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Cynthia Dial

TRAVEL WRITER TRAITS TEST

I’m a travel writer. I think I was born one, as my thirst to see the world and share my discoveries has never been quenched.

In previous months, we’ve reviewed the beginning steps of the travel writing process—including research, logistics, travel prep, etc. So, you should have a general idea of whether or not it’s a genre that is right for you. But now let’s determine if you are right for travel writing.

True, travel writers come in assorted shapes and sizes and fall into job categories ranging from full-time staff positions to part-time freelancing. But what is it that separates the traveler from the travel writer? Travel writer traits.

There are a number of key characteristics found in journalists who journey from continent to continent in pursuit of a story. Following (in no particular order) is an inventory of these helpful traits. To validate a positive match, check those that describe you.

_____ Creative: Helps you unearth an unusual angle that captures an editor’s eye, and to write prose that sparkles.

_____ Resourceful: When searching for hard-to-find details or say you’re trying to orchestrate an interview with an evasive camel jockey for a Giza pyramid piece—this is must-have trait.

_____ Energetic: You’ll alternate between difficult travel schedules and demanding deadlines.

_____ Self-motivated: You’re your own boss if you freelance and your office is frequently your home. This set-up creates a daily temptation—procrastination.

_____ Flexible: You must continually juggle between writing, research, contacting editors, extensive travel and even packing. It’s a hassle, but it’s your way of life.

_____ Competitive: The competition among travel writers is keen, keener than any writing genre. It is imperative to stand out, to be a cut above the others and, in the end, receive those coveted assignments.

_____ Organized: You face multiple tasks—you travel to a variety of countries, approach innumerable editors, write an assortment of pieces and never miss a deadline. The answer is organization.

_____ Goal-oriented: Your aim is to get your name in print, as often as possible, and to get paid for it. This objective requires constant focus.

_____ Healthy: Travel is never easy on the body. Combine the endless hours in route with negotiating airport security, toting heavy camera equipment and being on duty the minute you arrive in a locale (regardless of jet lag). This mixture requires one indispensable ingredient—good health.

_____ Skillful: Good writing is key to getting published.

_____ Adventurous: To capture the elements of some stories, you must be willing to experience things you’ve never tried before.

_____ Inquisitive: You seek the unique, explore the unknown, continually ask yourself questions and find the answers.

_____ Determined: Tracking down crucial elements, sometimes in the face of resistance and many times in a foreign country, demands tenacity. You must persevere to discover the exotic and the extraordinary, as well as to note the simple and basic.

_____ People-oriented: People eagerly share their towns, their countries and, in some cases, their homes to help acquaint you with their cultures. Encourage this interaction.

_____ Trustworthy: Reporting about occurrences on the opposite side of the world, as well as around the corner, carries its responsibilities. Remember, you share the world’s secrets.

_____ Positive: A quality you’ll find essential in many travel writing scenarios—such as spending hours on Google to double-check one small fact, dealing with a cancelled flight or staying in an accommodation with no running water.

_____ Broadminded: Customs, cultures, religions and people of other lands are, by virtue of the definition of the word foreign, different. You must respect those differences.

_____ Curious: Who, what, when, where and why are questions you strive to answer.

_____ Credible: This characteristic is double-fold. You must represent the travel experience honestly—for the host country, hotel, restaurant, etc., as well as for your readers.

_____ Independent: You eat many meals alone, visit some of the world’s most romantic haunts solo and explore third world countries with no cohort.

The final characteristic is certainly not one I or most travel writers possess. It is included, however, to add a bit of humor, as well as a touch of reality to this already lengthy list.

_____ Independently wealthy: Fringe benefits translate into big money for you. However, the pay most likely will not.

Excerpted from Cynthia Dial’s how-to book, Teach Yourself Travel Writing.