Lonely Planet's Guide to Travel Writing

by Don George

Bursting with invaluable advice, this inspiring and practical guide is a must for anyone who has ever yearned to turn their travels into saleable tales. Let legendary travel writer Don George show you the way.

Discover:
-The secrets of crafting a great travel story
(How to conduct pre-trip and on-the-road research)
-Effective interviewing techniques
(How to get your name in print - and money in your bank account)
-Quirks of writing for newspapers, magazines, online and books
(Extensive listings of writers resources & industry organizations)
-Interviews with established writers, editors and agents

Genres: Travel, Writing, Nonfiction, Reference, Business, Self Help

360 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jason Koivu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time and again Travel Writing beats into you the utter financial ruin you will be driving yourself towards should you choose this career. Making money at it is essentially a forlorn hope, says Don George. In this instance, you want to go against the grain of the sage advice "never trust a man with two first names" and listen to the man!

After college I went to work at one of the more prestigious papers in Massachusetts. The pay sucked. I was getting $20 a story IF the story made it into the paper. Even if everything I wrote was published, I would've been living on short rations. Facts is facts, publishing companies just don't pay their writers well. So I wasn't surprised when George delivered this depressing bit of info.

Nonetheless, my wife and I like to travel, I like to write, and so I thought about taking up travel writing. Then I read this book. No thanks!

George continually degraded my romanticized vision of travel writing by laying out the reality of the job. You take long flights to far off places, often on your own dime, only to get there and not be able to enjoy the sights. You're too busy running about trying to gather information, zooming from city to city sometimes on a daily basis just to gather up as much detail (and make sure it's 100% accurate!) in as little time as possible in order to stay on budget.

Bursting my bubble is not why I gave Travel Writing only 3 stars. No, what I didn't like about this is all the interviews. Yes, it does say on the cover "Expert advice on travel writing from the best writers and editors in the business," so I should've been ready for it, but Holy Moses there's a lot of them! Most of the bloody book is interviews! Maybe that wouldn't be so bad if many of the interviewees didn't give repeat answers to the stock questions put to them all. Essentially, as an example, George asks how does one make ends meet as a travel writer, and almost invariably the interviewee says that at the beginning they didn't make ends meet. Nearly 30 interviews often saying the same thing is tedious.

However, there is good advice here. I don't doubt any of it. So, if you are considering travel writing as a career and you think you've got the balls/ovaries for the job, this would be a good place to start reading up on the subject.

[Christine Zibas · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone looking for the hard truth about becoming a travel writer, look no further. Here's the reality from Lonely Planet and a travel writer whose career spans more than 30 years in the business. While initially skeptical because this 3rd edition dates to 2013 (ages ago in real media time), there was that Lonely Planet name backing the material up. I was not disappointed.

On the contrary, although any writer worth his or her salt needs to be current with any publication they are seeking to write for, much of the advice provided here transcends dates, and even the resources section was surprisingly up-to-date given the passage of time. That is web addresses are provided (as well as brief descriptions of what each site contains).

What this book does so well is come at the topic of travel writing from every angle: There's the regular text by George, supplemented by writing exercises (actually helpful ones); examples of good travel writing (with explanations of why the pieces work); interviews with travel writers, agents, and editors; and an outstanding list of resources at the book's end. There are also examples of queries/pitches, photo release forms, and other practical tools.

In addition to all this great information is the unusual fact that the book addresses three of the largest English-speaking audiences in the world: the US, UK, and Australia. Yes, that means that there are examples and tons of resources for all three markets.

Finally, there's the hidden bonus in the resources section. Author Don George lists his favorite group of books by outstanding travel writers. And yes, there are different books in each section of the resources (US, UK, and Australia), depending where you look. Now that's a thorough job!

[mellyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very practical coming from Don George himself. Not to make a guide tour but more on telling the story of a place, reinvent our experience to others. The latest edition is completed with great tips on writing and particularly useful if you're thinking to be a travel writer.

I am lucky to read this and able to get his story directly as well. I think I like the book because I love the way Don George tell the story.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because, as I’ve probably mentioned before, I have a family vacation coming up (I am definitely not going to be able to shut up about this) and while part of my preparation is figuring where to go, another part is figuring how I’m going to tell stories about my trip when I come back. Hence, this book.

Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing is roughly organised into three sections: the first about the craft of travel writing, the second about the business of travel writing (what it takes to do this full time, the money you can possibly make, and how to get published), while the last section is a collection of resources. Since I’m reading this to learn how to write better, I focused mainly on the first section and only skimmed the last two.

The first section on the craft of travel writing talks about what good writing is (which is like good writing in any other genre), how to find your subject, how to structure the story, and how to write it. There are exercises throughout the chapters which will lead you to writing out the first draft of your story, if you actually do them. The section ends with many interviews with various travel writers about their job, how they got started, and any advice they have on travel writing. Some tips I found useful from this section were:

- The difference between a travel journal and travel writing is structure. Writing down everything that happens (which is what I do) without regard to the purpose of the story is not effective writing.
- While stories are best told through the writer’s eyes, the writer is not the focus of the story.
Do not assume the reader is as interested in your travels as you are
- While travel writing is about actual events, it “should emulate the best techniques of fiction”

I also really liked this definition of good travel writing by Daisann Mclane, when she’s talking about her favourite travel writers:

“Each takes the reader on amazing journeys to other places, from a village in China to Mormon Utah; decodes other ways of life with great authority, empathy and understanding; makes other cultures, other belief systems accessible to the general reader. All of these writers have fascinating minds, strong points of view, and great passion – whether positive or negative – for the cultures they’re traveling in.”

Another thing I liked about this section was that there were many, varied examples used for each point. For beginnings, for example, the author used six different examples to show us just how many ways we could write it and why each particular example was a good one. You can also read all the essays at the end of the section, to see how the entire piece was executed. That’s probably why I didn’t have as many technical tips bookmarked – there isn’t one fixed way of writing, although there are general principles.

The second section dealt mainly with the business side of travel writing, talking about the qualities of a good travel writer (frugality is one, because this is apparently not a trade that earns a lot) as well as the different ways of getting published. There’s also a section called “tools of the trade” that talks about what to bring with you on a trip. The section ends with another round of interviews with agents and editors, although I ended skipping these because it wasn’t my interest.

The third and final section is a compilation of resources, from major publishers to writing courses and writers groups. This is organised geographically – UK resources, US resources, and Australian resources. There’s also some sample paperwork here. I pretty much skimmed through this section, although the travel literature classics part did list some books that sound good.

Overall, I thought that this was pretty interesting. I think that this is worth reading even if you’re not planning a career in travel writing. After all, in this day and age, most of us will go on trips and share them in some form or the other – learning how to do that more effectively definitely won’t hurt.

This review was first posted at Eustea Reads

[Arne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I'm not planning to do much travel writing in the near future I still much enjoyed this booklet. It provides a good inside view of the industry, be it newspaper, magazines or book publishing. It clearly lays out what your options are when you want to travel and write about it.

Almost half of the book consists of interviews with travel writers, publishers, editors and agents, each explaining their trade and delivering what advice they have to offer to those having a first stab at travel writing. The other half is dry but practical advise, often split into an English, American, and Australian section, detailing the particulars of publishing in that area.

What this book really does is help you set realistic expectations. Forget the romance of exploring the whole world and getting paid to do so, and wake up to the reality of making ends meet in a cut throat publishing world. If you write well, work hard and expect little you might find a very rewarding vocation, and in that case this bundle of good advice will come in handy for sure.

[Willemijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a little disappointed. The title suggests that this is a guide to travel writing. I bought this book because I've started a blog about my travels, and I hoped it would help me to be a better writer.

In reality, only roughly 20% of this guidebook is actually about writing. The rest of it is filled with interviews, examples and a hell of a lot of talk about getting published. I don't really see the point of putting the emphasis on getting published, before teaching the reader more about the writing itself.

That said, the part that is actually about writing is brilliant. It offers clear instructions and helpful writing exercises, which have helped me with several posts for my blog. Perhaps this book is best suited for the people who want to turn (travel) writing into a career, rather than people like me who just want their personal blog to improve, without aspiring to get published.

[Jennifer Santiago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I'm not going to lie. One of my professors in college once told me about books that can't be read that quickly and that need to be put down after a long fight. And I fought my way through this one. The book is excellent, no bones about that, but if you wish to approach it the way you would read a novel, then I must tell you now that you will not learn from your experience at all.

This book is to be read a little bit at a time and if you attempt to read it in a blur or quickly without doing the exercises it is a total waste of money and time. Travel writing is a career I wish to pursue in the future but it has to be done a little at a time.

Very helpful book indeed! In time, I intend to finish it, but as for now, I think I need a break from it.

[Mochammad Yusni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for anyone who wants to be a serious travel writer. This book gives a lot of good tips on writing part (and could be useful for non-travel writing too). Another good thing is there are many practical tips that he shares, examples of good writings and interviews with renowned travel writers. Too bad the UK and US-centered practicalities really can't work in my context. And it would be great if there are more tips on storytelling.

[alyx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strap on y’all because this review is going to be unreasonably lengthy just like the book.

The 2-star rating is honestly my fault. I picked this book up because the idea of Travel Writing - writing about your travels and in turn creating a career out of it - enticed me. The three things I love the most (travel, writing, and money) all in one book, what could go wrong?

One thing I do like about this book is that it’s EXTREMELY detailed, if you are dreaming of becoming a travel writer because it is a genuine passion of yours, by all means pick up this book! However, if you’re like me and you tend to romanticize certain things at face value without diving too deep into the details, then do not.

Don George does an amazing job of taking someone like me, thinking this could be an amazing career, and throwing a giant reality brick at my face by carefully explaining the ins and outs of travel writing. He repeatedly states that this is not the career to pursue if you expect a stable income, a balanced work-family life, or a stress-free one. Again, passion will drive you in this field.

Another thing I liked were the interviews with actual travel writers & editors. They provided great input in regards to the industry, “avoid clichés!”, they said. A cliché is simply an overused phrase. Ironically, some of the answers got so repetitive their advice ultimately became clichés, and it became a bit hard to read the same idea but worded differently 12 times.

As I wrap up my thoughts here, this book does provide value for aspiring writers. I’ve learned now that my fantasy of becoming a ~travel writer~ had shrivelled up and turned to dust halfway through reading this.

Objectively? Lovely book, well-researched, valuable to target audience. Just not my thing and that’s okay too.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book curious if I might have the chops to make it as a travel writer. After reading it, I’ve decided that I don’t care if I have it in me to do the job; I no longer have any interest in travel writing for a living. Don George does a thorough job detailing the benefits and challenges of travel writing, what with his numerous interviews with travel writers, descriptions of what to expect in the industry, and even diving into how to get yourself published. The more I read about how much work you have to put into travel writing, how hard it is to make money as a travel writer, and how travel writing is a frenzied, exhausting business, the less I wanted to even consider it as a career. This book did, however, inspire me to take up travel writing as a hobby, something I can take on just for fun and maybe even as a means of building my writing portfolio so I can possibly land some freelancing gigs on the side.

This book is well-written and thoroughly covers just about every aspect of travel writing; however, it only gets three stars because the overwhelming number of interviews made the book a bit of a slog to read. After the first 10, we get it - the best travel writing is fresh and puts the place first; the worst travel writing is rife with cliches; and you should never expect to make money. I still enjoyed these interviews, but there were just far too many. But do read this book to learn as much as possible about the industry, even if it is 20 years old and some info is likely outdated. I imagine that many of the core tenets of what comprises good travel writing stays the same.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good guide to travel writing for professional or personal ambitions. Part One shares tips and strategies for crafting a memorable piece and sixteen writing exercises to get started. Following that are seven examples of “good travel writing.” These show different types of travel articles. I particularly enjoyed seeing how these writers started their travel article. Lonely Planet also interviewed fourteen travel writers for the book, some are Pico Iyer, Tim Cahill, Stanley Stewart, and Rolf Potts. One of the quotes that stood out to me was Daniel Palmerlee’s response to “What is the downside of travel writing for you?” He said, “Years without a home. Not having plants or long-term relationships, although I was eventually able to work all of these into my life. Eating in too many restaurants: after your 99th restaurant in a row, you really, really just want to eat at home. And struggling to make ends meet” (145). I've never imagined travel writing as glamorous, and this book confirmed that. But I think it'd be a great job for people who can't stop traveling.

The book has information about salary, publishing, freelance versus the practically non-existent in-house jobs, networking, and much more. Finally, there are lots of tools for finding publishers or writing groups, and examples for drafting query letters.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is chock-full of information about travel writing. It's pretty discouraging to read; in featured interviews with multiple writers, editors and publishers, the word is that it's very difficult to make a living at travel writing. There is some excellent advice about bringing a story to life through characters, dialogue, illuminating details, anecdotes, and using all your senses. Structures and elements of style are also discussed. I also found a section called "Tools of the Trade" beneficial. These were the best takeaways of the book, in my opinion.

The book also contains great advice about getting published, career maintenance and resources. After reading this, however, I came to the realization that I don't really want to be a travel writer, not in the traditional sense. I am more interested in creative expression and how travelers bring themselves along in their travels. I'm interested in the intersection of character and place, travel and creativity. As the travel writing industry is constantly changing, travel writers will be under pressure to change with the times. But isn't that the nature of life?

[Mad · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some interesting parts, but for anyone with a bit of writing experience there isn't anything revolutionary. The overwhelming takeaway is the running theme of every interview included--don't plan on a career I travel writing, it won't happen. It was interesting, if a bit depressing, so see how drastically the landscape for media and journalism has evolved since this book's publication.

[Meryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF for two years(!), left at the part where the writer was imparting wisdom about who and where to pitch your stories. I picked this up for tips on storytelling and I did get a feel of it for the most part, at least with the chapters that I did read.

[Molly Mellott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent advice but nothing you can’t learn from any book or course on writing. Not all sections are entirely relevant and you can easily skip through to the sections most relevant to your needs/interests. This is a useful read for aspiring travel writers/bloggers, especially in the internet age.

[Parvesh · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good experience of dealing with 360trip.in. I am happy because I found whatever they committed while they booking my Singapore tour package. I think it was my right decision to go with 360trip.in. Good Luck.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very practical but also made me not want to be a travel writing-- which, in the grand scheme of things, was probably the right choice...

[Kristin Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

E-book from library. Lots of detailed information. Seems very useful for anyone wanting to do travel writing.

[ashman.toronto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travel Writing is an art and Don George showcases a few travel works from other writers and breaking down to us what made their work a cut above the rest.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very comprehensive guide to travel writing!

[Jamie Furlong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the title of this book is slightly misleading. A better fit might be "Lonely Planet's Guide to the Business of Travel Writing".

The value of this book really comes in the second and third section. I felt that the first section might be cut out altogether.

I bought this book thinking I would learn about how to write good travel articles and to ensure that your writing is of the highest standard. However, only the first section of the book is actually dedicated to writing. Rather than learn about rhetoric devices, we are instead given what appeared to be quite basic structural tips on writing a beginning, middle and end. It then throws us into several travel writing examples by proficient authors without the means to fully understand and therefore appreciate the writing being presented to us.

However, I still gave this book four stars because I was pleasantly surprised by the knowledge I gained about the business of travel writing. While a career in travel writing may be presented as bleak, if you still want a career in it, it stands testament to your dedication.

Having just completed the book, I feel like I have a lot more insight into how editors work, the difference between newspapers and magazines and how you should approach them, and even the role of agents.

I just wish the first section had been cut and the second section fleshed out. It would have been great to have some templates to work off for creating pitches.

I will probably buy another book on actually learning to write, but I would not discourage anyone from buying this to gain deep insight on the world of travel writing from Don George, a man who has been through everything to get where he is today.

[Tierney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a passion for travel and vague ideas about starting a career in writing, I picked this book up. I've always used Lonely Planet's guidebooks to plan my trips and travel with, and have always been impressed with the way their guides are put together, so I thought I would try and learn from the masters. This book gives a detailed overview of all things travel writing, such as deciding what to write about, how to pitch a piece, what you can expect to be paid and ideas on where to submit pieces. There are also many interviews with travel writers, journalists, editors and agents, as well as some practical exercises to try and an extensive list of resources at the end of the book. I particularly liked the fact that the author discusses practicalities for Australian writers and markets, not just British and American. All in all, there is some really useful information in this dense little book.

[Rashad · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a how-to guide, it was quite entertaining and didn't bog me down with a plethora of dry details. This is a great book for anyone looking to do some Travel Writing.

The guide also has a significant section which includes major newspaper, magazines, and online networks you can submit your work to, as well as a myriad other writing-related contacts and organizations. It would take someone years to collect all the information this author shares--I highly recommend this book.

Published by Lonely Planet.

[Steve Goodyear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good reference on planning and writing a travel story. I found some good advice and inspiration on how to craft a good travel story, and it has a bunch of tips on getting a story published. I didn't like how much focus it spent on the prospects (or lack of prospects) for earning a living as a travel writer—that negativity detracted from an otherwise interesting and inspiring reference.

[Sirina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me a great insight into travel writing and it really got me thinking about the nitty gritty of such a career and if it is a suitable career for my personality and work type. After reading through this book, I started rewriting a few of the pieces I previously began to put on my blog. I would recommend it to anyone who has thought about travel writing but doesn't know where to start.

[Ann Addley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot of into in this book! Considering the small type and sometimes long paragraphs it can be a little intimidating but push through and you will find a wealth of knowledge on almost every form of travel writing imaginable. This book gives you an out line of different types of travel writing, the requirements and standards of these fields and even resources in several major countries.

[Nur · Rating 3 out of 5]

though I'm not a travel writer, I found myself enjoying this book, well written and filled with interesting and even fascinating insight into the world of travel writing, it definitely takes away looking at the profession with rosy tinted glasses, from sample pieces to interviews, to logistical breakdowns and resources for anyone interested in the field or diving deeply into it.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, even though I wasn't seriously considering a career change-- it had some useful comments about how to write about travel in informal settings as well. Plus, I always like learning about the behind-the-scenes details of various professions, how publishing works, and so on.

[Kelly Lynn Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am reading this for a travel writing class at Chatham University's MFA in creative writing program. We didn't read all of it, but it kind of got on my nerves. A lot of the stuff is just basic journalism, but the interviews with travel writers and stuff about markets is useful.

[Sharlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book makes me realize that dreams of traveling the world are slim & that sharing my accounts will be boring as hell to the reader because I can't write. Yay for me! Some good tips, but not for the faint hearted.