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I recently enrolled at MatadorU — travel writing school! I’ve been travel writing since the fall, including some paid gigs, but I’ve been feeling a bit adrift lately. I’m tired of just winging it without in-depth knowledge of the industry.
I’m in need of 1) a guide and structure, and 2) a kick in the pants to make it all happen. Hence, MatadorU! I hope that by the end of the course, I’ll be writing steadily for a variety of publications.
Over the next 12 weeks, you’ll see my assignments posted here. They will all be tagged MatadorU. The first one is What to Eat in Florence, Italy.
In this assignment, I’m choosing several publications for which I would like to write. The following seven travel publications spay for submissions:
Editors: Linda McGovern and Francis McGovern, founding editors
Email: submissions [at] literarytraveler.com
Submission Guidelines: 1500-2000 word pieces written in a first-person narrative that inspires readers. Articles must capture the literary imagination; subject matter can cover all types of artists. Small .JPGs must be included. Authors paid $50 per article.
BootsnAll
Editor: Sean E. Keener and Chris J. Heidrich, directors
Email: features [at] bootsnall.com
Submission Guidelines: Feature Articless: 800+ word features on pieces with appeal to a wide audiences; authors paid $50. Expert Travel Articles: 1200+ word pieces that extensively cover one subject that isn’t terribly unique and helps people planning specific trips; authors paid $30. Travel Essays: 500+ word pieces with wide potential; good conversation-starters; authors paid$20-40.
All paid articles must be previously unpublished material; others fill the “unpaid articles” program. Photos must be your own or have a Creative Commons license. Include “FA” in subject before the title of the piece. Include images up to 350×350 pixels. Include a note to indicate which photos go where.
Editor: Many.
Email: Submit through Seed.com
Submission Guidelines: Seed.com advertises assignments for sites throughout the AOL Network, including travel sites AOL Travel, Gadling, Tripvine and more. Authors paid $10-200 per piece.
Editor: Liza Finlay, Editor; Kevin Vallely, Editor-at-Large; Fina Scroppo, Managing Editor
Email: editor [at] outpostmagazine.com
Submission Guidelines: All story ideas should be submitted by query letter and should contain:
- One-page query letter outlining the story idea, including its angle, direction, elements and proposed length.
- A brief list of where the writer has been previously published
- The availability of photographs or other artwork to illustrate the story
- All necessary contact information, including phone number and email address
- A full or partial manuscript
- Examples of previously published work are encouraged
If including a full or partial manuscript with your email submission please enclose it as a word, .txt, or .rtf document attached to the message.
Editor: Dan Linstead, Editor; Lyn Hughes, Editor-in-Chief
Email: submissions [at] wanderlust.co.uk
Submission Guidelines: Several different submission categories for engaging independent travel, semi-independent travel and special-interest travel. Categories include destination features, dispatches special-interest features and consumer articles. Nothing regarding luxury or family travel. Authors paid 220 GBP per 1000 words for most features.
Editor: (unlisted)
Email: editor [at] intheknowtraveler.com
Submission Guidelines: 450-600 word pieces on travel; topics within are open-ended. “We seek writers who truly enjoy travel, have strong writing skills, style, a dose of originality, a sense of humor and a maybe a box of crayons.” Authors retain the rights to their writing and are paid $10 per 450-word submission.
Wend Magazine
Editor: Kyle Cassidy
Email: edit [at] wendmag.com
Submission Guidelines: “Wend is namely interested in first person accounts of literate adventure travel with a social/anthropological/environmental awareness that permeates throughout the story. Many different categories focusing on environmental impact, food, news and more.
“Send two clips of your work, relevant to the story you’re proposing. Send a summary of your experience. Send a brief query summarizing the scope of your story, estimated word count, which department you deem it appropriate for, and an explanation of why you’re qualified to write it.” Authors paid $0.25 per word.
This piece is Assignment I, Part III, at MatadorU.
