A Writer's Life

The Beginning Of Travel-Publishing?

Date: September 3rd, 2007 |

Ever wondered when the travel-publishing industry began, in what form, by whom, how, and with what intention?
Honestly, I never did until I came across this piece on an exhibition that is displaying a set of Europe’s first printed travel images and maps from the Middle Ages and Renaissance period.
In those days, traveling to faraway [read more]

Building a Travel Website

Date: August 16th, 2007 |

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I’ve been thinking lately how I can be more web savvy and prepared for the future of travel writing, hence I’ve decided to begin devoting more time to creating my own website. There are a number of great guidebook writers that have turned to the web, and from what I can tell they are doing [read more]

Should You Write For Free? WR Asks The Experts…

Date: July 27th, 2007 |

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Since my last post generated a bit of an uproar about whether or not writers starting out should write for free, I thought I’d knock on some doors and get some much needed pointers from people who have made it in the business. Responses had varied angles, but were predominantly cohesive.
Writing for free or not, [read more]

Join A Writers Group

Date: July 19th, 2007 |

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“Hi my name is Abha and I’m a writer,” is what I said when I walked into my first writer group meeting.
Not to sure what I would get from it, I decided to go anyway. I was lacking inspiration and didn’t have anyone to brag to, so thought I’d see how other writers [read more]

Outside Buyer’s Guide Summer 2007

Date: July 16th, 2007 |

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In the past I swore off buying expensive clothes to travel with from North Face and Mountain Hardware or whichever other company was trendy at the time. I always thought that the best equipment wasn’t essential and was inspired when local porters and guides used the most basic equipment possible to hike or raft or [read more]

Hidden Europe

Date: August 29th, 2007 |

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Summer is almost over here in Madrid. People are starting to get back to work and not wearing shorts anymore.
Other than a zillion visitors (aka sangria and more sangria) throughout summer, I haven’t really done much other than urrr…ummm…browse the Internet. See, it is part of my job you know
Anyway, I repeatedly [read more]

Interview: David Farley

Date: August 8th, 2007 |

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Writer David Farley has been featured in notable publications such as The Washington Post, Perceptive Travel, and Playboy. He was the co-editor of Travelers’ Tales Prague and teaches travel writing at Gotham Writers’ Workshop and New York University. His book on his search for the foreskin of Jesus will be published by Gotham Books in [read more]

Book Addiction

Date: July 26th, 2007 |

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I go absolutely gaga for books. The way they look stacked together. Even the way they smell. I’m addicted to buying them. I buy online. From book stores. From garage sales. From little stands that also sell water and Doritos beside Moche ruins. My very large five shelf book case was filled years ago so [read more]

Interview with Mike Gerrard

Date: July 17th, 2007 |

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Britan’s Mike Gerrard is one of the world’s most prolific guidebook writers and has been one of the lucky few to have a steady career in travel writing. He was kind enough to grant Written Road an interview:
Written Road: How did you first become involved in travel writing?
Mike Gerrard: I had to go get my [read more]

Pitching is a Bitch

Date: June 28th, 2007 |

5 comments

I just discovered the wonderful Saveur Magazine last year and only had the chance to read a few of the issues. I subscribed almost immediately after reading it for the first time, but only had the chance to catch the initial few issues before I moved to Peru for the past 6 months. Now that [read more]