What Editors Want Podcast

Georgie Darling just hit her biggest month and year as a travel writer, pulling in $17K in one month alone. Her secret? Multiple retainers, and going after clients with big budgets. Take a look at our conversation in the video. Georgie's LinkedIn AMA: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7372188475426521090/ Georgie's coaching: https://thefreedomroute.com/ Travel writing career tip...

When Phil Thomas was made redundant from a white collar corporate job, he took the opportunity to chase his dream of being a travel writer. Starting from zero (no experience, no network) he took just a few months to see his name in BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure, The Independent, Conde Nast Traveler and more, getting paid for his stories. So how did he do it? Phil's blog: https://www.someoneelsescou...

I talk to David Gilbert, a software engineer by training and a digital product manager by trade, but a travel blogger by night/spare time. He has written his blog randomwore.com for 20 years, and has a refreshingly 'no goals' approach to his blog. No traffic goals, no money goals, very little SEO optimisation, just travel blogging for the joy of it. You can also watch this interview on YouTube: To...

Chris Dwyer, formerly the Director of Communications at CNN and Turner Broadcasting in Hong Kong, gave up that comfortable corporate life to become a freelance food and travel writer. Here he describes how writers can build relationships with PRs, and what you need to to know about how PRs work in order to score press trips. You can also watch this interview on YouTube: ( 00:43 ) Transitioned from...

I sit across Zoom with 'Chez' Chesak, a travel writer, veteran of the travel industry, Executive Director of the Outdoor Writers Association of America and recently elected President of the Society of American Travel Writers. Also available on YouTube (below), Apple Podcasts and Spotify: Topics of discussion include: ( 01:51 ) - How Chez still pitches like the rest of us (when he has time) and his...

Matt Barker, CEO at Horizon Guides, talks about the 'enshitification' of the travel content world - how for the past 10 years every brand and company has tried to become a media company and publisher on the side, with disastrous results. His company Horizon Guides uses specialist writers and niche topics to offset this, trying to expose people to unsung places and experiences, rather than the tire...

Chuck Thompson was editorial director at CNNGo as it grew from a brand new lifestyle content experiment into one of the world's most popular travel websites. He achieved this by injecting 'voice' into the content and enlisting and/or training writers to did the same with their stories. Here's what that means, and how writers can use voice to inject personality into their writing. You can also watc...

Lucy Bryson jetted out of Manchester, UK, many years ago and headed to Brazil, without knowing the language and with little in the way of travel writing experience. But now, even as a single mother, she has carved a niche as a travel writer specialising in Portugal and Brazil with bylines in BBC Travel, AFAR, Wanderlust, Vice, Time Out, Fodor's Travel, Atlas Obscura, DK Eyewitness Guides, easyJet...

I discuss the pros and cons of 'niching down' as a travel writer. Freelance travel journalist and author Lottie Gross, who runs the Talking Travel Writing newsletter, describes how falling into the niche of dog-friendly travel has opened up opportunities and marked her as an 'expert' in this under-served market. Travel writing career tips: https://www.skool.com/mediamatrix/about These podcasts are...

In this podcast episode James talks to Philipp Meier, a former accountant from Switzerland who moved to Thailand a few years ago to chase his dream of being a travel writer. After years of writing for small publications for free, Philipp recently broke through to some better known publications such as CNN Travel, Nat Geo Traveller, and South China Morning Post. James and Philipp discuss his journe...

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit whatedswant.substack.com For the first podcast on What Editors Want I spoke with travel photographer and writer Lola Akinmade, who has one of the most impressive resumes in the business. She explains how she got into the big publications, what qualities she thinks helped her succeed, how she gets commissioned for 60% of the pitches she...