Friends and family often ask why I enjoy writing personal stories about the lives of people around me. Mostly, I’m a curious writer. I love researching topics—whether it be a local winery, a new restaurant, something that happened during WWII, a historic cemetery, or an up-and-coming art show, I’m an insatiable sleuth. I want to […]
The best articles always have an enticing headline, a tantalizing leading paragraph…and an awe-inspiring photo to perfectly complement your wordsmithery! I’ll let you in on a little secret: sending your editor photos to accompany your story pitch will 100% increase your chances of publication. Gone are the days when you could be just a travel […]
I’m deep into thinking about how my 2021 will look. Not so much making lists and getting into the nitty gritty details, more like daydreaming about little adventures. Places to go, things to see, that sort of thing. One of my favorite daydreams is of travel niches I want to explore. Like eco-travel. For years […]
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 […]
In 2013, when I attended the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in Miami, instructors from GEP spoke a lot about having a niche—something to specialize in—as a travel writer. They also handed us a workbook to take home. In it, there was a page that encouraged us to list everything we were interested in, no matter […]
This year has been crazy, right? I find that my moods are all over the place—varying from worry to calm, anxious to confident, moody to hopeful, and everything in between. During the lockdown earlier this year, I was worried that my spark of creativity and imagination would dim. What would inspire me if I wasn’t […]
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 […]
For me, travel writing is all about the pie. Of course, I’m speaking figuratively. But, thinking about pie—as a whole and then cut into eight slices—is crucial to me when I travel. Let me explain. Think about the town where you live—it’s filled with all sorts of beautiful places to visit, right? Picture the town […]
Quick, make your Christmas wish. I just realized the one I made last year has come true. The one where my days are spent how I choose with complete freedom to do whatever I like. The one where if the Caribbean is calling I can just walk down the road and join sea turtles, swaying […]
Have you ever won anything? I’m not talking about a $5 scratch ticket from the local newsstand. I mean something that made you want to jump for joy and happy dance through your house so your pets thought you were a crazy human. Well this month, I did. A huge first for me, I won […]
