Travel Writing Round Up [January 2013]

If you saw the last few editions of Travel Writing Round Up, welcome back! There are a lot of great opportunities this month, so I hope you will take full advantage of them. A lot are repeats from last month as well, but new posts are denoted with stars. I have checked all the links to ensure that they are still valid, but please let me know if I have missed one. Feel free to shoot me an email at caroline@carolineinthecityblog.com. I’ve also created an open Google Document where you can add writing opportunities if you see them throughout the month, or take down ones you know have expired.

Paying Markets

Web

• Matador Network: As one of the top travel magazines on the web, they’re always looking for content, but they’re pretty picky. If they are interested in your article, you will be compensated with $25.
• BootsNAll Travel Network: BootsNAll offers writers the chance to get their writing published, even if they don’t get paid, through the Traveler Article program. For features, essays and expert traveler articles, you can be paid between $20-50 for your work.
• Do It While You’re Young: This blog is everything a girl needs to know about travel. They are looking for posts in the following areas: Destination Details, Reader Perspective, Hotel Aficionado, Six Months Out and Trip Review. You will be generously compensated with a $5 Amazon gift card per article.
• Go Nomad: The website needs features and destination guides about places in the United States and South America. They pay $25 for 1500-1700 word articles and pays on publication. They accept reprints. You can check out their writer’s guidelines for more details.
• Lost Girls World: The girls’ website has exploded since the release of their book and now is as good a time as ever to write for them. Contributions must be between 500-1,500 words and apply to the mostly female audience of the site. Their posts often get picked up for the Huffington Post and in-flight magazines. They now pay $12 for specific Destination Guides and “How to Pitch To…” series.
• Unanchor: This new website is seeking people to create itineraries for various cities across the country and will pay you according to sales of your itinerary. They are now selling the itineraries on Amazon.
• GoMad NoMad Magazine: This online magazine is looking to pay $25 for articles on lesser-known destinations, posts from the road and practical travel advice.
• Galavanting: Kim Mance and her crew are looking for features and blogs on girlfriend getaways and female travel, from 200-1000 words. Payment is $15-50.
• World Hum: Easily the best website for quality travel writing, World Hum closed its submissions for a while when they were dealing with the Travel Channel buyout, but are now looking for new content. See your name next to the likes of Rick Steves, Don George and Rolf Potts.
• In the Know Traveler: This website pays $10 for features and $3 for blog posts on almost any travel topic.
• Perceptive Travel: Editor Tim Leffel runs a tight ship over on this webzine, which only accepts work from published book authors. This probably applies to a small percentage, but if your story is accepted, payment is $100.
• World Nomads: As one of the most recognized travel insurance brands, World Nomads has a strong following on its Ask a Nomad app as well as its blogs. Their posts are 650-1200 words and pay $60 AUD. Content should be about travel tips, off the beaten path destinations, responsible travel and working holidays.
• The Traveler’s Way: This new travel website is looking for frequent contributors who can commit to 2-3 articles per month on inspirational and informative travel articles for the Baby Boomer travelers. Articles should be 800-1,200 words in length for features with at least one photo. Payment is $30 via PayPal. Contact maryjo@thetravelersway.com if interested.
• Tripbase: This popular industry blog is looking for writers on the topics of family, fun, history and food. Articles should be 800-1,000 words in length and pay $30, but must include photos. Apply through their website and submit a trial article before being accepted.
• Transitions Abroad: This long-time resource for those moving abroad is looking for articles on long-term travel, teaching English abroad and cultural immersion and pays $50-150 via PayPal.
• The Expeditioner: This travel website wants first-person travel narratives and tips for its growing website, between 1,000 and 1,300 words. Writers will be compensated $30 or according to experience. Past writers have been featured in their book.
• Wild Junket Magazine: Nellie’s blog has now led to an online travel magazine, which is looking for contributors. Payment ranges depending on the department, but is between $50-150 per article.
• Overnight Buses Magazine: This new iPad version magazine is seeking writers to publish travel narratives, 1000 words or more, with rates between $250-325.
• Vagabundo Magazine: Brendan Van Son of Brendan’s Adventures is hiring contributors for his quarterly magazine and blog. Payment varies, depending on length.
• Travelllll.com: The travel industry news site seeks a blogger and staff writer to join their already impressive team.
• The Culture-ist: This website is looking for food and travel narratives between 800-1,200 words to be compensated $30.
• *Epicure & Culture: Jessica Festa runs this food-driven travel blog and pays $10 for articles.

Print

• Westjet Up! Magazine: Canadian airline Westjet has a great in-flight magazine that focuses on destinations in North America and the Caribbean. Payment ranges from $150 and up, depending on length. Check out the contributor guidelines for complete details.
• Delta Sky Magazine: They’re looking for travel and lifestyle & business features ranging from 600-2,000 words. Note that there is a four month lead time for this publication.
• Go Magazine: AirTran’s in-flight magazine seeks destination-lead features, 1,200-1,400 words, which highlights a destination that AirTran flies to. They also accept pitches for On the Town, 400-900 word stories about a destination, celebrity cover stories and business stories.
• EnRoute Magazine: Air Canada’s in-flight magazine has a variety of sections that freelancers can cover from 500-1500 words. See the website for descriptions of each section. Payment is $1 Canadian per word, with payment upon acceptance.
• The Australian Way: Qantas’ in-flight magazine is looking for features on their destinations, ranging in length between 500-1500 words
• Get Lost: This Australian glossy travel magazine features some great photos and is always on the lookout for writers.
• Verge Magazine: This new Canadian magazine focuses on volunteering and travel with a purpose. Rates for first-time contributors start at $0.10 CAD per word. Shorter pieces should be around 800 words while features range between 200-2500 words.
• Outside Magazine: While their focus is outdoors and sports, Outside also publishes travel pieces. They don’t accept contributors for some sections.
• Nevada Magazine: This publication is focused on Nevada tourism and pays 40-50 cents per word, with most articles ranging in length from 500 to 1,000 words. Web stories are paid a $200 flat rate.
• Aruba Nights Magazine: A Caribbean island publication is seeking stories on activities, dining, shopping, history and culture of the islands of Aruba, St. Maarten and Curacao. Pays $100-250 for 300-750 words on acceptance.
• Business Jet Traveler: ”BtoB magazine featuring objective, authoritative service copy aimed at passengers on and owners of business jets. Goal is ‘maximizing your investment in private air transport.’ Articles cover buying and selling jets; reviews of new and used jets; tax and financing issues; cabin refurbishment; flying charter; and more. Also offer some lifestyle content, including luxury car reviews, travel articles and interviews with celebrities and others who fly privately.”
• Harbors Magazine: This publication from Kenmore Air, a small airline operating in the Pacific Northwest, is seeking freelance writers to contribute articles on destinations, lodging, wine, culinary, fishing and boating angles. Send queries or LOAs to Bobbie Hasselbring, Editor, hasselbring@bctonline.com or query@harborsmagazine.com.
• *The Local Palate: “ We represent the food culture of the South, ranging from Maryland down to Florida and as far West as Texas. We collect personal stories about chefs, farmers, and vendors as well as tell the history of certain culinary traditions and oral histories of the South. We include recipes and how-to versions of dishes and drinks. Our departments include: Key Ingredient, Season’s Eatings, Toast of the Town, EATymology, Interview, Test Kitchen, Culinary Class, and Oh Pair.” Pays $250-$750 for 500-2000 words 60 days after submitted invoice. Publishes two months after acceptance.

Unpaid Guest Post Opportunities

• Art of Backpacking: I love doing guest posts for Art of Backpacking because I feel like they “get me.” They are looking for posts that follow their philosophy of covering all aspects of backpacking, from relationships to gear reviews to that song you can’t get out of your head from your hostel. Posts must be at least 400 words. *Some features are paid currently.
• *Her Packing List: Female travelers can submit posts about the things they must have when they travel, book reviews, destination packing lists and gear reviews. *His Packing List, the new male gear site is also looking for guest bloggers!
• Indie Travel Podcast: Craig and Linda Martin, the couple behind this award-winning podcast and website, are looking for people to do destination-related posts. Check out their website for more details.
• Twenty-Something Travel: Stephanie’s blog generally covers the themes of solo female travel, RTW travel and career breaks. She accepts guest posts on travel experiences, as well as photo posts.
• 48 Hour Adventure: Justin spends a weekend in a city and writes about how much you can see in 48 hours, but he can’t be everywhere, so if you have tips to contribute, send him an email.
• Hostelbookers.com: One of the top hostel booking websites wants travel bloggers to pitch topics ranging in length from 600-1000 words.
• Student Travelog: The newest brainchild from The Travelling Editor is this site for student travelers. They’re looking for features on student travel and destination guides.
• Eco Traveller Guide: This green travel guide is looking for guest posts on sustainable restaurants, accommodation and travel in general.
• Travel Hong Kong & Macau: Nicole of Bitten by the Travel Bug also runs this Asian blog and is looking for posts relating to attractions and information on Hong Kong and Macau.
• My Gay Travel Guide: Adam of Travels with Adam also runs this site about gay travels, which is always accepting guest posts.
• Contributors, Too Many Adapters: “Calling all travelling geeks! We’re looking for guest posts (both one-off and ongoing) on Too Many Adapters, the travel technology site that Dustin and I run. If you have a travel tech story to tell, advice to share or gear to review, we’d love to hear from you. Strong opinions welcome! If it sounds like something you’d be interested in, leave your details and I’ll send you a mail with guidelines etc.”
• Jessie on a Journey: This site is always looking for guest posts, specifically insightful travel narratives, although she’s open to other suggestions especially on places not yet covered on her site.
• Gear Up and Play: This site is looking for posts on adventure travel, backpacking, outdoor adventures and destination guides.
• Santa Fe Travelers: Share your own travel tales on this blog about Santa Fe and beyond.

Non-Paying Markets

Web

• Vagabondish: This offbeat travel zine is looking for writers to cover three sections of the publication: features, which covers how-tos, social commentary, reviews of about 1,000 words; news + sidelines, covering current issues in 200-300 words; and dispatches, focusing on the travel narrative.
• Wanderlust and Lipstick: This well-known women’s travel website is looking for wander tales written by females.
• The Taste of Travel: Cailin and Candice, two of my favorite bloggers, teamed up with friends to create a travel blog about food. If you’ve got a great meal story, recipe or video, contact Cailin at CailinONeil@TravelYourself.ca.
• Travelettes: Backpacking in Heels: This female travel blog is looking for new travel stories. Send your ideas to contribute@travelettes.net.
• The Travel Word: The group behind Intrepid’s Urban Adventures is always looking for guest posts according to their editorial calendar.
• Afar Highlights: Afar magazine is looking for Local Experts for many regions in the world. Make a list of the best places in your hometown and you could be featured on the website!

Print

• S.E.A. Backpacker: This magazine is for backpackers and by backpackers and loves everything about Southeast Asia. You can find copies in hostels throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Bucket-loving writers should submit ideas about destination reviews, backpacker advice, recommended things to do and other topics related to backpacking in Southeast Asia and travel in general. Compensation is not currently being offered. Contact nikki@southeastasiabackpacker.com for more details.

Jobs, Contests and Internships

• *Managing Editor, AAA New York– “We seek an experienced Managing Editor to manage the daily operations of the Club’s print and digital magazines including supervising in house and freelance writing and production staff, set budgets, plan and acquire editorial content, edit and write manuscripts and approve final layouts.”
• *Travel Show Producer, WealthTV– “National, lifestyle and entertainment TV network is hiring creative, professional on-air producer/talent for exciting, international adventures. Candidates must have the ability to generate enterprise stories: self-contained, half-hour shows from exotic locations like Tahiti, South America, Russia, Europe, etc. Candidates must possess strong producing and writing skills, including writing to video, resulting in compelling, long-form (30 minute) television stories.”
• *Freelance Guide and Topic Writer, About.com– “About.com is currently seeking Guides and Topic Writers to cover a number of subjects in health, technology, travel, entertainment, education, and more. We’re also seeking people to write in Spanish for our new channel, About en Español.”
• *Assistant Editor, Coastal Living–  ”The ideal applicant should be a good researcher, as a big part of this job is fact-checking stories. A typical day in the office might include writing a piece for an upcoming issue, building research for a future special section, or fact-checking a travel story about Fiji. At least two years of magazine experience required. Copy editing experience especially helpful, as well asknowledge of InCopy and InDesign. Please include writing clips.”
• *Travel Editor, Bing.com– “Microsoft seeks an experienced Travel Editor, News Editor and Finance Editors to help drive daily content programming for cutting-edge apps in Windows 8. This is a unique opportunity for a talented, innovative editor to be part of the fast-moving Bing Application Experiences team that’s innovating in the field of consumer content.”
• *Photography Scholarship, World Nomads–  ”WorldNomads.com and National Geographic Channel are giving one aspiring photographer the opportunity to accompany renowned wildlife and natural history photographer, Jason Edwards, on assignment in Oman. Find out firsthand what life is like in the field for a travel photographer and learn the tricks of the trade during this 8-day mentorship experience.” APPLY BY JANUARY 14!

Inspiration

• Journal Notes from a Year of Travel: “I am alive, I am alive, I am alive,” Candice Does the World– I’ve always loved Candice’s posts featuring her handwritten journals and notes and this is no different. She wraps up a year that included a European adventure and a near-death experience.
• Why It Doesn’t Really Feel Like Christmas to Me, Flora the Explorer– Flora talks about the loss of her mother and how it impacts her holidays.
• On Being Drugged, Scammed and Losing Your Mind in Vietnam, Matador Network– This unbelievable story comes from an Australian who claims to have been drugged and led on a jungle tour, all the while giving away his money, in Vietnam.

Helpful Links

This is where I take most of my job and freelance listings from, so feel free to check them out.

Now get writing.

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