"It's the job of editors to edit but it isn't the job of editors to find the nice tight little story you were supposed to fashion in the midst of the encyclopedia you produced."  

If you love the thought of being a travel writer but feel intimidated about coming up with ideas for travel articles, author of The Ultimate Travel Writer's Program and International Living Executive Editor, Jennifer Stevens has some sage advice to help you along the way to your life as a travel writer.

When Great Escape Publishing first started talking about travel writing 15 or 16 years ago, there were only a few big travel magazines.  Those magazines had plenty of writers on staff that they would send on assignments to find stories.  

Today however, those big travel magazines have significantly reduced staffs and are using freelancers to find write the travel stories they need.  Of course big magazines like Conde Nast, Travel & Leisure, and National Geographic get thousands of people trying to sell them articles.  (As a travel writer you are competing against all types of writers.)  So the key to breaking into travel writing is to focus on smaller publications and come up with a unique angle for a destination.

A destination like Paris is never going to get old and content is always going to be needed.  But finding a new angle or unique idea to write about Paris is necessary to get your articles published.  Don't let the idea of structuring the article intimidate you. An editor will work with you to edit and restructure an article if the story idea is unique enough.  But if it has been run in the past, forget it.

Jennifer Stevens has been an editor for years, but she wasn't always in that position.  She was a freelancer for over a decade and is the master at finding unique ideas.  Here are some of her tips for coming up with ideas to get your stories published:

• The best ideas aren't only specific, they are also unique. You know it's unique when you should be reading about it before you go.  
• Do your research for the publication you are targeting.  You may have a great idea, but if the magazine already covered it a few months ago, they aren't going to buy it.
• Read widely.  Search for other stories about your destination and write counter to the traditional view of a place.
• Narrow your ideas down to an angle that fits a specific publication.  For example, "10 Best Dog Friendly Patios" might work for Modern Dog magazine.  But if you are pitching a story about the same destination to Sunset magazine which has a broader scope, you might focus on local finds, restaurants with locally produced foods, etc.  One trip can be for 10 different readers, break it down.
• When in doubt, make your idea narrower.  That's the key.  Instead of an article about food in a destination, think about eating a special kind of food – like eating vegan.
• The audience is key.  Who is going to read this article?  If you are thinking about an idea for a gardening magazine, find out what someone who loves gardening reads and focus on those publications.

As Colman Andrews, the former editor-in-chief for Saveur magazine once said, "It's the job of editors to edit but it isn't the job of editors to find the nice tight little story you were supposed to fashion in the midst of the encyclopedia you produced."  

That's the travel writer's job.

For more about how you can get started with travel writing today, visit: www.greatescapepublishing.com/travelwriting.