Sharing Travel Experiences

So, You Want to be a Travel Writer?

by Andy Hayes

I get this question all the time…
and I know somewhere that you can get all the answers. MatadorU!

Picture this as your office….

What is MatadorU?

MatadorU is the new travel writing “school” put together by the brains at the Matador Network, the world’s largest independent travel magazine.  They have a network of 10 niche blogs, including Brave New Traveler, arguably the single most popular travel blog online today.  (Yes, more popular than mine.  I know.  Unreal.)

MatadorU covers 12 courses of everything you need in your arsenal to be a successful travel writer.  They don’t just cover the basics – they get down into the details of tips and tricks you can use to get ahead and stay ahead.  Some of the things covered include:

• social media – get more readers and build a community
• exclusive market leads – don’t waste your time searching for them
• learn how to pitch – advice about editors from editors
• gear and technology – what you need while you’re on the road

Why is MatadorU better?

I have access to the course materials, and I’ve had a good look around and I have to say, there were a few things I didn’t know.  I also saw some trade secrets in there – the stuff it takes months and years to figure out.  But here’s a few reasons why I really think MatadorU is the definitive source for travel writer knowledge:

Access to REAL people.  This isn’t just a set of materials that you’re left on your own to absorb.  The editors of Matador are in the forums to comment, advice, coach, and help.  That’s awesome and something you don’t always get with many training programs.  Talk about customer service!

Genuine Feedback. If you’re thin-skinned then maybe this course isn’t for you, because you’re going to get critical feedback.  Getting that is crucial to fast-tracking your success.  ”Oh, that’s nice, dear” is fluff.  It doesn’t help.  Sure, if you’ve missed the mark, being told so is a tough, but wouldn’t you rather hear it from a mentor and in a safe environment than embarrass yourself in front of a mainstream print publication?

Networking! The MatadorU forums are quite active and you’ll get to know not only the Matador team but also other students.  It’s just like being back in university – strength in numbers.  The travel industry and in particular the travel writer community is very strong, and to be successful you will want to get to know others so you are in the know when new publications appear, press trip opportunities, etc.  Just because you’re leaving your corporate 9-to-5 doesn’t mean you can hang out on the beach all day.  Besides – us travel writers are cool!

Thinking BIG.  I’ve said it before to others so I’ll say it here:  Matador thinks BIG.  What happens when you hang out with friends who think big?  You start to do it too.  The MatadorU team isn’t going to help you clean up your travel text and send you on your way.  No, they’ll be giving you the tools and the knowledge build a community – hell, an empire.  All you need to bring to the table is passion and an open mind.

Want to know a dirty little secret?

I’d loved to have enrolled in MatadorU when I first started out in this industry.  Want to know why?  The first article I pitched to Matador was rejected.  Yeah, they thought it was good, well, ok, but not good enough to get published.

Do you really think I’d take the time to tell you about a travel writing program from a company that told me my stuff wasn’t good enough?  Yes.  Because I got sound feedback and moved forward because of it.  Matador’s not just about publishing an amazing travel magazine – these guys are out to change the travel writing world, one pen (keyboard?) at a time.

I’m not the only one that thinks Matador is awesome.  Check out what Lola Akinmade, a very well-published travel writer (United Hemispheres Magazine, Vogue, National Geographic Traveler, just to name a few) says about Matador:

As a budding travel writer, when I first submitted to Matador, I got a confidence-boosting email from David and the Matador Team. “Just wanted to check in with you and offer some encouragement if you were finding yourself struggling in any way with your draft,” he said. This kind of organic mentoring through the editorial process is what makes Matador the most unique, passionate travel community on earth.

And there’s even a free bonus

If you signup now you’ll get a FREE report of 15 travel magazines that actually pay for your writing.  It’s not just names, but it’s email addresses, payment information, and details on what they’re looking for.  Stop wasting time wondering if you can make it as a travel writer and start taking action to make it happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

I still have my current job and I’m overworked as it is.  Are the deadlines really tight?

The course is 12 weeks long, and the MatadorU editors will encourage you to keep the momentum.  But don’t freak out – rushing an assignment means it won’t be your best work.  And your best work won’t land you that dream job.  So you’ll go at your own pace, with gentle prodding.  Your tuition fee gives you access to the product forever, so there’s no worry about deadlines or a cut-off date.

I don’t have a blog and, well, I’m not sure I’m ready for one.  Can I still join?

No problem!  When you signup you’ll get a free account on the Matador Travel community site.  This you can use to get your feet wet, or just dive in head first.  You’ll get a feel for the pace and formatting of a blog without any pressure or worry.

I’m terrible with grammar and spelling.  I’m not made out to be a writer at all, let alone a travel writer.

Here’s another dirty little secret:  travel writing isn’t about strict grammar and punctuation.  It’s about telling a story.  It is easy to fix your spelling.  It’s a much bigger deal to tell a story, and that’s exactly where MatadorU comes in.

What are you waiting for?

MatadorU is your ticket to travel writer success.  There’s only one thing left to do:  enroll!!  Signup is only $350.

$350 bucks.  You might say that’s a lot of money.  But think about it – over the 12 week program, that equals out to $2.60 per day.  Whether you take your cappuccino with soy milk or your latte with an extra shot, that’s all it costs per day to get real people who have real experience to give you genuine advice and feedback on being a travel writer.  I wouldn’t call that a lot of money – I’d call that an investment in your future.

After all, you did say you wanted to be a travel writer, didn’t you?

So, all you need to do is click the button below to signup. After you get all your details entered and information set up, you’ll be given your login and password and you’ll be ready to go with your first assignment!  How exciting.

P.S. – Not sure if you’re ready for MatadorU or not sure if its what you’re looking for?  No worries!  You’ll get a full refund, no questions asked if you cancel in less than 3 weeks.  That’s plenty of time to find your feet and get started.

First photo courtesy birdfreak

Disclosure: I am a Matador employee (though not related to this programme). My financial relationship with Matador does NOT influence my recommendation but did give me opportunity to witness first-hand the knowledge and efforts of the editors behind MatadorU and make my own independent judgement.