I recently completed an online travel writing course through the local Metro Continuing Education program here in Edmonton. So, of course, now I am an expert! (ha, ha – not really).
I found the course enjoyable and challenging. However, I do not come from a writing background. I have worked in the IT industry for my entire career. I have written numerous technical and business documents, but nothing for the “mainstream” consumer. I keep an online travel journal of my vacations – but do I have what it takes to parlay my thoughts and experiences into something that people (other than my friends and family) would want to read about? Are people interested in what I have to say?
The course opened my eyes to the possibility of making a living out of something that I love to do – travel. It provided me with some basic tools and strategies for writing travel articles and/or guides. Now I just have to summon the courage and put myself out there. Come up with interesting ideas for articles. Convince an editor that my stories need to be published.
I am setting myself some goals for this year. I want to post more often on this blog to practice my writing. I want to challenge myself to send out submission queries every week. I know that it won’t be easy, and that it might be a while before I get my foot in the door. But I will have to remain positive, and keep plugging away. I hope that someday I can get to the point where travel writing is no longer something I do in my free time – and instead I can eventually be that lucky person whose career is to travel the world and be paid to write about it.
Wish me luck! I’ll need it!