FAQ about the life of a travel writer:
A: Not through what I make travel writing! I try to find places to go that I know I can find inexpensive places to eat and stay. Unfortunately, I use my credit card, but I don't go on another trip until my credit card charges are paid in full!
A: Insomnia. Reading travel magazines. Watching travel shows on TV. Other traveler's recommendations. Dreams from childhood. My problem is not finding ideas, it's slowing down the flow of them!
A: No. Generally it doesn't come close to paying for itself. The benefit comes from combining a love of travel and a love of writing.
A: No. I always strive to be totally honest. Except on press trips, restaurants don't know I'm going to review them and I always pay the bill and gratuity. I've stayed in some less-than-great B&B's for free; although I don't say specifically that they aren't up to par, my mention of them will be very short and without much detail.
A: I actually began writing about what I know best--my hometown. I branched out to my home state and now I find myself writing more and more about it. I love Maine and love to garner interest in it. I put up my own website and blog and began using social networks to promote my work. The first time I googled my name and "stuff" about me came up was very exciting!
Q. What is a "press trip"?A. A whole lot of fun and hard work. Typically, once your name is out there, you can apply to go on press trips--sometimes called media or familiarization trips--through PR companies, or CVB's (Convention and Visitors Bureaus) of cities. Many times your air fare is not included, and can be prohibitive in accepting trip invitations. Prepare to be treated like royalty. The restaurants you will go to will be fabulous, the lodging is usually well above par, and you're usually taken to the city's top attractions. You usually have an itinerary as well as free time to investigate what interests you. You take notes and photos like a crazy person and when you get back home, you write like crazy about your visit.