Writers Guild features Travel Writing 101

In some cultures, you don’t offer anything with your left hand, says Chris Ciolli, a former Midwesterner who is a teacher, writer and translator currently living in Barcelona.

Chris Ciolli

Chris shared these and other tips in her lively and informative presentation on travel writing to the Lake Writers Guild meeting in Osage Beach on July 21, 2012. She says she makes sure she extends only her right hand in these situations by sitting on her left.

Chris also spoke about the various aspects of travel writing, including researching the region prior to your trip, learning about the history of a region, its cultural standards and norms, its handicrafts, and especially sampling its cuisine. She pointed out that offering food is often the result of considerable effort and sacrifice, and turning it down can be insulting. So be adventuresome and expand your palate by trying the Durian or haggis or blood sausage, and then write about your experience.

Chris related that there are a lot of travel writers and a lot of travel markets, so take your time to focus on a different slant. Instead of describing the cathedral of Chartres, you might tell a story about someone whose life was changed by the building’s beauty and grandeur.

You can write about food or activities or handicrafts. Talk to local people whenever possible, and ask specific questions about unique customs or anecdotes. Take a lot of photographs in a variety of styles, including landscapes and portraits. Most importantly, make sure you have all names and places spelled correctly, because you may not get a second chance to get them right.

When you return from your trip, assess what you have in the way of pictures, notes or videos, if you took them. Think about your markets. Do you want to write for a food magazine? Sports? Do you want to highlight handicrafts? After you’ve made your choice, query your market, which could include a local newspaper, a trade or consumer magazine, or a travel website.

In conclusion, Chris offered the group a detailed list of travel markets. For an extensive list of Chris’s clips, you can pay her a visit at ChrisCiolli.com.

The Writers Guild will offer a program on writing for children and young adults at its next meeting on Saturday, September 15 at the Osage Beach Library. In November the Guild will offer a program on Proofreading and Editing Manuscripts, and other informative topics for authors. Mark your calendars and plan now to attend these important presentations.