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Write Drunk, Edit Sober: What I Learned in My Travel Writing Course

Retirement Reflections

Earlier last month, I mentioned a five-week travel writing course that I had enrolled in through Vancouver Island University. A few commenters asked me to share key takeaways. Here’s what resonated.

1. Sharpen Your Hook

Think: Title, opening sentence and accompanying photos.

A great hook captures your readers’ attention, draws them into your story and compels them to stay. A strong opening hook often takes the following forms:

  • Catchy Title –Alliteration, numbers, controversy, humour or the unexpected.
  • Lede (derived from the word ‘lead’ in printers’ ink) — The opening sentence or paragraph should fully immerse the reader into your story. Your lede may include a question, provocative quote, startling fact or mysterious situation that needs to be solved.
  • Well-Chosen Photo  — A photo is worth 1000 words. It should connect viewers to your writing and make them want to know more.

 

2. Change Your Lens

The angle is the lens through which writers filter their stories. A stale narrative uses a tired point of view that has been employed by countless writers before. Finding a fresh, unique angle is the holy grail of travel writing.

 

3. Let It Flow

We received several useful tips in this category. Here are some great reminders.

    • Include all five (or six) senses in your writing.
    • Avoid repetition.
    • Remove fillers.
    • Replace weak words.
    • Resist stating the obvious.
    • Ensure that paragraphs focus on just one topic each.
    • Break up large chunks of text with subheadings and paragraph breaks.
    • Use data, statistics and quotations to back up statements (a sidebar can be perfect for this).
    • Eliminate the passive voice.
    • Change your tense. If you’ve written in past tense, try present. Note the impact.
    • Bring your story to a powerful close.

 

4. Win the War on Writes’ Block

Many writers experience ‘word paralysis’ every now and then. Here are some suggestions to help you fight back:

  • Get your thoughts down, no matter how random and unorderly. You can tidy them up later.
  • Permit yourself to stop writing after a short period of time (e.g. 15 minutes). Knowing that you can stop often keeps you going.
  • Remember why you are writing.
  • Write about what pleases you. You can return to more difficult writing tasks later.
  • Take a break and read the works of others that inspire you.
  • Keep a writing notebook beside your bed (and in your bag). This allows you to capture thoughts and ideas that otherwise may get lost.

 

5. Be a Joiner

Becoming a member of a travel writing organization can help connect you with editors, publishers and other writers. It can also keep you posted on upcoming conferences as well as other networking opportunities. Here are a few associations that were mentioned.

  • BC Association of Travel Writers (BCATW) www.bctravelwriters.com
  • Professional Writers’ Association of Canada (PWAC) www.pwac.ca
  • Society of American Travel Writers (Includes a Canadian Chapter) www.satw.ca
  • International Travel Writers’ & Photographers’ Alliance www.itwpa.ca

 

6. Compete

Writers whom I admire have often spoken of receiving the first ‘big boost’ to their writing via competitions. I never knew where to find these contests until now. Here are two to start with:

 

7. Submit

Ah, ‘submit,’ that’s always the scary part. Here are a few suggested guidelines to help make this task less daunting.

  • Know the publication to which you are applying.
  • Read (and reread) the ‘Guidelines for Contributors.’
  • Find the name of the editor. This is more personal and shows that you have done your homework.
  • Write a query letter. Keep it short (5 paragraphs) and compelling (what makes your writing unique). Some publications now adopt a form approach (again check the guidelines).
  • Have a brief, robust, third-person bio that encapsulates who you are (4-5 lines).
  • If your proposal is not accepted, wait a couple of months (at least) before repitching.
  • Understand what kind of contract you are entering. ‘All Rights to the Publisher’ is the most restrictive contract. Aim to get ‘First Rights’ when possible (e.g. the publisher can use your work for the first time in that country as a one-off).

 

8. Know What Editors Loathe 

  • Extra spaces that are not required in the text (e.g. two spaces after a full stop or an extra space before a new paragraph) need to be taken out by someone.

  • Not adhering to the stated Submission Guidelines often causes good writing to go unpublished. Title of article, byline, contact information and easy to read file names for texts/photos are standard requirements.

  • Poorly edited documents leave a negative impression (use spellchecker, Grammarly,  or a similar program). Reading your text aloud is another helpful proofreading strategy.

  • Incorrect facts can cause severe embarrassment (or worse) for publications.

  • Carefully verify all statements made in your article. Ensure that you have not included any outdated information, rumours or errors (including misspellings of names/places).

You Never Know Until You Try!!

For this section of the course, we were asked to write a mock query letter showing that we understood the pitching process. Instead of creating a mock letter, I decided to take the leap and actually submit an article to Travel Post Monthly (their Contributors’ Guidelines asked for a completed story as opposed to a query letter). I figured what better way was there to understand the submission process? I was fully prepared for rejection. Last week, I heard back from the editor. My article on Victoria’s Chinatown has been accepted for their November issue (insert surprise and delight here). You can view it online at http://www.travelpostmonthly.com/2019/11/indulge-your-senses-in-victorias-chinatown/

My sincere gratitude to Mandy Trickett, our course instructor.

*  Title quote by Ernest Hemmingway.
** Feature photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash.

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

141 thoughts on “Write Drunk, Edit Sober: What I Learned in My Travel Writing Course”

  1. A great title , Donna! Great takeaways! The “unique angle” is a good reminder. The concept “present tense” will make me evaluate my stories differently. As always, Donna, an interesting post and you are generous with your time and information. I plan to bookmark and reread carefully. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks so much, Janis. It was great for me to review what I have learned in this course and actually write it down. I sent a copy of this to Mandy (our writing instructor) today. Hopefully, she doesn’t say “that’s not what I meant to teach at all!” 😀

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  5. Oh wow! Congratulations, Donna! I am so happy for you! I’m a huge believer of entering contesting and putting your work out there. My first book was a contest entry. Good for you for taking the bold step. This has made my week, Donna!

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    1. Hi, Jill – I first met you on-line when you were helping artists, writers and bloggers expand their audience via your Summer Guest Post Series. Your generosity, kindness and support of others come through clearly in all that you write (including your comments). I’m sending my sincere gratitude your way.

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  9. Hi, Donna,
    I printed this one off and will have in front of me as a great guide. I read your Travel Post Monthly article. Just curious, were you limited to a word count? I’m sure there was a lot to say about Chinatown. After reading, I was left wanting more, and that’s an honest compliment. Congratulations! Joe

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    1. Hi, Joe – I had originally written this article (while sitting in Victoria’s Chinatown) for my Travel Writing Course. Our instructor did not give us a word limit. As I like reading short articles, I tend to write this way myself. This tendency ended up serving me well (at least for this piece). The Submission Guidelines for Travel Post Weekly ask for articles to range from 50-300 words. 50 would be a stretch even for me. 😀 Thank you for your kind comment.

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  11. Hi Donna,
    Your title certainly reeled ME in! I think I may have actually been practicing that a few evenings with beer/wine beside me as I write! LOL
    I love the recommendations. I doubt I will go so far as to publish or compete (but congrats to YOU), but they are great take-aways none-the-less.

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    1. Thanks, Nancy – I’m always so inspired by this corner of the blogosphere, and I feel so at home here, that I hadn’t consciously thought of sending my writing elsewhere. Although I hadn’t foreseen it happening, I am grateful to our instructor for the gentle push!

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  14. Great summary of your coursework and excellent reference for all writing. Thanks Donna. Rush me to Victoria’s Chinatown..Congrats on your publishing.

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  15. Thanks so much for sharing! That sounds like great advice and I’ll be re-reading it. And good for you for not just doing g the bare minimum for the course! (Back in my college days, I know it eventually came to that!)
    And congrats on getting into travel post monthly!
    …so the big question is: what’s next?? 🕵️‍♂️

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  17. You certainly nailed the catchy title part of the course! I thought we were going to get a juicy story about the danger of hitting ‘submit’ before the cautionary sobering up part 😆

    I’ve always said go-big-or-go-home and it appears you adhere to that approach as well. Congratulations on your published story! I suspect there will be many, many more in your future 🙂

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    1. Hi, Joanne – I’m always in awe of writers like you, Erica, Ally….who constantly come up with very witty blog titles. For this post, I simply got lucky (and blatantly borrowed Hemmingway’s quote that was mentioned in our course). “Go big or go home” makes good sense in so many different situations. Thank you for your kind comment. I greatly appreciate it.

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      1. Awwww! Thanks Donna!

        I too took a creative writing course a few years ago. Titles were something I struggled with – and still do actually. Usually I just hope that by the time I finish drafting my post I will be hit by divine inspiration.

        It’s a great quote and one that’s definitely worth keeping in mind 😉

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    1. Thanks, Susan – Thank you for your kind words. I’ve been very impressed with all the communication that I have received from Travel Post Monthly, and with all other articles that I have read there. I am very grateful for having such a positive ‘first submit’ experience.

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      1. Oh, thank you so much. Everyone has been extremely kind, providing me with the boost I need to try making more videos. Might I ask … as a non-RVer, what kind of video content would be of interest to you?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Hi, Ingrid – Even though I am non-RVer, I’ve quite enjoyed your posts on your RV lifestyle. I also follow Joe (Easing Along) and enjoy his RV posts as well. And of course, food and hiking posts are always going to appeal to me! 😀

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  23. Well, you certainly drew me in with a title that caught my attention. “Write drunk” Eh? So glad it has a hidden meaning 😉

    There are so many excellent suggestions about writing in your post that can apply to writers in all categories. Congratulations on having your piece selected; I’m not surprised as I thought it was wonderful, touching upon and expanding all my senses! So excited for you!

    Susan Grace

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    1. Hi, Susan – It was a fun post to create because I actually wrote it while surrounded by the intoxicating tastes and smells in Chinatown. Inspiration is everywhere!
      Thank you for your excitement. I am very appreciative of your support and friendship!

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  24. Congratulations on having an article accepted and thanks for the tips. I would like to suggest silver travel advisor as a U.K. site which accepts guest reviews.

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  25. Donna, well done on having your article published. Not surprising as you are an excellent communicator. Love your blog post title, very catchy and certainly made me want to read the content. Very valid points and I won’t say how often I recorrect my writing. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Suzanne – The good thing is that we never have to reveal just how much editing we do. I often don’t see my errors until after I have published. I absolutely love that WordPress makes it super easy to edit before and after hitting submit! 🙂

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  27. Congratulations Donna!

    Great tips and reminders. Sometimes we can get a little stale so this reflects in our writing – it’s hard to keep it fresh 100% of the time – stepping away is a great way, thanks.

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  30. Donna, there is so much takeaway information here. Thank you for sharing the bullet points from your course. You Chinatown article was really good. Congratulations on having it published – 1st time out! Impressive!! People who send emails after 5:00 should pay attention to your title. 🙂

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    1. Hi, Suzanne – Your comment about ’emails after 5 pm’ made me smile. In my work-life, I was notorious for sending emails very, very late and very, very early (what other time was there?). Fortunately, retirement has been an incredible cure for this tendency! 😀
      Thank you for your kind words.

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  31. Hi Donna, congratulations on having your work published! I can remember when we met for dinner you were just starting the course and now you are finished. Thanks for the tips, I know many of them but sometimes it is good to be reminded. Writer’s block and finding a different angle have been my main issues. Perhaps your work being accepted for publication will be the start of a new road for you to take. Have a lovely week, my friend. xx

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    1. Hi, Sue – Wow! Was I starting my course then? How does time rush by so quickly? I hope that your courses have been going well. I look forward to hearing more about them.
      Once again, thank you for your support and kind words. Both are greatly appreciated!

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  32. I’ve always loved that Hemingway quote… Congratulations on finishing the course & those tips are great. I did a similar course a number of years ago through the Sydney Writer’s Centre and while I didn’t end up pitching any travel work the skills I learnt helped me get some freelance articles pitched and accepted on other subjects. Have a fabulous week…

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    1. Thanks, Jo – Isn’t that a great quote?! And it’s so Hemmingway!!
      I am glad to hear that your travel writing course helped with pitching your freelance work. Even though I have only had very tiny glimpses inside the writing world, I find it incredibly fascinating — with so many details that I hadn’t previously considered.

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  37. Didn’t realize you were quoting Hemmingway with your title; just sounded like sound advice to me. Advice I was ready to follow!! And may still follow. Hemmingway probably knows a thing or two about writing, huh?
    Such wisdom here. Writing for 15 minutes is absolutely do-able. Starting tomorrow!! Incorporating all 5 senses! And who knew that the spacing they taught in Typing I – 2 spaces after a period, end punctuation – doesn’t hold true any longer? This was a sensational article, Donna, and I have pinned for future reference…tomorrow!!

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  38. Hi Donna, I really appreciated you sharing your tips from the course with us – and what a great lot of resources you’ve given us! I love your title and am thrilled for you having your work accepted. Congrats 🙂 Off to have a look at it now. Really enjoyed your thoughts.

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  40. Hi Donna – I have to say I read your title as ‘write drunk, travel sober’ as you were on your course at VIU! Wonderful information you absorbed and were able to let us have sight of here. Your Chinatown article with photos was a great read … and am so pleased it’s been accepted for the magazine.

    I hope you’ll do lots more – eg your Camino travels … but you certainly picked up lots of tips and pertinent tricks … I love reading your posts … cheers Hilary

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    1. Thanks, Hilary – “Write drunk, Travel Sober” would be a very different post indeed. But it does lead to wonderful possibilities!
      Thank you for your kind comment. It was a wonderful way to start my morning. 😀

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  41. Interesting pieces of advice that make complete sense to me, rather like some of my college English classes condensed to sound bites. Are you wanting to become a travel writer with all the perks and frustrations implicit in said? Or did you take this course for the heck of it?

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    1. Hi, Ally – Good questions! Our local university offers an Elders’ College, where those who are 55+ can take a range of courses on a full variety of different topics. I hadn’t participated previously. This year, I went ‘full middle-schooler’ and signed up for multiple offerings that were each very different from each other. I took this course to meet other writers and to help give me new ideas for my blog. It was a win-win for both of these goals (and our instructor was incredibly knowledgeable)!

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  42. Thank you for this helpful and informative summary of your travel writing course, Donna. These are great tips. And, congratulations on the article acceptance! Did you write a query with that pitch as well, or did you propose your story and attach it to the email?

    Queries are difficult! For books anyway. For my articles, I usually propose the story and attach it for review. I’ve had much better luck with the publication of my articles than my memoir. Oh, I love that Hemmingway quote as well!

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    1. Hi, Liesbet – I agree that article submissions would be much more simple than book pitches. Travel Post Monthly stated that they did not want pitch letters–just submitted articles, contact details, brief bio and brief intro. Although I had planned not to, at the last moment, I wrote a sample pitch letter so that I did not appear to be cheating on my homework! 😀

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  43. Congrats on getting your article accepted So very exciting. A friend and I tried to do some restaurant review writing awhile back. My guess is your learnings would apply to that as well. My friend was the one “in charge” of submissions (as I did most of the writing)…it went nowhere. I’m going to make sure I keep your notes for future… if the idea comes back around with her!

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    1. Hi, Pat – I wrote restaurant reviews for an English magazine when I lived in Beijing. It was a great side gig as I got paid in dinners for two! Since there are significantly fewer restaurants in the small town where we currently live (not to mention that the competition would be steep), I don’t see myself getting this opportunity again. Since you live in a larger area, are a foodie, and an amazing and candid writer — you would be perfect at this. You have my vote!

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  45. First of all, congratulations Donna on your submission being accepted for publication! I’ll definitely check that out. Next, thank you for sharing your key take-aways from this course. These tips are useful for all writing and reminded me that I may need to refresh what I’ve been doing. I may have gotten a little complacent. 🙂 #MLSTL

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  47. Loved your tips on writing. Carefully I read through this post, relating to much if not all of what you have shared. Thank you! Writing clearly and concisely is tricky while at the same time you tell a tale that flows. Many a time I use my photography to match words I have written …. It’s very obvious to me but to some perhaps not. My mind tends to run deep and is uniquely mine and not all “get the association” ‘tween pictures and words I’m known for by many. Congrats on getting your article accepted. I really mean that!! You’ve inspired me not to let go of my dreams when the phase of my life that presently I’m in, is no longer.

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    1. Hi, AmyRose – Thank you so much for stopping by. I’m glad that you found this post to be useful. I visited your site earlier today and found that your words and photography complimented each other perfectly! I also loved your incredible honesty.

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      1. To say I am really touched would be putting it mildly regarding how I’m feeling right now. I’ve learned in life to be honest, even when it is not convenient. Bless you for confirming I’ve done my “homework”. And another thank you for “seeing” what I achieve to accomplish. (((HUGS)))!!! xo

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  49. Thanks, Michelle – My previous titles have usually been based on the obvious (a bit like Friends, i.e. “the one about….). This course was excellent for helping me to think outside of my comfort zone.
    The travel article was published yesterday. The entire process was a very good experience.
    Thanks so much for stopping by from MLSTL. I’m off to check out your post there now.

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  50. Judging by all the comments (and obviously all the views you get) you could just start your own online travel mag and let others submit to you Donna! I think you’re doing amazingly well with figuring out how to make blogging work for you without letting it take over your life (getting that balance right is the key isn’t it?) Congrats on the submission (I read it and it was really good) and on all that is coming your way as you apply all you’ve been learning x
    Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂

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    1. Hi, Leanne – Thank you for your very kind comment. My guideline has been that as soon as writing seems like work, or feels lonely, I’ll stop. So far, this gauge has worked for me and has helped to keep balance. Thank you for another great link-up. 91 so far? That’s incredible!

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