Travel
writing can be notoriously difficult to get into, but there is one sub-genre
that encourages and relies upon more unknown freelance writers than perhaps any
other: guidebook writing.
You
could just pack your bags, head off exploring, then contact publishers and hope
for the best, but there are other ways. Here are some things to consider before
taking the leap and becoming a professional guidebook writer.
1.
Is this really the job for you?
First
of all, although this might sound obvious, find out what the job involves on a
day-to-day basis, from pre-trip planning and destination research, to putting
together the finished book. Chat to writers who have first-hand experience and
ask lots of questions before deciding to contact publishers yourself. Forget
glamorous and hedonistic journeys to exotic locations – instead think hard,
often solitary, but interesting, work. If you love working independently,
you’re disciplined, adventurous, calm in a crisis, multi-lingual (it helps) and
ready to try anything once, this might be the job for you.
2.
Research publishers
Once
you’re ready to go for it, do your homework. Familiarise yourself with the
different publishers out there and decide which ones to approach. Then it’s
your task to prove to them why you would be the best person to write for them.
When I first contacted a publisher about their forthcoming titles, I simply
chose the one I knew best from using their guidebooks on my own journeys as a
regular traveller. This was a definite advantage when I got the job, as I was
already familiar with style, layout, maps etc, and it was a good selling point
before I got a contract.
3.
The right writer for the right place
After
choosing which publisher(s) to approach, you need to prove you’re the very writer
they’ve been looking for. To be blunt, in order to write like an expert, you
need to know your stuff and, more importantly, convey this to the publisher, or
you’ll be hard pushed to persuade them to hire you, not to mention all the
extra work you’re giving yourself by choosing a destination less well-known to you.
Aim for somewhere you’ve lived or travelled around extensively, where
you speak the language, have some contacts and can easily find your way around.
4.
Improve your chances
After
choosing publishers and destination, check what books are already published,
and most crucially, the publishing dates. If a guide to the destination of your
interest was published recently, there won’t be a need for a new edition yet. Check
if the publisher has any specialist geographical areas or cities and choose a
publisher to match your own such areas of expertise. If they already cover the
destination, they may have a regular author who updates it, so bear that in
mind, but don’t be put off – guidebook writing is a changeable business with
opportunities cropping up regularly.
5.
Take stock of your skills and get mailing
It
helps if you’ve been published before, but this isn’t crucial. Bear in mind
guidebook writing is quite a far cry from creative writing pursuits. An
engaging writing style is a plus, but it’s even more important to be
informative and accurate. Decide on your destination, research your favourite
guidebook publishers and then you’re ready to drop them an email expressing an
interest in writing for them, explaining why you’re the right person for the
job. Finally, be patient, publishers can take awhile to get back to you and
contacting several will increase your chances.
List
of travel book publishers:
(Article
originally published in the Funds for Writers newsletter, http://fundsforwriters.com/)
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