In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, travel editor/writer James Durston and I discuss the ethics of accepting free or deeply discounted travel. Are comps the price of doing business in a profession where the pay is low and travel pubs don’t foot the bill, or are they temptations no self-respecting writer should succumb to, no upstanding publication […]
Today I’d like to introduce a conversation between two far-flung colleagues about the role that comps play in the travel industry. We’re using the term “comp” — noun, verb, and adjective — to cover press trips/junkets, free or discounted meals and accommodations…anything that gets travel writers and editors a rate that’s different from that of the general […]
How I got my first travel writing assignment: An excerpt from Getting Naked for Money.
Say Yes to the Mess: A Meta Story
These are chaotic times. Perhaps in an attempt to impose order on the world’s mess, several people I know are decluttering their homes. (This is distinct from cleaning, though that is often required when the removal of clutter reveals a warren of dust bunnies.) It was in that spirit that I started Marie Kondo-izing my […]
The Importance of Being Edited
Editing is essential to establishing the credibility of any book, fiction and non-fiction, self-published or traditionally published. Here’s a basic look at the process, including a definition of terms.
Coronavirus Confessions of a Surly Wench & Slattern
It’s hard to read the expressions on the faces of mask wearers, but I knew the two women walking together on the opposite side of the street were smiling at me and my dog: We’ve had plenty of pre-coronavirus encounters that involved friendly salutations. Also, it’s tough to resist smiling at Madeleine, a little white […]
The Author & Her Dog Book Tour: A Teleseminar
A few years and several lifetimes ago, I put together a book tour that involved my dog, Madeleine. I’m going to talk about the logistics of its creation in a teleseminar on “How to Host Your Own Book Tour” for the Nonfiction Authors Association on Wednesday, April 1, 10am PT, 1pm ET. You’re talking about […]
How I Accidentally Became a Travel Writer
It’s summer — the perfect time to read Getting Naked for Money: An Accidental Travel Writer Reveals All. This excerpt from my memoir–plus bonus text about my worst job interview, ever–is a teaser. Is Travel Writing Real Writing? I had writer’s block before I ever became a writer. By the time I was 25, I […]
Edie
Emily Hancock
Patricia Armstrong