Many people would love to travel the country, or maybe even the world. Unfortunately, most people only get one or two weeks off per year, so may not get to too many destinations each year, if any. However, if you become a freelance travel writer, you can get not only explore the world, you can get paid for doing so. It is a dream come true for many people, but there are a few things you should know before you embark on this career.
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.
If the editor in question decides that they want your article, they will hire you. Always do your best work, because based on that, they may ask you back for other assignments as a recurring freelance writer. The assignments they could give you are endless, and may include traveling abroad, or going local and reviewing specific hotels, a new resort, or even a local attraction or restaurant for people who have not been.
Some pieces have a more specific focus, such as adventures and thrills, ecology, culture, food and more. You will usually have strict deadlines, so as soon as you arrive, you must get to work. You are paid per assignment, and may be asked to pay for your own expenses up front, with reimbursement to come later. In other cases, the editor will make and pay for the travel arrangements up front.
It is a good idea to show proof of previous published pieces to the editor, as this will increase the likelihood that they accept your pitch. Having a degree in English or journalism helps, but is generally not required in order to get hired.
You may not be a journalist as you embark on this career field, but you should still hold yourself to journalistic standards. This includes those given by the Society of American Travel Writers, which state that you should not take money for a positive review, but instead only accept payment for an objective story. You should never plagiarize, even in part, from any other piece, published or not.
It is also important to note before you get started that since you are not an official employee of a company, even if you work for them often, that you do not get the associated benefits. That means no vacation days or sick leave, and no medical benefits whatsoever. These must be paid out of your own pocket, so make sure you charge enough for your articles to pay for all of these extra expenses. A little prior planning helps ensure you have a smooth transition.
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.
If the editor in question decides that they want your article, they will hire you. Always do your best work, because based on that, they may ask you back for other assignments as a recurring freelance writer. The assignments they could give you are endless, and may include traveling abroad, or going local and reviewing specific hotels, a new resort, or even a local attraction or restaurant for people who have not been.
Some pieces have a more specific focus, such as adventures and thrills, ecology, culture, food and more. You will usually have strict deadlines, so as soon as you arrive, you must get to work. You are paid per assignment, and may be asked to pay for your own expenses up front, with reimbursement to come later. In other cases, the editor will make and pay for the travel arrangements up front.
It is a good idea to show proof of previous published pieces to the editor, as this will increase the likelihood that they accept your pitch. Having a degree in English or journalism helps, but is generally not required in order to get hired.
You may not be a journalist as you embark on this career field, but you should still hold yourself to journalistic standards. This includes those given by the Society of American Travel Writers, which state that you should not take money for a positive review, but instead only accept payment for an objective story. You should never plagiarize, even in part, from any other piece, published or not.
It is also important to note before you get started that since you are not an official employee of a company, even if you work for them often, that you do not get the associated benefits. That means no vacation days or sick leave, and no medical benefits whatsoever. These must be paid out of your own pocket, so make sure you charge enough for your articles to pay for all of these extra expenses. A little prior planning helps ensure you have a smooth transition.
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