As the managing editor of Getaway, I receive around 40 travel article pitches every month. Of these proposals, one – maybe two – is eventually published in the magazine. The competition among travel writers is fierce and to stand out you need to show skill, brilliant ideas and a whole lot of enthusiasm and persistence.
Here are my tips for first-time freelance writers on how to get your pitch noticed.
1. Find out how the magazine prefers to receive pitches
Once you’ve identified the magazines you’ll target, find out whether the editors prefer to receive completed articles or proposals. Whenever working with a new writer I prefer to receive a complete article. When working with a known, trusted writer, however, I can often commission based on an emailed suggestion or a quick chat over the phone. Still, first-time travel writers have been known to grab my attention with an original, thought-provoking synopsis.
2. Read the magazine’s contributor guidelines
Most magazines have standard guidelines for freelancers that they will email to you on request – some have them available online. Follow these guidelines to the tee before making a pitch. At Getaway, for instance, you’ll discover that we insist on a marked map being supplied with most articles and you’ll find that we have very specific requirements for travel planners for every major feature.
3. Know the magazine inside and out
Get familiar with your target magazine’s content. Does it cover a specific geographical area? Does it focus on luxury or budget travel? How long are the articles? Make sure you’ve read at least the past six issues so you don’t pitch something that the editorial team has just covered. Reading past issues will also give you a good feel for the expected tone and writing style.
3. Start small
If you’re inexperienced or have never had your writing published, don’t try to land a full-length feature, particularly since this is where there’s the most competition among freelancers. If your target magazine allows it, pitch shorter articles or snippets. Once you’ve become known for producing quality short pieces and have built up an impressive portfolio of work the progression to full-length features is easy.
4. Find your angle
You’ve just come back from a month-long trip through southern Namibia and are burning to write a feature. Remember that unless your trip was truly unique, chances are the magazine you’re pitching to has received countless submissions on this area. You’ve got to find an original angle to grab the editor’s attention. Sending an email saying ‘I want to write an article on my month-long trip around Namibia’ is not good enough to secure a commission. But an article on ‘riding newly opened horse trails over the dunes of the Namib Desert’ is a more effective pitch.
5. Work on your pitch
If you’re not submitting a complete article, spend time carefully crafting your pitch. It must be gripping and leave the editor desperately wanting more. Ensure that your grammar and spelling is faultless. But, most important of all, keep it short and snappy. At Getaway, we expect a small selection of photographs to accompany most proposals.
6. Use your insider knowledge
Are you based in a small town or in a difficult-to-access area? Use this to your advantage by becoming an expert in your region. It saves editors the trouble (and expense) of having to send a journalist from a city centre – and they’ll benefit from your insider knowledge. By the same token, if you have a particular interest or hobby, weave travel stories around your favourite pastime, whether it’s your penchant for craft beers, weekends spent kite-surfing or your fascination with antiques. Your article will have a credible insider voice.
7. Be patient
Just because your pitch wasn’t successful now, doesn’t mean that it never will be. Often I’ll receive a synopsis for an article that sounds interesting, but if it’s in an area we recently covered or just doesn’t fit in with our short-term content plans I’ll hang onto it for when I next look at my editorial plan.
8. You’ve cracked a commission. Now what?
If you managed to pique the interest of an editor and land a commission, make damn sure you meet your deadline, stick to your word count and respond to queries as quickly as possible. Learn from criticisms or suggestions (even the best writers are asked to refine their work at times).
