Should you pitch a travel story before you go on a trip, or wait until you're back?

It sounds like a simple question, but the truthful answer is - it really depends.

In this episode of Inside Travel Writing, I explore why pitching a feature story before a trip is a bit like trying to write a blurb for a book you haven't read yet. I also walk through what stories I actually pitch when I need commissions before I leave (and the specific types of stories that make this possible).

And underneath it all is a bigger question beyond 'should I pitch before or after travel' and I can't wait to share that with you.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This episode of Inside Travel Writing came directly from a question in one of my communities, which I thought was so good that I wanted to dedicate an entire episode to it.

And this was the question: Have we entered an era where it's okay to pitch the same story to more than one editor at a time?

So I dive into simultaneous submissions, that is, pitching the same idea to different editors at the same time. Should you do it? If you're going to, here's what you need to know.

Also, applications are opening in early October for The Travel Writer Accelerator. There are two incredible brand new bonuses for this round - make sure you're on my email list to be the first to know when applications open.

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I wish someone had told me when I was starting out as a travel writer - the business and admin stuff that can help or hold you back.

I know that the business side of travel writing isn't exactly glamorous. But getting it wrong (or not setting it up at all) can cost you time, money and momentum.

I'm sharing exactly what I'd do if I was starting out today: what's worth setting up early, what can wait, and what I wish I'd known years ago.

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

If there's one thing that strikes fear into the heart of travel writers, it's following up on a pitch.

So I've dedicated an entire episode to discussing:

• Why not following up is the biggest pitching mistake writers make
• What to do when you've heard nothing back (and how long to actually wait)
• The exact subject line and wording I use for follow-ups
• Why pitching through a form makes following up harder (and what to do about it)
• The final follow-up email that gets a response more often than you'd think

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

The redundancy notifications kept hitting my inbox this week - editors, friends, familiar names, taking a voluntary redundancy or letting me know they've lost their job 😭

And it's tempting (but not particularly encouraging) to read that as a sign that travel writing is at the beginning of the end. But I think that's a really short-sighted view.

In this episode, I'm digging into what's actually happening in travel media right now, and the three things I think matter most if you want to come out of this period of change with more work, not less.

In this episode:

• Why redundancies create opportunity for freelancers - even though it doesn't feel that way at first
• The niche question I fought against for years, and why I've changed my mind (a little)
• The video I sent an editor last week, and the unexpected thing that came back
• Why having a great relationship with one editor is riskier than it feels

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

I'm surrounded by travel magazines this week - literally! After watching writers inside The Travel Writer Accelerator push themselves to pitch publications they've had on their 'one day' list for a long time, I've been on my own pitching kick, and it's brought me back to a tool I swear by but rarely talk about in this much detail.

It's not simply about finding submissions guidelines for a publication, but it's a super easy document I build for every publication I want to write for - and once I show you how I pull it apart section by section, I hope you'll start creating your own.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I build it, while I'm flipping through Australian Traveller, International Traveller, Qantas magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Wanderlust — talking through how to find which sections to pitch in publications like these, month after month.

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This episode of Inside Travel Writing is about something I think about basically every time I pack a bag: travelling for pleasure vs. travelling for work.

If you're in a destination with a day or two to explore, how do you organise your time if you're there for work versus for pleasure?

It's totally different trip depending on why you're actually there.

In this episode I'm sharing:

• What a genuine, switched-off pleasure day actually looks like for me
• What changes the second I'm travelling as a writer, even self-funded, with no commission lined up
• Why I email PRs before a trip - and what I'm actually asking for (spoiler: not a freebie)
• The one habit I have on self-funded work trips that turns experiences into stories

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This is an episode of Inside Travel Writing that I was reluctant to record - it's all about AI.

But actually, I realised I have a lot to say 😅

In this episode I'm sharing my honest thoughts about AI and travel writing, including:

• The real reason why I think travel writers are using AI
• The general 'vibe' from publications and editors about AI
• Why I don't think it matters if editors have AI detectors or not
• One question that I think is really helpful to ask yourself about your travel writing and AI usage
• The ultimate advantage when it comes to travel writing

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

As much as some of us may like to be full-time travel writers, for most of us, it's just not practical.

But the good news is that you could travel one weekend every two months (or barely travel at all right now) and still be building a genuine travel writing career.

In this episode, I'm sharing how to make part time travel writing work for you - including the story of the pitch that taught me the hard way what NOT to pitch and the initial travel story that actually got me published when I was a very very part-time writer.

In this episode:

• Why "I don't travel enough" is not a travel problem (I'll explain!)
• The pitches I sent early in my career and why they went nowhere
• A new story spin I recently sold to a glossy travel mag that I meant I didn't have to travel - at all
• How to turn a handful of small, ordinary things into one strong pitch
• Why your niche knowledge is a real advantage over full-time travellers

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review!

For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

You've got a story. You've done the research. You've even downloaded the submission guidelines. So why does finding the right home for your pitch still feel like throwing darts in the dark?

In this episode, I'm digging into the single biggest mistake I see travel writers make when it comes to matching a story to a publication.

In this episode:

• Why downloading guidelines and skimming a website for an hour isn't enough
• The real difference between how print and online sections work - and why that trips so many writers up
• How to read a publication like a map
• My cheat sheet system for staying familiar with the outlets I pitch
• Why you only need 4-6 publications to build a real pitching strategy (not 300)
• What to do when a publication has no submission guidelines at all

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review!

For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy