greater context than, say, a 21-year-old who’s just starting out. I’m not implying that a younger writer can’t make it. I’m simply saying a more seasoned eye gives you an edge when it comes to spotting and telling stories that editors will want to buy.

In addition, one key to success as a travel writer comes with fostering relationships with those editors. And chances are, you’re well practiced in communicating. That’s more important than you might think. You’re used to responding to emails. You’ve spent a lifetime earning a living at a j-o-b. So you understand how to sit down and meet a deadline and get things done. Those rather mundane skills actually give you a leg up when it comes to travel writing.

My point is: You’re already ahead of the game, and you haven’t even started yet…

Travel Writing Delivers Flexibility, Fun, and Income, too

One of the most powerful benefits of travel writing is that it’s extremely flexible. Once you understand the core tenets—and they’re not complicated—you can apply them to just about any place and anything.

Live in Iowa and like antiquing? Write about that.

You’ve been vacationing in Cape Cod every year for two decades and know the best clam shacks? Write about that.

You live in California and you like to surf? Write about that.

So many outlets exist where you can get your stories published, there’s almost no end to the possible topics you can focus on.

You can go at travel writing full time if you like—one source says the average annual pay for a full-time travel writer is $73,000.

I’ll be honest: I think that’s overstating it. I have no doubt some people are earning that much—and more. But my guess is those people are working a lot! Maybe you aspire to do that. And if so, good for you.

But to my mind, the best way to think of travel writing is as a lifestyle choice. Yes, you can (and should) get paid for your stories—but typically you can expect that compensation to be $100, $300, $500, maybe $800 per piece.

Much of the payoff, remember, comes in the form of VIP treatment and perks. And that can be downright glamorous… not to mention worth thousands of dollars you don’t have to pull out of your own pocket.

You see, tourist boards, hotels, resorts, airlines, and the like are eager to host travel writers on-the-house in the hope they’ll get some positive “press” about what they have to offer.

They’re in the business of getting bodies to visit—and while they could simply take out an ad, it’s more effective if a writer tells a compelling story that excites readers to visit.

So these offers of hospitality are out there… and part of what we’ll show you in September is how to put yourself at the front of the line to receive them.

This Lifestyle Is Downright Romantic

Once I took a press trip to Cancun over a long weekend. Not the sort of place I typically vacation, to be honest. But a new apart-hotel group invited me and said I could bring my husband along, it was free (airfare for us both, included), and I was grateful for a few days of sun and sand. We found a welcome fruit basket in our water-view apartment when we arrived. We paid for no meals the whole time we were there, yet we ate very well—cocktails and wine included. Our hosts took us on a high-end tequila tasting. We snorkeled in a cenote. Yet I think, all told, the trip cost us the airport parking fee. It really was an escape on the house. And the sponsors were pleased with the short piece I had published upon my return. Good exposure for them. I call that a win-win.

Julie talks about a trip she enjoyed… an editor she’d been working with asked her if she’d like to take a press trip on behalf of the publication and write about the experience.

She said yes and jetted off on an all-expenses-paid jaunt to a Club Med in Florida. A generous welcome basket was waiting for her in her luxury, water-view room, golf lessons with a pro, pampering at the spa, a flying trapeze experience, lots of meals and evening parties…

She had a ball—and the public relations firm that had organized the trip was so pleased with her and the story she produced that they invited her on three more press trips in the three months that followed.

Mary landed a six-day, all-expenses-paid trip to Cornwall, England. And while she was in the country, she says, “I went gliding, canoeing, cycling, rode a steam train, visited museums, castles, breweries, and wineries. I took an all-day guided tour in a luxury van, cruised the river on a punt in Canterbury and Bath. I devoured London on a walking food tour of the West End. All at no cost to me.”

But here’s the important bit: You don’t have to write full-time to cash in on any of those sorts of things.

Travel writing is something you can easily do in your spare time. No experience necessary.

And you don’t even have to travel to make a go of it. After all, where you live is a destination for somebody. (This is true all the time, but it’s a particularly useful tidbit to consider in the midst of a pandemic.)

You can easily write about what there is to see and do in your hometown. And when you do that, you're pretty much guaranteed local celebrity status. That means invites to all sorts of fun stuff—like gallery openings, tourist attractions, new restaurants, and more…

This fall, at our Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass, we’ll show you how it’s done…

You'll come away from this program with easy, proven techniques for landing no-cost trips… real-world advice for turning your travel know-how into cash… tried-and-true ways to transform your vacations into tax-deductible adventures… and more…

We’ll show you how to come up with story ideas. And we’ll teach you how to take your experiences and transform them into saleable articles.

Editors are always in the market for stories told in a way that’s engaging and rings true. We’ll show you how to know what they’re looking for—and how to deliver it.

You’ll get paid. You’ll get your name in print. And before you know it, editors could be banging down your door, asking for more.

One question people ask all the time is: Where can I send this story I’ve written? So that’s something we’ll address in detail.

We’ll pull back the curtain and show you how the whole process works, so you come away confident you know exactly what to do to go from story idea to article creation to seeing your name in print and cashing a check for your trouble. And then we’ll show you how to parlay that success into offers of on-the-house hospitality.

Ordinary Folks, Extraordinary Successes The Secrets and Strategies Our Experts Share Really Work

You can be a published travel writer a lot faster than you probably imagine.

Join us for this one, power-packed weekend, and within a handful of weeks you could have a byline and even be enjoying some of those perks I just talked about.

Now that’s a big promise, I know. But this Masterclass isn’t filled with theoretical fluff. We tell you how, in the real world, this industry works. And then we show you—step-by-step—exactly how to navigate your way through it.

That includes staying on top of the changing industry trends—and bringing you the most current templates for what’s working right now. These are uncertain times when it comes to travel, so we’ll make sure you’re plugged in and up to date. 

All that means you can avoid the pitfalls that trip up most new travel writers, and instead, steer yourself directly to the bylines you need to guarantee your own success. Once you have a track record—and it needn’t take long to create one—you can position yourself well to take advantage of invitations to travel on somebody else’s dime.

Take Dawn-Marie, for instance. She’d never written a travel article before. But she followed the same steps for getting published and landing perks that we’ll outline for participants in September.

And, as she tells it, “I’d landed a press trip on my very first try. This gave my husband and me a romantic, three-day Valentine’s weekend at someone else’s expense.”

Or consider Terri—an accountant-turned-writer who spent her first career preparing tax returns in an office in New York City. She says she longed for more excitement, flexibility, and fun.

She found it in travel writing. When she discovered Great Escape Publishing, Terri didn’t even have a passport and she’d certainly never written an article. But she attended one of our workshops and systematically put into practice the strategies she learned there.

Today she’s got well over 1,000 bylines to her name and she’s been to 29 countries across five continents.

She says, “I’ve fished for piranha in the Peruvian Amazon, driven a reindeer sleigh in Norway, swam through ancient caves in Belize, walked alongside penguins in Antarctica, and even followed a nomadic tribe on a hunt in Tanzania. 

“As I look back on it all, I realize travel writing is so much bigger than collecting passport stamps and bylines. It has given me confidence in ways I never imagined. It can do the same for you. It’s all about taking the first step toward the life you want to live. And after that first step, take another one… and another. Before long you’ll be looking back realizing just how much your life has changed.”

No matter what your background is or whether you have writing experience—or not—we can show you how to turn your love of travel into bylines and paid-for adventures and help you, too, enjoy the world in a way the average tourist never does…

These Experts Really DO Help Turn People into Travel Writers—And They Can Do It for You, Too!

In a typical year, we’d gather in person with this accomplished collection of experts who will be speaking at our Online Masterclass. And they’d work their magic…helping folks who, like you, would like to see their name in print and get paid to travel. The secrets and guidance our speakers share really works! Just look what a few past workshop attendees had to say… 

“I’m so excited! It’s been two months since [the workshop] in New Orleans. Earlier today I received my first payment for an article! I’m a PAID travel writer now!” – Gwyn G.

“Proud to share the news of a published article from my first query. It is a 1500-word piece in Popular Archaeology about the Stadium of Domitian, the foundation of the famous Piazza Navona in Rome.” – Deborah S.

“I am so excited! Today my first print article was published. As suggested in the workshop, it is a local. A new glossy lifestyle magazine. The article is about a glass-blowing studio… Thank you GEP!” – Amy P.

“Just got my ticket for a hot air balloon flight later this month. The complimentary excursion includes champagne brunch after.” – Mary C.

“Give[s] aspiring travel writers the confidence to do it! It really lit a fire under me.” – Susan B.

“Highly recommend…I have come away with knowledge about how to write better, how to market myself, what editors look for, different kinds of travel writing and markets.” – Rebecca R.

“No matter where you are in your journey of becoming a travel writer… an amazing value for your money.” – Pamela S.

“Run, don’t walk to sign up… You will be given all the tools and expertise you need to make a change in your life. All you have to do is follow the program.” – Michael T.

Get the Insiders’ Secrets to Writing What Sells… and Discover How to Parlay Those Bylines into Perks

When you join me and my expert colleagues for this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass, September 12-13, 2020, you’ll discover how to—

  • Easily combine your hobbies and interests with your passion for travel… and instantly turn them into income-earners. It'll work with anything: scrapbooking, architecture, music, cooking, knitting, gambling, hunting, hiking, dancing, history… even bar-hopping…
  • Make the critical industry contacts you need and learn exactly how, step-by-step, you turn an idea into a publishable piece… and then how you actually get what you've written into the pages of a magazine, newspaper, or on a website…
  • Keep tabs on what’s working for freelancers in 2020—and capitalize on it. We’re bringing in a panel of editors you’ll hear from and can ask questions of. They’ll share what they’re looking for now, what they love writers to do, what their pet peeves are, and more.  
  • Find the publications that make the most sense for your story, what to put in your letter to the editor, when to send your article… plus we'll give you the insider's list of what NOT to do (you'd be surprised at how many writers have no idea what makes editors crazy)…
  • Create a simple 3-paragraph pitch to sell your ideas to editors in seconds. This proven formula for writing strong "query letters" comes from a seasoned pro who know what works…
  • Make writing easy. Learn how to get information to come right to you—you'll never be at a loss for a story idea or the meaty content that will make writing a breeze…
  • Use a simple technique for tripling your travel-writing income… with almost no additional work…
  • Write about where you live—not only is it lots of fun—but it’s an important first step to take as it can easily lead to great paying assignments and amazing perks all over the world…
  • Apply the one big secret you never learned writing “What I did last summer” essays in school. This critical idea separates adequate writers from exceptional ones, and travel editors can tell immediately if you’re in-the-know…
  • Stretch your vacation dollars—save hundreds of dollars a night—when you defray your travel costs with deeply discounted "press rates" at swank hotels around the world. Find out how it's done—what to say and what not to say—and what you can do to increase the chances that next time you'll be asked back for free…
  • Artfully arrange a complimentary trip—a seasoned travel writer spills her secrets (including sample letters you can copy) and tells you exactly what to say and who to say it to… so you’re on the receiving end of invitations for on-the-house perks and even no-cost trips…
  •  And lots, lots more…

From the Desk of Jackie Flynn, Publisher

Would You Like to "Work" for Me?

Dear Reader,

Right now, I need stories for five of my publications (including International Living). More specifically, I need some people to write these stories.

If you are interested in coming to "work" for me, you might find yourself exploring the rainbow dunes of Mauritius. Or you might hike in the hills above San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Or maybe you’d prefer to interview expats in Penang, Malaysia.

In fact, International Living has published articles about each of these destinations—and I've got dozens of others in mind, places I'd like people to write about.

If this idea interests you, I encourage you to attend this Online Masterclass. I've already had the great pleasure of paying for and publishing articles written by attendees trained by these experts in the past. And I feel confident this year’s Online Masterclass will produce the same strong successes.  

We have a tremendous need for well-written articles, so if you are interested in the lifestyle this kind of work as a freelancer offers, I urge you to register now.

This is your chance to make that dream a reality. And you can launch yourself in two days flat. That’s an investment in your future that’s worth making, in my view.

Particularly in these uncertain times, it makes good sense to grab a measure of control over your future. And by learning the travel-writing ropes, you’re putting yourself in a position where you can generate income for yourself doing something you enjoy. Not only that, but it’s a path to more and better travel—and a life full of adventure and fun.

Sincerely,

Jackie Flynn, Publisher, International Living

You Get a Foot in the Door with Real Publications Looking for Your Articles

As I’ve said before—this Masterclass has a practical, real-world focus. That’s why one of the more important elements we’ve incorporated is what we call our “Publication Expo.”

We’ve connected with more than a dozen editors at publications willing to work with new writers, asked them for some pointers about the best ways to break in and what they’re really looking for, and gathered their writer’s guidelines for you.

In fact, this is something we’ve been doing for a dozen years or so at our in-person workshops and it’s proven to provide easy entrée at places where you can be sure you’ll find a friendly reader to receive your story ideas.

The editors report that they like to get stories from people we’ve trained—because, well, they do it right.

One past workshop attendee told us, in fact, that she landed three bylines in publications we introduced her to as good places to start.

She said, "You made it so easy. The profiles explained exactly what the editors were looking for—in the editors' own words. And so I just followed the easy directions you laid out there. I immediately landed three stories—within a month of the workshop. It was so exciting to see my name in print. And it gave me my start.

"Honestly, I feel a little like I cheated the system. I mean, aren't budding writers supposed to suffer starting out? I sure didn't. I just did what you showed us how to do. And it got me immediate success. So thanks!"

This Is Our One and Only Expert-Packed Travel Writing Event of 2020

Every year for the past two decades, we’ve gotten our experts together in person—altogether in one room—and invited readers like you to join us and explore the practical secrets required to break into travel writing fast.  

This year, we’re “getting together” virtually with this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass.

It’s the only time we’ll be “gathering the experts in one place” so to speak, and it’s going to be an incredibly dynamic program. (I’m excited about it. Like you, we presenters have all been hunkered down at home, and we’re looking forward to seeing each other again—even if it will be virtually!)

Because you can tune in from home (or wherever you may find yourself)—I hope it’ll be easy and convenient for you to arrange your schedule to attend. It’s a genuine perk of this format—no airfare or hotel or restaurant costs.

The experts are coming to you!

If you’ve been thinking to yourself, “I really should try out this travel-writing idea,” I assure you: there will not be a more powerful or cost-effective way to do it.

I hope you’ll participate in real time over the weekend of September 12-13. But understand, we’ll be archiving the program as it unfolds, so even if you miss something, it’ll be there for you to watch at your leisure, after the fact.

And you’ll have recorded access to the full Masterclass forever. That’s included. 

And I want to assure you: This isn’t just a “we talk, you listen” event.

Yes, we’ll have lots of useful, eye-opening—and I hope entertaining—presentations for you to watch.

But we’re building in interactive group discussions, too, so you’ll have an opportunity to ask questions at intervals along the way.

And I’ll be moderating a live panel discussion among a group of editors also, so you’ll have a chance to chime in then, as well, and can ask them anything you like.

During those interactive sessions, you’ll be able to submit your comments and questions and get feedback and answers from the experts, on the spot.

What’s more—I’ll be giving you an assignment during the program. You’ll be creating your first saleable article. (Don’t worry, I’ll walk you through exactly what to do.) Once you have it written (after the Masterclass comes to a close), you’ll send it in for a critique by me or one of the other presenters. It’s a way for you to get some concrete, personalized feedback from the experts. And that’s included at no additional charge—it’s part of the Masterclass program.

I’ve hand-picked our speakers—and I can say with confidence that they are all extraordinarily generous in sharing their hard-won secrets and expertise.

They genuinely want you to succeed, and so do I.

You'll Find Our Speakers to Be Smart, Experienced, Generous, and
Practical-Minded

This September, when you tune in, you’ll hear from…

Jennifer Stevens (that’s me!). I’m the author of The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program (GEP’s popular home-study program) and architect of this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass.

I’m also the Executive Editor at International Living. I’ve spent two decades gallivanting around Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, and Southeast Asia, writing about the best locales for overseas travel, retirement, and investment.

This September, I’ll give you the inside scoop about what editors are really after and hand you the keys to crafting articles that sell. Plus, I'll show you how to polish your articles in just such a way that editors will be transfixed. And I’ll give you a 10-day game plan so that you’ll know exactly what to do once our Masterclass comes to a close so that you maintain your momentum and stay on track to get published, fast.

Kyle Wagner is a freelance writer, former food critic and former long-time Travel Editor at the Denver Post. Kyle dished out her opinions on dining in Denver for 12 years before she moved to the Post. Her love of food found her traveling the world in search of the best meals, which served her well when the previous travel editor retired from the Post and Kyle got the job.

During our Masterclass, she’ll share her invaluable insider knowledge of what makes travel editors tick, how to write an attractive query, how to break into newspaper travel sections, and how to break into food writing—a great niche for beginners to try.

Kyle has a 360-degree view of how both sides of the travel writing world works, and the best places to get in. She will show you simple things you can do to catch editors’ attention and keep them coming back for more. Her secret weapon is the “3 Paragraph Pitch” which she’ll share with you this September.

Ian Aldrich is the Deputy Editor for Yankee Magazine and a native New Englander. For the last decade, Ian has freelanced and worked for Yankee, writing feature stories and overseeing the magazine’s digital platform.

In our Masterclass, he will talk about why niche ideas sell well and how you can turn an interest you have into travel articles editors will be eager to pay for and publish.

Tracey Minkin is the Senior Editor of Travel and Features at Coastal Living. Her writing has been anthologized in collections and has won both regional and national awards; she was a contributing author to Fodor’s The Thirteen Colonies, a historical/cultural travel guidebook; and she was the founding editor of a Providence, Rhode Island-based digital news and information platform, GoLocalProv.

During our Masterclass, Tracey will show you how to think like a travel writer with simple, daily exercises that will revolutionize your writing and have you excited about what you can create.

Kristi Dosh is a former corporate attorney who tired of the grind and reinvented herself as a writer and speaker. She was the first female sports business reporter for ESPN and today is a regular contributor for Forbes, Entrepreneur, and POPSUGAR and freelances elsewhere as well.

She’s taken advantage of on-the-house travel opportunities all over the globe—like ski vacations in Colorado—and she’ll be on hand in September to show you how to crack the code on comps and travel for free as a writer.

Theresa St. John, today an accomplished travel writer and photographer, started out working in retail—convinced she’d never have the money or time to fulfill her travel dreams. But today she’s been paid to visit and write about Ireland, Fiji, and Paris. She got her start, though, writing about her hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY and she still writes about it today. This September, she’ll talk about why that “start local” strategy is so powerful, and show you exactly how it’s done.

Noreen Kompanik, whose success story I shared with you earlier, will be on our roster of experts as well. Today, in addition to freelancing for lots of publications, she’s at the helm of GEP’s Travel Writer’s Café, a group dedicated to educating and supporting the success of travel writers like you.

During our Masterclass, Noreen will focus on six ways you can land bylines by marketing yourself well. She’s the master of this—parlaying one article into another. There are all sorts of simple techniques you can put into place that can help catapult your travel writing career to the next level, and she’ll show you exactly what they are.  

PLUS… THAT’S NOT ALL…
You’ll Hear from Even More Successful Travel Writers and Editors Ready to Share their Shortcuts

In addition to our core panel of speakers, you’ll also hear from additional travel writers and editors who have useful lessons and insights to share. The idea is to help you shave months (and even years) off your learning curve, so you have the shortcuts you need to find success fast.

We’ve invited four successful travel writers—all of whom started out doing something else entirely before they attended a workshop with me and this same group of experts you can hear from online in September.

These newly minted travel writers put the lessons they learned into practice, and today each of them has been published many times over with articles in magazines and online, and they’re enjoying all sorts of great perks.

In our “How I Made It” session, you’ll hear from Sharon Kurtz, Colleen O’Neill Mulvihill, Scott Kendall, and Chuck Warren. They’ll share their diverse paths to success and give you some tricks of the trade they’ve found helpful. From publishing health-related stories and landing bylines beyond strictly travel to cashing in with perks like six complimentary nights at hotels in Baden Baden, Munich, Venice, and Rome—these guys will share their best tips and advice.

Not only that, but we’ll also hear from a hot-shot panel of editors, all of whom hire freelancers and are willing to work with you—if you offer them the right stories, of course.

You’ll hear from Tracey Minkin of Coastal Living, Max Hartshorne of GoNomad, Nathan Aguilera of Foodie Flashpacker, Ian Aldrich of Yankee, and Maria Hesse of Edible San Diego for a look inside the kinds of stories they publish, who they want to work with, and the do’s and don’ts for contacting them (and others) with story ideas, what makes them love a travel writer, what drives them nuts, and more. (This session comes with Q&A time, so you’ll have a chance to ask whatever you like.)

One big advantage to this program is that it really helps you focus in on what’s most important. It shows you how to work smart—how to prioritize your efforts and make them count. A lot of the secrets you’ll learn would take you years to figure out on your own. But our speakers will spare you the trouble, frustration, and time… and just cut to the chase.

That way you're sure to be using your time and energy wisely. There's no more efficient—or fun—way to learn this stuff and guarantee you're up-and-running, enjoying the perks of a writer's life—fast.

** Please note: the schedule and speakers are subject to change—though these topics will all be discussed.

Here’s How This Program Will Work

This Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass will take place over two days, Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13, 2020. It will begin at a manageable time, 11:00 am Eastern/8:00 am Pacific. (You’ll get specific details in your registration packet.)

The online presentations and live discussions will take place over roughly 7 hours each day, with brief, built-in breaks scheduled for your convenience.

Don’t worry if you can’t be there to see each speaker’s presentations. We’ll archive every bit of this Masterclass so you can go back and review it at your leisure.

And you’ll have lifetime access to this program online, so you can review it long into the future.

It means that when you participate in this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass:

  • You’ll be able to watch the presentations and participate in the Question-and-Answer sessions in real time the weekend of September 12-13, 2020.
  • We’ll archive the footage each day, so you can log on and review any presentation you missed—don’t worry if you can’t be available for every session.
  • You’ll have access to the full recordings and written program “handouts” and other materials forever.
  • PLUS, as a participant, you’ll be invited to submit a story for review by one of our experts. You’ll get your “assignment” during the Masterclass, and then I and the presenters will be on call after it ends, waiting for you to submit your article so we can give you some personalized feedback that’ll help you get your piece published.

While we can’t host you in person, with this Online Masterclass, you’ll be able to see and hear what our experts say and be virtually “in the room” with them. You can ask questions and be privy to every question your fellow attendees ask—learning the answers firsthand.

Register Now and SAVE BIG

We could reasonably charge $1,997 for an event of this caliber.

  • It comes with personalized feedback.
  • It’s expert-driven and focused on showing you how to create stories that editors will snap up and pay for.
  • And it’s designed to teach you exactly how to position yourself to land the sort of on-the-house perks—from meals to hotel stays to full trips to new destinations—that accomplished travel writers are able to cash in on.

In fact, that’s the full price we’ve charged in the past for our live, in-person workshops. And even at $1,997—you could quickly recoup that cost by selling a handful of stories. Take advantage of a single press trip that whisks you away for a week to a ski town in Colorado or a beach resort in California or a European getaway like France…and your investment today would be more than justified.

But we’re not going to charge anywhere near that.

The registration fee for this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass is just $897.

And I should point out: You can easily invite a guest—your spouse, partner, or anyone else in your household—to sit next to you for this special online event. And you won’t pay a penny extra.

And we’re making it easy—we’re coming to you!

This represents a truly extraordinary value for two days packed full of insider guidance and expert access.

But please be aware—this is the ONLY event of this kind we’re hosting this year. We’re not sure when we’ll be able to gather our experts in person again.

So if you’re ready to jump-start your success… if you’re ready to use this time at home wisely to position yourself well as a go-to writer for when tourist boards are, once again, handing out travel invitations, then I can say with confidence: This is the best way I know for you to do it.

Register today, and you can do so for just $897.

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

If you prefer to register over the phone, please feel free to call Kacyn, our Great Escape Publishing Event Liaison in Florida directly at 561-266-6570 or toll-free at 866-904-1074.

There’s more, too.

Everybody who signs on to participate in our Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass will benefit from a collection of powerful extras, as well…

Special Bonus # 1:
The Insider Secret That Can Double—or Even Triple—Your Income from Travel Articles

In the OLD WORLD, it used to be that writers wrote and photographers took pictures and that was that. Editors purchased these items from two separate people.

And that still happens today—sometimes.

But one of the smartest ways you can increase your “take” from any assignment—double or even triple it—is to provide an editor not only the words, but photos to illustrate them, too.

When you can make an editor’s life easy—giving her a whole “package” of words and images—you can sell more and you can earn more, too. (Sometimes editors pay more for the photos than they do for the story!)

So it makes sense to carry a camera and get familiar with it. (Though I should say: You don’t need a fancy camera or previous experience and for online publications, often an iPhone image is high-quality enough.)

To help you ramp up your skills here, we’ve invited photographer and writer Bonnie Caton to participate in this Online Masterclass, too, with her presentation, How to Go Beyond Snapshots.

Bonnie is an accomplished photographer and creator of the Breakfast Stock Club. This September, she’ll show you exactly what editors want when it comes to photos and how to instantly improve the quality of your images.

And that’s not all.

Throughout this online program, the experts will be referring to their “handouts” that they’ll have ready for you to work with during their presentations—worksheets, sample articles, and so on. (All these materials will be posted for you so you can use them during the program and have ongoing access to them after, too.)

But in addition to that, we’re going to give you some more special BONUS RESOURCES you’ll find extremely useful going forward as references you can refer to again and again.

And you can’t get a hold of these unless you’re registered for this event.    

Special Bonus # 2:
The Travel Writer’s Glossary

As in any industry, there’s a certain amount of jargon associated with travel writing. (Not as much as there would be in, say, a tech field—but there are still terms you probably won’t be familiar with.)

So to get you up-and-running fast, we created this useful glossary of terms you should know.  

This way, if an editor asks you for something and you’re not quite sure what she means—you can look it up!

If you see something referenced in a publication’s writer’s guidelines and you’re not sure what it is—you can look it up.

This Travel Writer’s Glossary is yours—FREE—when you participate in our Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass.

But that’s not all…

Special Bonus # 3:
An Editor’s Guide to Polishing Your Pitches…and More

New travel writers, no matter how carefully they may follow the expert guidance we deliver, and no matter how ready they are to turn a story into an editor, will often simply be “shy” about doing it.

So they hem and haw and sometimes they never send that piece in. Well, I can tell you: If you don’t send your article to an editor, she’s never going to publish it.

Let me assure you: During this Masterclass, we’ll teach you everything you need to know to get your stories written and published—fast.

But to give you that added boost you might need to make sure you’re doing everything right, we’ll also hand you a copy of An Editor’s Guide to Polishing Your Pitches…and More.

Inside you’ll find a useful checklist you can print out to make sure you’re not making rookie mistakes with your emails to editors or your articles. This way, you can feel (and look) confident about your submissions.

And there’s another one, too…  

Special Bonus # 4:
How to Earn Back Your Online Travel Writing Masterclass Fee in 90 Days or Less

Your investment in this Masterclass is easy to justify. After all, a modest one-time fee can open the door to a lifetime of paid-for travel and VIP adventures, to the thrill of seeing your name in print, and the fun of exploring the world in a way you never could as a regular-old tourist.

But we wanted to be sure you understood exactly how you could make the number work. Because if you follow the guidance I and my fellow presenters will share, you could easily make back your registration fee within three months.

To prove it to you, we created this guide—How to Earn Back Your Online Travel Writing Masterclass Fee in 90 Days or Less—to show you precisely how you could do it. Even if you’ve never written anything before…

This Special Bonus—along with all the others—is yours, FREE, when you register today.

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

Space is Limited—Don't Wait to Secure Your Place

To ensure premium bandwidth—and because we’re committed to providing individualized feedback from our speakers on every participant’s article—we are, by necessity, limiting the number of people who can participate in this Masterclass in September.

So space is at a premium. Please don’t wait to sign on or you risk missing out altogether.

This is the ONLY program like this we’re hosting this year.

This Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass is our biggest, our best, and our ONLY travel writing event of the year.

Over two power-packed days—September 12-13—you’ll have a chance to tune in from home and immediately apply what you’re learning.

In my view, it's not really useful to just sit back and scribble notes on a pad of paper. Yet that's what you typically do in seminars.

What IS useful, on the other hand, is to roll up your sleeves, lean forward, and really put what the speakers are showing you into practice. And that's what we’ll have you do.

But rest assured: We won’t leave you hunched over, staring at a blank piece of paper and struggling with what to say or how to say it …

We’ll provide you step-by-step instruction on exactly what you need to do to put an article together. At one point on that Sunday, I’ll quite literally walk you through what to write, sentence by sentence.

And then, of course, we’ll show you what to do after that, how—and where—to sell the article you write on the heels of this event—and the many more stories you’ll be prepared to sell in the weeks, months and years to follow.

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

Our Triple Guarantee for You

We stand by the quality of this program.

Guarantee # 1—We guarantee that this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass will provide you all the insider tools and secrets you need to get paid to travel. We’re focused on success in the real world, and we’ll walk you through what you need to do, step-by-simple-step.

Guarantee # 2—We guarantee we’ll deliver the how-to intelligence you need to start writing articles that sell, landing your name in print, and cashing in on all the great perks savvy travel writers can enjoy—from discounted travel opportunities to invitations for on-the-house experiences around the world. No prior experience necessary.

Guarantee # 3—We guarantee we’ll treat you fairly should you register and then find you need to cancel. Though this Masterclass is non-refundable once the program has begun, if you decide—between now and September 11, 2020—that you don’t want to attend after all, you can simply let us know, and we’ll issue you a full refund. If you opt to cancel on or after September 12, 2020, this Masterclass is non-refundable at that point, but you may apply your payment toward another Online Masterclass within one year.

What Your Registration Today Includes

When you register for this program today, you’ll benefit from…

  • Two days of expert online instruction in how to break into travel writing successfully and fast, hosted September 12-13, 2020. (We’ll begin at 11:00 am Eastern Time both days and run for roughly 7 hours, with breaks.)
  • Live Question-and-Answer sessions with the experts hosted in real time during the weekend event.
  • Access to the archived event footage at the end of each day, so you can log on and review any presentation you missed—that way you don’t have to worry if you can’t be available for every single session each day.
  • Access to the full event recordings (and all the related “handouts” and materials) once the Masterclass comes to a close. You maintain this access forever.
  • Access to our Publication Expo—interviews with editors and Writers’ Guidelines for more than a dozen publications willing and eager to work with new writers like you.
  • An expert review of your article (you’ll get your “assignment” during the Masterclass). Once the program ends, you’ll send in your story to us and one of our expert editors will read it and reply with some helpful, personalized feedback designed to help you get your piece published.
  • Special Bonus # 1: How to Go Beyond Snapshots—a special presentation during the program by photographer Bonnie Caton, to show you how to make images editors will love… and pay you for. It’s a great way to get paid more for your stories.
  • Special Bonus # 2: The Travel Writer’s Glossary—including the terms you need to know to sound like a pro.
  • Special Bonus # 3: An Editor’s Guide to Polishing Your Pitches…and More—with checklists and what’s next advice so you can be confidence you’re “doing it right” when it comes to communicating with the folks who might buy your stories.
  • Special Bonus # 4: How to Earn Back Your Online Travel Writing Masterclass Fee in 90 Days or Less—this practical-minded, good-value Masterclass aims to show you how to break into travel writing and find success—fast. This guide maps out what you need to do in step-by-step fashion.

Register today here below, and you can do so for just $897.

And all of those benefits are included when you sign on to attend.

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

The modest one-time fee we’re charging for this program can open the door to a lifetime of paid-for travel and VIP adventures for you. It can pave the way to the thrill of seeing your name in print. And it can show you the fun of exploring the world in a way you never could as a regular-old tourist.

Prefer to Register by Phone? Call Kacyn Today

If you have questions—or if you’d just prefer to register by speaking with a real person on the phone—please call Kacyn, our Great Escape Publishing Event Liaison (based in Florida) and she’ll take care of you and get your name on the attendee list. Remember, space is limited, so don’t wait.

To Register by Phone, Call Kacyn, our Great Escape Publishing Event Liaison in Florida at 561-266-6570 or toll-free at 866-904-1074.

If you like the idea of getting paid to explore all sorts of places—from offerings in your own hometown to travel to exotic locations around the globe—join me and my hand-picked group of expert colleagues this September 12-13 in the comfort of your own home for our first-ever Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass.

Space is limited for this program, however, and this is the only travel-writing event like this we'll be hosting in 2020.

So I strongly urge you to reserve your place now, while you can be guaranteed a seat and take advantage of the best registration price you’ll see.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Stevens

Creator, Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020
Author, The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Program

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

P.S. If you love to travel and if you're ready to explore the world, meet new people, and enjoy the freedom and independence of a portable income, no matter where on earth you choose to live, you won't find a more efficient way to make it happen.

Don't wait until 2021 (or later) to turn your dreams into your reality. Spend two days with us online this September, and we’ll give you the shortcuts you need to get your name in print and set yourself up for the amazing perks and VIP treatment savvy travel writers can enjoy.

No more waiting around for the perfect time.  No more wondering where to begin…

Make THIS the year you start getting paid to have fun… and turn your interests and adventures into bylines and paychecks—starting fast.

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020

P.P.S. One more useful benefit I didn’t mention before: As an attendee, you’ll gain access to a private Facebook Group for GEP event attendees only. This is a place where you can network with other readers and with the experts who will weigh in to answer questions and share tips and insights.

It’s helpful to connect with other folks who are on the same journey you are—and I think you’ll find it encouraging and a way to “stay on task” as it were when you’re able to watch what your fellow attendees are up to and hear about their successes.

When you sign on to attend this Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020 you’ll gain membership in this private group—it’s just another perk that we’re including.

Register now here below…

Yes! Register Me Now for the Break into Travel Writing Online Masterclass 2020