Tim Leffel's Cheapest Destinations

By André on Nov 14, 2009

Hi Tim,

That sounds like a book I’ll buy! Why don’t you write about being an independent writer? About having your own travel blog, like I do? Why all the hassle when you can be a travel writer instantly? All you need is to be sure that you can engage readers. What are the pitfalls and how do you get people to subscribe to your RSS? To what extent do Twitter and other social networks influence?

Good luck brainstorming!

André

By Jane S. on Nov 14, 2009

I’d like to know about if there’s a way to speed up the process of getting decent pay for your writing. It seems that most newspapers have given up on travel and print magazines are dropping like flies. Maybe that’s good since the breaking in process was so slow and difficult. But most web outlets don’t seem to pay much yet.

By JoAnna on Nov 20, 2009

Hi Tim,

I just went on my first press trip, but I would like to learn more about them. This one sort of fell into my lap, so I’d like to back up a step and learn about where to find them, how to apply properly, what to do if you have a bad experience, how to determine if what you are having is a genuine travel experience, etc.

Thanks!

By Karen Kefauver on Nov 21, 2009

Congrats on landing a book project that sounds interesting and will serve as a resource for many. As a veteran travel writer, I would like to have a comprehensive list of travel web sites – matador, worldhum, etc. I would be interested in a resource that also lists the best social media hubs for writers to interact with editors and web publishers. Since those markets change, your companion e book can be updated more easily!

By Shelbie Staley on Nov 22, 2009

This is a small thing, but I’d like to know what things you should always include about a place you travel to (eg: Accommodation, food, cultural events, etc). I think we’ve all got the basics, but is there anything really interesting or relevant you see a lot of travel writers leaving out, or barely touching on in their works? It’d be cool to go into what type of travel writer you want to be – whether you want to reach the younger backpacking crowd, families, people traveling on a shoestring, etc – and how that’ll affect where you go and how much time you’ll stay on one location, things like that. (These are probably really easy questions to answer, but I’m curious.) Good luck! (:

By Julie on Nov 22, 2009

Hi, Tim-

I’d be happy to help out with the project. In addition to serving as Matador’s managing editor and one of the authors of the travel writing curriculum for the school we recently launched, I’m a contributing writer for Fodor’s Puerto Rico and Caribbean guides. If you need an extra pair of eyes and hands, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

By Steve Reed on Nov 22, 2009

I’m really looking forward to reading the book, will keep an eye out for it

By Pascale Seiler on Nov 25, 2009

Your book sounds like it would provide writers with a roadmap forward. Best of luck with it. I would love to see how writers can best be positioned as a travel writing expert using the social media. What would be your roadmap of success?

By Angela on Nov 26, 2009

Hi Tim,

if it can be of any help, my curiosity is why usually editors don’t reply to queries. Apart from (very) few exceptions, I’ve noticed that the common feedback from editors is no feedback.

I know they are very busy, but writers are too, and usually editors are, or have been, also writers, and by not replying they seem to forget that writers’ work is very hard, and that the huge amount of time wasted in waiting for a reply that will never arrive, is also a big waste of potential opportunities.

I’ve been reading about this issue in every writers’ forum I’ve been or subscribed to, so I guess it’s pretty much sensitive!

Thanks
Angela

By Sheila Hayes on Nov 27, 2009

Tim,
Wow, what great idea. One of the best books I have ever read was a “tell all” on someone who broke into (or fell into) the travel writing industry. My suggestion would be to go for it. I think you should ask travel writers for contributions. How did you decide to make the choice to move towards travel writing? Was it a trip? A midlife crisis? Did you feel like your life was passing you by while you rotted in your cubical? I think this book shouldn’t hold back. I say tell the good with the bad.
;)
Sheila Hayes

By Rensina on Nov 27, 2009

Hi there Tim
I’d like to know how to get a distributor or bookshops to take my self published book. As soon as I say “self published”….I get the “look down the nose at me!!” IT’s a fantastic book about a unique 21,000 klm expedition in a Land Rover from Australia to Switzerland. Camping and making our own tracks for five months. It’s got brilliant color pics of rural Siberia, Mongolia and am told it’s a great read. SOOOO hard to get your work out there!! If you want any info on Mongolia…I’ve travelled there alot. Just email me. I wish you EVERY success with your book…What do you do in your spare time?? Regards
Rensina

By Chris in South Korea on Nov 30, 2009

I’d like to know how one goes from a travel enthusiast (e.g. someone that does it on their own dime) to the many markets still open to new stories. I’d LOVE to hear creative marketing / networking strategies that actually work – talk of ‘elevator speeches’ and business cards make me put down a given book in favor of something else.

By Ted Beatie on Dec 1, 2009

As an aspiring writer with one successful pitch->article (NGT, no less) I’m happy to help, and to learn. Obviously the playing field has changed, and continues to. Print is becoming harder to break into, and the web as has already been pointed out doesn’t really pay the bills yet. Obviously setting up an active web presence is key – both a blog, a professional web site showcasing one’s work, and being active in social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, but what then? Obviously one needs to develop their craft, but there is what appears to be a long-standing chicken-and-egg problem with regards to breaking into serious travel writing, especially in terms of feature articles – that you can’t get a feature if you haven’t written them already. Should one be thinking about going the book route, which has its own challenges?

By sansonmelena on Dec 5, 2009

Hi Tim,
I was in Spain for 3 months this time in a different city (kind of small but unbelievable),this experience has inspired me to write about it, however I want not only to describe the place but also send a message out that would tell people how the pace we live in nowadays take away more of yourself. Any tips? Anyways thank you.

By Linda Dini Jenkins on Jan 6, 2010

Hi, Tim:
Here’s one . . . I’ve been a freelance writer for 30+ years and published my first travel book in January 2009 (www.upatthevillatravels.com). Nice reviews, some industry people love it. I specialize in travel to Italy and was advised by a mutual friend to contact someone at the Italian Travel Promotion Council. Now, I have written over the years for some of the major corporations of America, have taught writing, and have published two books (the travel book was done by an independent publishing company that I’m a partner in). My question: the person at ITPC wouldn’t hear of having me come on a marketing trip because I have no “clippings.” How do you get clippings (I’m 60 years old and a very experienced writer) and do blog entries (on other people’s blogs) count? Seems a bit Catch-22. Thanks. Linda

By Linda Dini Jenkins on Jan 8, 2010

Thanks, Tim. That’s exactly what I’m working on! Linda

By Roderick Eime on Jan 9, 2010

The Global Travel Writers Group have published an e-book about travel writing that could be of use to us all.

http://www.globaltravelwriters.com/e-book/

By Linda LaRoche on Jan 14, 2010

Dear Tim,

What I’d like to learn is what does it take to get in? I’m not a novice as a writer, and I’ve got numerous queries that I’m circulating. Ordinarily I steer clear of pessimists but I’m getting fed-up of editors who respond to my query and ask to see more. Then I go to work, create more and get the silent treatment. They obviously don’t know what it’s like to be on this end, especially when they don’t want a writer to call. I have never gotten anything by being passive.
I can handle rejection but I can’t handle silence. Also I’ve begun to think when do adults learn to be dishonest, asking for things superficially. Children are honest, somewhere in our social conditioning we are programmed to make false requests, when a straight “no thanks” would save a lot of time and effort! I’m back to square one- what does it take?

By Max on Jan 26, 2010

It’s great. But Is it OK if I’ll write not in English?

By Bob Thomas on Jan 29, 2010

Sounds like a great book idea!