I don't know how lucrative travel writing is but it sure is fun! I haven't written a lot of travel pieces and I usually don't set out with that particular market in mind. For the most part, the pieces I've sold have been the result of something I stumbled upon that piqued my interest while doing something else.

For example, a few summers ago I was driving home from Atlanta when I passed a billboard with the word "SPA" emblazoned on it. It was advertising Chateau Elan, a winery inn and health spa a few miles up the road. I'd passed Chateau Elan at least a dozen times before and each time was struck by how unusual it was to see a French chateau amongst the red clay and kudzu of Georgia. The difference this time was that I had just finished working on another piece for Spa Magazine. "Wow," I thought, "I bet they'd be interested in knowing about Chateau Elan." I wrote a query entitled Southern Ho'spa'tality." They liked it and I had not only an $800 assignment, but a 3-day vacation for my family as well.

I didn't have any real travel article clips to send, but did I mention that to Spa Magazine?

Travel writing is really not any different than other types of magazine writing. The basics are the same. Keep your eyes open for interesting story ideas, develop a unique slant or perspective, write a well-crafted query letter, do your research, and write a tightly-constructed and narrowly-focused piece. And before you know it, you'll be sitting on that beach, earning while you burn.

The ideas in this article are from, FROM SPARK TO FLAME - a proven, systematic process for fanning your ideas into money-making magazine ideas that make a difference.
About the Author

Dr. Brad Swift founded Life On Purpose Institute in 1996 with the vision of creating a World On Purpose by assisting people like yourself to clarify their life purpose & live true to it. Determine how on or off purpose your life is with the fun & insightful Self Test at: http://lifeonpurpose.com/_forms/self-test.php?source=ezart Inspire yourself with a fr.ee subscription to Purposeful Pondering Ezine: http://lifeonpurpose.com/