Career as a Travel Writer

A travel writer has

Traveling writing has traveled far. Wikipedia defines Travel literature as travel writing of literary value. Travel writing occurs when an author travels and writes about her or his experiences. You could be a part-time writer like John Steinbeck or R L Stevenson. Or take up this profession when you reach retirement. However, post 1990s travel literature has increasingly emerged as a legitimate field. Globalization and migration has allowed people to view various cultures and the diversities of it and hence an acute interest in documenting and expressing opinions.

Main area of work:

• Outdoor literature: This involves more than clocking dates of your itinerary. It requires an acute sense of observance and a knack of writing it. Outdoor can be variously divided in to Exploration, Adventure and Nature literature.
  
• Guide book writing: A guide book writers jots down facts and figures like - geographic location, tourist destination, itinerary and/or historical and cultural information - for other travelers. It also includes details such as phone numbers, addresses, prices, and reviews of hotels and other lodgings, restaurants, and activities. Maps are often affixed. The newest local guide book from Bangalore come from Stark World.
  
• Fictional travelogues: As we all know a very thin line separates factual and fictional accounts. Many fictional accounts are based real journeys.
  

Eligibility:

Getting an educational degree for many writing positions may not be the end all. Having a degree in English, communications or journalism, however, will help you enter the threshold at a newspaper or magazine. Additionally, many independent and honors courses are provided in travel writing. BA in Mass Communication or Journalism and a MS in similar stream can be pursued. Various courses in Travel writing are also available online.

Job prospects:

"Being a travel writer is a ridiculous life. It's a great life for a lay about," says William Dalrymple, the acclaimed writer. Job prospects are manifold - not only because of the influx of print and television that demands a high interest in travel authors, but also because of its interdisciplinary relevance. Tim Young, author of the first issue of Studies in Travel Writing says, "Insights from sociology and cultural studies into the experience and consequences of travel are relevant to colleagues across a range of subjects, including Literature." Being a writer also allows you to be involved in other forms of media – radio, television and books.

Remuneration:

Remuneration for travel authors is comparable to how much a regular journalist would take, which may vary from media to media and brand to brand. As a freelancer you might have to punt work from every corner – print editions that commission work. The online travel sites might pay quite badly comparatively to print editions. "However," advices Jeremy Head, Travel journalist and editor, "Writing online for marketing rather than for media can pay decently." However this might not be the case everywhere. Travel and in flight magazines are known to pay well. Then there are the books which can be a potential goldmine if successful.

Institute listing:

Some colleges offering Journalism:

Indian Institute of Mass Communication

JNU new campus,
Aruna Asif Ali Road,
New Delhi - 110067, India.
Phone: 26742920/60
Fax: 91-011-26742462

Asian College of Journalism

124 Kasturi Centre,

Wallajah Road

Anna Salai, Chennai - - 600002

Telephone: 91-44-28418254/55

Email: asian_media@vsnl.com

Jamia Milia Islamia

JamiaNagar,

New Delhi 110025

Phone No: 91: (11): 26981717

Fax: +91(11)2698 0229

Symbiosis

Symbiosis Bhavan, 1065 B,

Gokhale Cross Road, Model Colony,

Pune 411016

Maharashtra

Phone Nos - (020) 66211000 -20 (Hunting lines)

Fax No - (020) 66211040, 66211041