International Living Postcards– Sunday Edition
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Paris, France
Dear International Living Reader,
My friends are far-flung. In the 20 years I’ve been working with International Living, I’ve moved around a lot…and so have they. The result is that, today, we’re scattered all over the planet. It can be hard to get together.
We keep in touch by e-mail, saying things like, "It’s been six years since we’ve seen each other. Let’s shoot for 2007…" Or "I’ll be in Nicaragua in August and in Baltimore in October. Either work for you?"
One friend in particular with whom I’ve been trying to reconnect in person for too long is Jen Stevens–for many years my top editor at International Living. Jen will be in Denver, Colorado, next month…alas, I cannot be.
You, though, might well like to meet her there.
If you dream about a "job" that lets you travel the world…meet new people…and enjoy the freedom of an income no matter where you choose to live…
Then you might be interested in what Jen is going to talk about next month in Denver.
Jen is the architect of The Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop, a program we’ve told you about many times, and from July 20-23, 2006, she’ll be in Denver with an impressive group of colleagues convening with the objective of helping ordinary folks with a passion for travel, including many readers of these dispatches, become published writers.
I met a woman here in Paris this week at a cooking class I attended who exclaimed over lunch: "What I really want to be is a travel writer. I want to travel all over the world and get paid for it."
My lunch companion is not alone. Hers is a daydream shared by many. See the world…earn a living (maybe a very good living)…and enjoy great perks. Over the years, we’ve known travel writers who’ve enjoyed stays at top-tier beach resorts, no cost…complimentary cruises…on-the house hotel nights, five-star dinners, even extended country tours…
Those kinds of benefits can be a lot easier to come by than you might imagine…once you get started.
And that’s the point of the convention next month. Over the four days of the workshop, Jen and her colleagues will show you how it’s done…and how you can launch your new career and new life on the road.
I’ve been on both sides of the desk…for years traveling and writing…and, now, paying others to travel and write for me. Some of our most successful travel writers began as readers–Steenie Harvey, for example…Lee Harrison…Suzan Haskins… You see their names in these dispatches regularly, and we’ve come to rely on them mightily to get our message out to you.
But here’s the important thing from your point of view: Each one started out in your position. Reading our Postcards and other publications and wondering if maybe he (or she) couldn’t make a go of this travel writing thing. Steenie contacted us out of the blue, enclosing an article on the Irish property market. She had no experience as a travel writer…but she had a flair and an engaging point of view. We published that Irish real estate piece and asked for another.
That’s was 17 years ago. Today, Steenie is fully occupied as our Roving Euro Editor and herself an important contributor to our Travel Writers programs. In fact, she’ll be in Denver with Jen next month sharing her stories and her trade secrets.
In addition to Jen and Steenie, you’ll hear, too, from Stan Sinberg, a freelancer who’s written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and other big-name publications…plus Tom Schueneman, publisher of an e-zine called The Traveler, rated recently by Writer’s Weekly as one of the best places for new writers to get published…and Carol Shields, a photographer and a writer, who will talk about ways to bump up your travel writer income by creating story-photo packages.
Jen has also arranged for the Travel Editor at the Denver Post to share words of wisdom.
As I said, I’ve watched many over the past two decades make their travel writing daydreams come true. I know it’s not only possible…but can be easier than you think. And you don’t have to have the sensibilities of Twain or Menken to make a go of it.
On the other hand, yes, you need to be able to write a simple sentence (in fact, the simpler the better…that’s one of the secrets Jen and Steenie will share with you next month at the conference). You need to be observant and opinionated. Nobody wants to hear how "nice" a place is or how "pretty" the views.
You need a little imagination, a sense of wanderlust, and a desire to write. The rest can be learned.
The Early Bird Discount for reservations expires at the end of the day this Tuesday. Register by then to save $300 on the fee. Full details here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/denver/il
Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living
P.S. Please give my best regards to Jen…and tell her I hope to see her somewhere sometime soon.
P.P.S. This is the only Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop scheduled this year, and it’s an event that always sells out. I’m told that more than half the seats have already been claimed. If you’re interested, don’t delay. And, remember, sign up by Tuesday to take advantage of the Early Bird Discount. More here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/denver/il
