Explore every episode of the podcast Inside travel writing

Shelly spent six months sending out dozens and dozens of pitches.

In those six months, she'd only had one reply from an editor (and it was a no).

Then Shelly decided to try something different.

A few months later, she had her first commission, then a second, and then a five-star hotel stay for her and her beloved Italian greyhound, Nala.

She landed her first travel writing assignment with no clips and no previous travel writing experience.

In this episode, Shelly shares:

• Why six months of crickets nearly made her quit
• The pitch she sent four times before an editor said yes
• How one very specific (yet quirky) angle became a published story
• Why she now gets excited about a "no" from an editor
• How she followed up on a maybe and turned it into her second commission
• What happens when you stop thinking "I have a niche interest" and start thinking "I have a niche"

If you've been pitching and just getting a lot of silence (and you're starting to wonder whether travel writing is only for the lucky few), this episode is definitely for you. Because, as you'll hear, success in travel writing is absolutely not about how long you've been doing it.

Want Shelly's kind of momentum? Applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator are open until 16 October, with two incredible bonuses for people who apply and enrol by then.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

Should you pitch a travel story before you go on a trip, or wait until you're back?

It sounds like a simple question, but the truthful answer is - it really depends.

In this episode of Inside Travel Writing, I explore why pitching a feature story before a trip is a bit like trying to write a blurb for a book you haven't read yet. I also walk through what stories I actually pitch when I need commissions before I leave (and the specific types of stories that make this possible).

And underneath it all is a bigger question beyond 'should I pitch before or after travel' and I can't wait to share that with you.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This episode of Inside Travel Writing came directly from a question in one of my communities, which I thought was so good that I wanted to dedicate an entire episode to it.

And this was the question: Have we entered an era where it's okay to pitch the same story to more than one editor at a time?

So I dive into simultaneous submissions, that is, pitching the same idea to different editors at the same time. Should you do it? If you're going to, here's what you need to know.

Also, applications are opening in early October for The Travel Writer Accelerator. There are two incredible brand new bonuses for this round - make sure you're on my email list to be the first to know when applications open.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

In this episode, I'm sharing everything I wish someone had told me when I was starting out as a travel writer - the business and admin stuff that can help or hold you back.

I know that the business side of travel writing isn't exactly glamorous. But getting it wrong (or not setting it up at all) can cost you time, money and momentum.

I'm sharing exactly what I'd do if I was starting out today: what's worth setting up early, what can wait, and what I wish I'd known years ago.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

If there's one thing that strikes fear into the heart of travel writers, it's following up on a pitch.

So I've dedicated an entire episode to discussing:

• Why not following up is the biggest pitching mistake writers make
• What to do when you've heard nothing back (and how long to actually wait)
• The exact subject line and wording I use for follow-ups
• Why pitching through a form makes following up harder (and what to do about it)
• The final follow-up email that gets a response more often than you'd think

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

The redundancy notifications kept hitting my inbox this week - editors, friends, familiar names, taking a voluntary redundancy or letting me know they've lost their job 😭

And it's tempting (but not particularly encouraging) to read that as a sign that travel writing is at the beginning of the end. But I think that's a really short-sighted view.

In this episode, I'm digging into what's actually happening in travel media right now, and the three things I think matter most if you want to come out of this period of change with more work, not less.

In this episode:

• Why redundancies create opportunity for freelancers - even though it doesn't feel that way at first
• The niche question I fought against for years, and why I've changed my mind (a little)
• The video I sent an editor last week, and the unexpected thing that came back
• Why having a great relationship with one editor is riskier than it feels

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

I'm surrounded by travel magazines this week - literally! After watching writers inside The Travel Writer Accelerator push themselves to pitch publications they've had on their 'one day' list for a long time, I've been on my own pitching kick, and it's brought me back to a tool I swear by but rarely talk about in this much detail.

It's not simply about finding submissions guidelines for a publication, but it's a super easy document I build for every publication I want to write for - and once I show you how I pull it apart section by section, I hope you'll start creating your own.

In this episode, I walk you through exactly how I build it, while I'm flipping through Australian Traveller, International Traveller, Qantas magazine, Condé Nast Traveler and Wanderlust — talking through how to find which sections to pitch in publications like these, month after month.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This episode of Inside Travel Writing is about something I think about basically every time I pack a bag: travelling for pleasure vs. travelling for work.

If you're in a destination with a day or two to explore, how do you organise your time if you're there for work versus for pleasure?

It's totally different trip depending on why you're actually there.

In this episode I'm sharing:

• What a genuine, switched-off pleasure day actually looks like for me
• What changes the second I'm travelling as a writer, even self-funded, with no commission lined up
• Why I email PRs before a trip - and what I'm actually asking for (spoiler: not a freebie)
• The one habit I have on self-funded work trips that turns experiences into stories

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This is an episode of Inside Travel Writing that I was reluctant to record - it's all about AI.

But actually, I realised I have a lot to say 😅

In this episode I'm sharing my honest thoughts about AI and travel writing, including:

• The real reason why I think travel writers are using AI
• The general 'vibe' from publications and editors about AI
• Why I don't think it matters if editors have AI detectors or not
• One question that I think is really helpful to ask yourself about your travel writing and AI usage
• The ultimate advantage when it comes to travel writing

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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

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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

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

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

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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

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

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

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

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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.

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For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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.

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Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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.

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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 🙏🏻

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

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

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

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

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