IL Postcard

Thanks, Obo for pointing out that travel writing is such a hard sell--- and that I can expect little reward. I just wish somebody had explained that when I first started out on this road to hard labor, misery and ruin...

Thankfully they didn't. Just because you're a college professor doesn't qualify you as some kind of expert in what people can and cannot do. Such an attitude makes me feel very sorry for your students . Dash their dreams and expectations before they even go out into the world?

I'm sure Roy Stevenson, one of my fellow presenters at the recent AWAI Travel Writing workshop in San Francisco, would also have really appreciated your advice. A year ago at the Portland workshop, he came along as an attendee. A newbie writer.

In the space of just a year, he has had 127 articles published. Most are on military history and sports-related travel, but it's still travel writing. I always thought I was a fairly prolific writer, but that makes me look like a slouch. I suppose you would say that it was a complete waste of time for him to take a course.

Lee Harrison, my counterpart in Latin America, comes from an engineering background. He didn't take up writing until he took early retirement. Poor Lee. I never realized that as a writer, he must be living a life of dire impoverishment down there in Uruguay. Should we all send him Red Cross parcels?

I've never written that travel writing will bring in mega-bucks. Even so, the going rate for a feature in Travel + Leisure is $4,000-$6,000. AARP pays $1 per word. There are a lot of magazines that pay $1 a word and up. But for me, it's as much about the lifestyle as the money. Maybe I could earn a lot more doing another job, but I don't want to.

I adore my life--and I love telling IL readers about all the adventures the world has to offer. The good, the bad, the crazy. And it makes me feel great when they write in telling me how much they appreciate it. (Thanks to those of you that did!) You can't put a price on stuff like that. But even so, I don't want for anything. And I certainly don't owe anybody any money.

On the other hand, copy-writing can pay very well. In respose to the other person who is scoffing that it's impossible to get paid $4,000 for a sales letter: All I can say is that you don't seem to know much about the business. No, you probably wouldn't get that for a letter witten 'on spec' (to non writers, on spec means something that you send in on speculation.) Thing is, once you start getting a track record, copywriters are commissioned to write these kind of letters. And the better you are at selling a client's product, the more you can demand for your services next time around. For a decent-sized campaign, $4,000 is at the low end of the scale.
Steenie

I think it is deceptive to entice people into thinking they can earn mega-bucks from travel writing. I've traveled extensively--and many people i know have also. I am a college English Instructor, and selling travel writings is a hard sell. Don't fool yourself---and don't pay to learn how to make money from travel writing. Expect to work hard and have little reward.

Hi Steenie,
After reading the letters of criticism I just shake my head. I can only speak for myself, but I want you to know that many more of us who read your information are happy that you do what you do....and that you share it with us. I've learned much about other places in this world because of your information. You've inspired me to investigate further on my own and discover beautiful places to visit, and live, if one desires. Your information, and that of other writers for IL, has also opened up new channels of income for me. I persued the 'making money with your photographs' write ups from IL and have begun a portfolio with Dreamstime and I am working on establishing my own website. None of this would have happened without you all. I now have a 3 year plan that will allow me to leave my present employment, retire early with my on-line business(es), and relocate to exotic locations. I presently live in a beautiful beach town on the east coast of Florida. What your critics don't seem to understand is that those of us who choose to travel or live for periods of time in other countries are not being unpatriotic or cheap. This world is a huge buffet. Why would someone eat only from the salad bar when there is a plethora of other delicacies to sample???

Hi Steenie,

I apologize if my previous post may have implied that your article on copywriting was less than truthful. Obviously, I read the article in the first place because I'm intrigued in the possibilities, and plan on investigating the matter further.

I don't normally add comments on blogs/websites, but I was so incensed with the dim-witted views of the world that I couldn't contain myself from venting... sorry!

All the best,

Pete

Some interesting opinions below, but I'm not getting into the politics of immigration. I just want to answer some of the comments that are way off base.---and also the one that's downright insulting.
1. 'Let's not kid ourselves, writers are journalists.' Well, I'm certainly not. I'm self taught ---and when I started, I didn't know anyone in the business. Fact is, what I knew about newspaper and magazine publishing would have fitted on a postage stamp. I'd never even heard of copywriting. But although learning from your own mistakes is valuable, surely it 's common sense not to to make mistakes in the first place? With the right advice, you can get on the ladder to earning a decent income from writing so much faster than what I did. Which is why IL mentions the AWAI copywriting and travel writing courses. Nobody is twisting your arm and forcing you to buy either of them. It's simply a fast-track way to get started if this type of writing interests you.
2. Copywriting is some kind of scam that IL are pushing---and that I want to get into this 'scam business' too. As I wrote this piece about Jason Gaspero and what he is doing in Thailand, I am totally outraged by this comment. I know Jason and copywriting is how he earns a living. Neither did I make it up about how I was paid $4,000 for writing a sales letter. I challenge the author of this slur on my character to come along to the next IL conference where I will be speaking (Live Overseas, Long Beach in October) and repeat this scurrilous garbage to my face.
3. Do I 'ENJOY seeing people suffer who are down and out and poor?' asks HP. I'm wondering if he or she has ever been to Thailand. Everywhere on earth has its rich and poor, but there are many countries where the poverty gap is far wider than what it is in Thailand. I have never witnessed any upsetting sights during my visits there. Any of the expats I know don't have a bank account 'as thick as a wall'. And if they do, they certainly don't brag about it to me. As in the rest of SE Asia, many expats are there because the way of life, the culture and the weather all appeal. Yes, dollars, pounds and euros all stretch further, but money is only part of the equation.
4. If you are happy and content in the US, or whatever country you are living , stay there. But why are you reading IL in the first place? We're just laying out options---we're not putting a gun to your head and forcing you to move to Thailand or anywhere else overseas. Some of us travel to experience other lifestyles and cultures, not simply because a place happens to be cheap. From HP's comments, the US apparently doesn't have either poverty or AIDS---which is major news to me. I just got back from San Francisco---and I don't think the pan-handlers I saw there were figments of my imagination. If the reader has nightmares about catching AIDS from travels overseas, I suggest this reader does some research on how exactly it gets transmitted...
5. It's also news to me that Thai people eat dogs---and that they'll pass it off to you as chicken. I've seen skinned dogs on market stalls in China and Vietnam, but not in Thailand. Yes, there are street stalls where you can sample fried crickets and the like, but I've never encountered bug infested dishes in restaurants or on noodle stalls. I 've never been ill from eating chicken or anything else in Thailand. And that includes shellfish and ice in drinks.

It is often said that if something sounds too good to be true, than it probably is. I have no idea if one can actually make a decent living as a copywriter -- but what I do know is that the previous comment by "HP" ranks as one of the most ignorant compilation of sentences that I've ever read, internet or otherwise.

I am very proud to be an American. I also love traveling, something that I wish that I could do more often. I am not embarrassed to admit that I've become quite addicted to learning about other cultures and customs. In doing so, I know that through discovery, that I grow and learn as a human being, and personally gain new stimulating perspectives on life.

Folks from "South of the Border" climb "the fences" because they earn much higher wages in the United States than they can in their homeland, and they fulfill jobs that the typical American would find beneath them, and thus never consider .

Do I seek out employment tarring roofs? Scrubbing dishes? Moving pianos? Trimming nails? Do I dream of becoming a rat trapper, picking produce in sweltering heat, or working as a janitor on the graveyard-shift? Admittedly, the answer is, "nope." But if the potential arose to earn $100 an hour in one of those honorable and necessary professions in Honduras, Pakistan, or Laos became a realistic option, I'm asking, "when's the next raft leaving?"

Immigrants to any country often face a great deal of loneliness and despair, and worse -- the tremendous dangers of human predation. They leave their families and homeland to risk coming to a strange land, enduring enormous obstacles in order to provide a better quality of life which benefits the loved ones that they leave behind. It's rather heroic, if ya ask me.

You should understand that if all of the illegal aliens were suddenly and magically rounded up, purged, and sent back from whence they came, and all of our blessed borders tightly secured, preventing the possibility of any future trespass -- the entire economy of the United States would immediately grind to a screeching halt.

(As an example, it would not come as a shock to me that every single piece of food that I ingest somehow relates to a foreigner within our very own borders.)

Oh, and HP, this may come as an unbelievable shock to you -- but crime and disease does actually occur here in the U.S.A. from time to time. And ya may also reconsider ordering that next batch of Chicken McNuggets that you so obviously dearly cherish.

May the Good Lord watch over you and that tiny rock that you live under.

Sincerely,

Petey Pistolero

Hi:

This does sound quite interesting and after a couple of years, I am sure that some are doing quite well at this. What I really want to know is what percentage of people who complete the program actually succeed?

Although this program is self-paced which is not really a good thing due to most people procrastinating, I am also wondering if there is a general time table that it takes to complete the course if lets say you dedicate 5-10 hours a week?

I realize one month is not long enough to learn this material and why is the guarantee a little longer? For example, what harm would it do to give people 90 days to try it? Obviously 30 will not give anyone a fair chance to work the program. My apologies if I am meddling in your business but this is how I feel.

Just like the gentleman who wrote this letter was sick of his job, I am sick of trying everything and anything to make a living. Sadly, I have all but given up because it just seems over my head. Also, I am not a journalist and lets not kid ourselves writers are journalists. In my years of college one of the most difficult classes I took was Freshman Composition in which I received a "C"

I'll give this one some consideration. As stated earlier, I know to fully grasp and have moderately have success this program it will take at least 1 year and most likely 2 years. Seems like its going to be like going to community college without all the beautiful young ladies - can you provides those as well? (LOL)

Alright now I am getting to silly so I will leave things as they are

Thank you for your time and if someone wants to call me and discuss then I will be more than happy to find out what this program truly entails

Steve Kaderli
(928) 775-8143

I am surprised that IL is pushing some many of these " cant miss jobs" just like the scams that come daily in emails. I really am dissappointed with IL. I guess every body wants to get into the scam business.

There are many places in the world that are "cheap". However whenever I read these
stories from IL I wonder, do all these people ENJOY seeing people suffer who are down
and out and poor? Do they enjoy seeing other suffer in this poverty stricken world
and sick can't afford health care while high and mighty Americans are bragging how
cheap they live and have a bankaccount thick as a wall!
What is the attraction in all these places? We have wonderful beaches in US
and wonderful country and food and people. Some of that cash can be spent here
and help our people out. Besides it's just as cheap in many parts of the US
and just as wonderful.And we don't have to worry about contacting TB
or Aids or syphilis or malaria or any number of criminals who wait
to pounce on these travelers. People get jealous and hungry!
Why be in many of these countries that are just cheap and that's all.
I'm sorry but I would never live in Thailand. How many people from all these
countries literally DIE to come to the US and we spend all our money just to go THERE???
Like south of the border. they climb fences to get here and do illiegal criminal
acts then work here send money to their famililes and spend all their time
to try to get back there . . why are they here in the first place? Illegals all over
who don't pay attention to the laws of the land and just abuse us. Let's not
abuse them what they do to us . . .
I'd hate to eat their chicken which may be dog or their noodles that have
bugs in them . .juk . I'd rather be in the US or a civilized country
where people don't beg on the streets with missing legs all over.

anyway just a few thoughts.
thanks
HP