Its an undoubtedly great experience when you write your journeys from start to finish.
I run a travel blog Chip Journey where I share my travel tips, stories, and guides to the ones who are just starting up.
I write every day, whether it is a travel guide or a travel story that includes my experiences for the places I recently visited. I simply love the lifestyle I have got as a travel writer and I am doing enough to make my writings stand out.
Here’s what it’s really like to be a travel writer:
#1. Freedom of thoughts and mind
The thoughts of you’ve in mind can’t be written down in the form of words?
That’s impossible for a travel writer, he has the freedom of speech and freedom of thought. He keeps visiting new places and writes about his experiences. He has ‘real’ freedom. Wherever he goes, he has got a digital notebook or a journal to write his experiences.
So the first thing that I found unique in my life as a travel writer was the freedom of thoughts and mind. I can write, share anything I want.
#2. Getting Paid to Write
There are several authority travel blogs that pay their contributors for each contribution they make. They just take a few percents of the total revenue and forward the remaining ones directly to your account.
Here are a few sites I have been working with; they pay a good incentive for each blog post:
- Matador Network: Matador Network is a network of writers, filmmakers, and photographers. Their slogan defines everything “From industry-leading voices to young creatives published for the first time.” They are always excited to find an interesting travel story.
- Verge Magazine: Although Verge is a digital magazine with no local appearances, it still accepts contributions globally. A recommendation is to write a travel story with some lesson or purpose, and you will get approved and paid instantly.
- Go World Travel: Next, we have GWT that is considered as a heaven for travel writers. You can write simple ‘how-to’ guides to get published and paid. They pay better rates than most of the travel-based blogs and magazines.
- Listverse: Love to create listy content? Like 5 places to visit in Miami, 10 important items to keep in your backpack, etc. Listverse is your spot then.
These four sites helped me make money by just writing; the best part of my journey as a travel writer:
#3. Multiple Streams of Income – Financial Freedom
What if your passion gets converted into a money-making machine? This is what travel writers’ life looks like.
I have multiple streams of income, and it is enough to bear my luxurious travels:
- Blog: Chip Journey is my first online income stream. I have display ads like Google Ads, affiliate links, affiliate widgets that pay me for each purchase and a lot more. My blog has transformed me into a regular writer and now I write practical guides and strategies to better travel.
- YouTube Channel: Although I have not got any, I contribute with my travel friends on their YouTube channel to earn some good bucks. Most of the travel writers make videos explaining their journey and then a punch line or lesson in the end. If you’re a travel writer, you can create a YouTube channel based on that strategy.
- Sponsored Posts: Whether it is my social media profile or blog, I get paid to write for apps and marketplaces that are designed for travelers. Digitally, we call those writings sponsored posts. For these, I mostly get pre-written content, I just have to copy-paste and hit the publish/post button on Facebook, Instagram, etc.
#4. You’re the consultant
I guess we talked a lot about money-lifestyle, it’s time to share something that gives immense pleasure – the consultancy thing.
Whether you do it for free of charge, although I would recommend to do it free, you can guide newcomers and new travelers to explore the world as the PROs do.
You can simply put your Skype username in the email signature so that whenever someone contacts you via Email, he has the option to get consultancy and tips through voice/video call.
This is like a service, making ways for new travelers so that they enjoy their journey as much as you do.
#5. You’re the BOSS of your own life
When it comes to time and work, we find most of the individuals are working 9-5. In the case of travel writers, as they’re able to meet their expenses right from their living room, they lead themselves in the direction they want.
Want to get published in an international magazine? They write an interesting piece and share with their editorial team.
Want to visit a new place? Withdraw your earnings and get your flights and accommodation booked.
This is what I call the ‘BOSS of your own life’ attitude. I simply love it!
#6. You are better at communication or convincing others
Last but not least, from the day I pursued travel writing, I got better at communication. I was able to tell anything in an interesting manner, I got better at convincing others. A friend of mine that never wanted to travel became my travel buddy just because I had the convincing power.
The reason behind getting better at communications is due to meeting new people every day. You travel to new places, you interact with strangers, you slowly start getting better at communications and this is what travel writers are remembered for; whether it is a writing, a keynote speech or two-way communication, travel writers win every time.
Final Thoughts
Travel writing simple unlocks your hidden talent and you start to work on the opportunities that are not vivid. You pursue the lifestyle of your dream, you have everything. And freedom is what that is a part of travel writers. Freedom of talk, freedom of speech, freedom of writing, freedom of sharing stories and that’s it.
I guess I shared almost everything that answers ‘what’s it really like to be a travel writer?’
Any suggestions or questions, do let me know 🙂
Written By Boyan Minchev
References: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/five-expert-tips-for-getting-started-in-travel-writing