Inside Travel Writing is the podcast for writers who want to travel the world and get paid to write about it. Whether you're just starting out or already you're already published and ready to land more commissions, I pull back the curtain on how travel writing actually works - from coming up with ideas editors want, to pitching, press trips and building a writing career you love. New episodes every week.
EP 14: Part-time Travel Writing - How to Make it Work for You
14 min
As much as some of us may like to be full-time travel writers, for most of us, it's just not practical. But the good news is that you could travel one weekend every two months (or barely travel at all right now) and still be building a genuine travel writing career. In this episode, I'm sharing how to make part time travel writing work for you - including the story of the pitch that taught me the hard way what NOT to pitch and the initial travel story that actually got me published when I was a very very part-time writer. In this episode: Why "I don't travel enough" is not a travel problem (I'll explain!) The pitches I sent early in my career and why they went nowhere A new story spin I recently sold to a glossy travel mag that I meant I didn't have to travel - at all How to turn a handful of small, ordinary things into one strong pitch Why your niche knowledge is a real advantage over full-time travellers Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 13: How to find the right publications to pitch
14 min
You've got a story. You've done the research. You've even downloaded the submission guidelines. So why does finding the right home for your pitch still feel like throwing darts in the dark? In this episode, I'm digging into the single biggest mistake I see travel writers make when it comes to matching a story to a publication. In this episode: Why downloading guidelines and skimming a website for an hour isn't enough The real difference between how print and online sections work - and why that trips so many writers up How to read a publication like a map My cheat sheet system for staying familiar with the outlets I pitch Why you only need 4-6 publications to build a real pitching strategy (not 300) What to do when a publication has no submission guidelines at all Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 12: Solo Press Trips - What to Do Before, During and After
18 min
This week on Inside Travel Writing, I answer a question that came up in one of my communities recently - a writer whose accommodation request had just been accepted for a hosted stay, came in to the community and asked what she called a "silly question." It wasn't silly at all, and it's one almost every travel writer wonders about. In this episode, I walk you through the full arc of a solo hosted trip - the conversations to have before you go, exactly what to say (and not say) when you arrive somewhere and no one seems to know who you are, and the follow-up that determines whether a PR ever invites you back. I also talk about the $500 'expected' gratuity that meant I almost walked away from a career-highlight trip, and one thing that I travel with on every single solo hosted press trip. Want more travel writing content? Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 11: Five Ways to Start a Travel Story That Hooks Readers In Immediately
14 min
The first sentence of a travel story can take me hours. Sometimes days. But once I find it, the rest flows. If you're getting stuck on beginnings, you're definitely not alone. This week I'm sharing five of my favourite ways to open a travel piece, with real examples from published stories (including a couple of my own) that show exactly how each one works. We cover dialogue, foreshadowing, immersive scene-setting, the informational opening, and the action drop - and why the best openings across all five types share one thing in common that most writers don't think about. Articles mentioned in this episode (where there are online versions): Ecuador: the hothouse heart of the jungle Vegan food adventure across India Why this hidden oasis is the coolest luxury destination right now Au Train de Vie: That voice you hear when travelling Me, myself and Kii This plane wreck in a remote part of WA is like a scene from Lost Explore magical, mysterious Mungo National Park Transylvania's last mushroom hat artisans fight to save their art The moment a grizzly stopped hunting fish... and noticed me Want more travel writing content? Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 10: Why Editors Are Not Opening Your Pitches
21 min
This week I'm breaking down something almost nobody talks about: why your email subject lines might be the real reason editors aren't replying to your pitches (or even opening them). I'm sharing the exact subject line formulas I use (including one that took multiple rewrites before it finally landed a commission), the difference between a subject line and a headline that almost every writer gets wrong, and how to tell whether your subject lines are the problem in the first place. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram . Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 9: Press Trips and Pitching: Australia vs North America
53 min
This week I'm joined by Fiona Tapp, award-winning travel writer, editor, and my co-coach inside The Travel Writer Accelerator. Fiona is a Londoner who's been based in Ottawa, Canada for 20 years, which makes her the perfect person to unpack exactly how press trips and pitching work differently on each side of the world. We get into all of it, including: Why Australian writers are expected to confirm commissions before they say yes to a trip (and how to handle it when you can't) Why North American writers almost never pitch before a trip and what editors actually want instead The document Fiona sends PRs who push back on her - and why it works every time The unspoken triangle between writers, editors and PRs (and why the press trip is almost treated like a secret in North America) How many stories a good freelancer should realistically expect to place from a single trip, and what's changed in the PR world post-COVID and what it means for your relationships with PRs. Plus: payment terms and the hidden costs of press trips 🎓 Fiona and I work together helping writers land regular travel writing commissions inside The Travel Writer Accelerator — find out more here Love the show? Please share the love with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 8: Years of Pitching. Then National Geographic Said Yes
30 min
From Silence to National Geographic and BBC Travel: Jade Raykovski's Travel Writing Breakthrough For years, Jade Raykovski pitched without seeing much success. Rejections, when she got them, were rare - mostly she heard nothing at all. Then something shifted, and in a relatively short space of time, Jade went from wondering if travel writing was ever going to happen for her to landing commissions with National Geographic, BBC Travel, and a growing list of other publications. In this episode, we unpack exactly how that happened. We talk about: How a seven-week solo trip to Europe, taken just days after Jade quit her job, turned into 10+ commissioned articles The moment a small mention of a local festival in a pitch became the seed for a National Geographic commission How a rejection on one story idea led to a BBC Travel commission on the same idea — and what changed in between What it actually feels like opening an email from a major publication's editor If Jade's story resonated with you and you'd like support building this kind of momentum in your own travel writing, applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator (TWA) are open now. Apply here to join The Travel Writer Accelerator Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 7: Everything you need to know about The Travel Writer Accelerator
28 min
The questions everyone is asking before joining TWA Applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator are open, and over the past few weeks I've been receiving lots of questions about the program. If you've been considering applying, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the program works and whether it's the right fit for you. 1:51 — Do you have a shorter version of TWA? Why I moved from one-day pitch workshops to a 12-month accelerator, and why building momentum in travel writing takes longer than most people think. 7:08 — How long will it take to get results? What "results" actually means, realistic expectations, and what the writers getting the best outcomes inside TWA are doing consistently. 8:44 — Am I too inexperienced for the program? For aspiring travel writers who haven't studied journalism, don't know editors, or haven't pitched a travel story before. 9:41 — I've already been published. Is TWA just for beginners? Why many of the writers inside TWA have already been published and are looking to build more momentum, stronger editor relationships, and regular commissions. 10:37 — Won't AI make travel writing obsolete? Why I believe travel writing is uniquely positioned in an AI-driven world and what kind of stories editors are looking for right now 12:22 — Editors only commission writers they already know. Is it even worth trying? How writers break into new publications and why strong angles and compelling pitches still matter. 13:24 — What exactly do you get inside TWA? A complete walkthrough of the program, including: The TWA curriculum Personal essay publication support Story Blueprint Training Pre-Trip Blueprint PR and hosting training Publication Hit Lists Weekly pitch critiques Monthly coaching and Q&A calls Community support and feedback 25:39 — Who is TWA for? The three types of writers who tend to thrive inside the program: Published but stuck travel writers Professional writers transitioning into travel writing Reinvention seekers looking for a creative and meaningful second act If you still have questions after listening, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out and let's chat about whether The Travel Writer Accelerator is the right fit for you. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 6: How to Write and Pitch a Personal Travel Essay That Gets Published
31 min
Susan Reoch is a UX copywriter who went to Nepal with her dad and came home with a story she couldn't stop thinking about. She had no travel writing bylines. She didn't even know what a personal essay was. And yet six months later, her piece was published the most widely read masthead in Australia. In this episode, Susan and I walk through exactly how it happened: the trip, the angle that almost didn't make it, the early draft that needed a complete overhaul, and the moment she sent me the vomit emoji when the editor said yes. If you've ever wondered whether a personal essay could be your way into travel writing (spoiler: it might be the smartest move you make), this one's for you. 📖 Read Susan's published essay here 🎓 The Travel Writer Accelerator opens for applications soon - find out more here. Love the show? I would be so grateful if you shared it with a fellow writer or left a review 🙏🏻 Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 5: How to Navigate Rejection (and Silence) From Editors
18 min
That feeling when an editor doesn't reply to your pitch? We need to talk about it. This week on Inside Travel Writing we're unpacking why silence and rejection erode confidence for so many writers... and how to stop letting it with super practical advice (that really works). Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 4: The Easiest (and Smartest) Way to Break into Travel Writing
11 min
This week’s episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the smartest (and easiest) way to break into travel writing - especially if you don’t have bylines yet. If you’ve been wondering how to land your first commission and get published without constantly traveling or having a huge online presence, this episode breaks down what actually matters and the simple steps to start. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 3: Why You're Not Getting Invited on Press Trips (And How to Fix It)
18 min
This week's episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the one thing that will determine whether you ever get invited on a press trip (and it's probably not what you think). If your inbox is quiet and the invitations just aren't coming, there's usually a very specific reason why. In this episode, we get into what that reason actually is and the practical steps to change it. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 2: Travel Writing Without Constant Travel
17 min
This week's episode of Inside Travel Writing tackles one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: that you need to be constantly on the road to build a travel writing career. Host Lindy Alexander (a self-described homebody who burnt out from over-traveling) makes the case that the key to travel writing isn't the destination, it's your ability to find stories. Lindy uses her own small regional town as a case study, walking through the surprising range of pitchable stories hiding in a place she considers entirely ordinary. She also shares a practical search strategy for scoping out what's already been written about a destination (and how to find the gaps worth pitching). If you have family or work commitments, a body that's done with long-haul travel, or simply prefer sleeping in your own bed, this episode is for you. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
EP 1: The 3 Pitching Mistakes Good Travel Writers Make (and How to Fix Them)
16 min
This week’s episode of Inside Travel Writing breaks down three pitching mistakes even good writers make and how to fix them: including irrelevant information, not giving enough attention to the headline/subject line, and sending pitches that are too vague. If your travel pitches are being met with silence or rejections, one of these three issues is often the cause, and diagnosing it is the first step to improving. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy
