Travel Writing – a Type of Home Business
April 4, 2007 by Mary Emma Allen
We might not think of travel writing as a business operated from home. However, your office often is at home; you do much of your work there as you research and write However, you also make forays around the country and the world.
I recently e-mailed an article to American Roads for which I write the “Vagabond Traveler” column. This was based on research I’d done previously and from photos I had in my archives. My husband and I returned from a business trip to South Dakota yesterday. While there, I checked on ideas for future travel articles and gathered information. I also incorporate some of my travel research into a weekly “Country Kitchen” cooking column I write for two print publications.
The process involved in travel writing can be transposed to other types of businesses based out of one’s home, such as photography, web design, graphic arts, illustrating, etc.
Also, the Internet has transformed the way we operate many home businesses and has opened up many opportunities that didn’t exist several years ago. It has led to more people working at or from home…at least parttime.
Hi Mary Emma
Another great thing about Travel Writing as a home business, is that if you are on a shoestring budget and can’t travel too far, you can write about your own local area.
It may be familiar to you, but can be “exotic” and interesting to someone who lives in another part of the country or overseas.
This keeps your costs down, and is more flexible to work around with a family or other commitments. Also, you have the inside advantage of knowing it well.
Yvonne
Grow Your Writing Business
Thanks for visiting my blog, Yvonne. I’m pleased you mentioned writing about your local area. That’s actually how I got started. I received some freelance assignments from a local travel pub. Then as I began sending stories on these topics to newspapers outside the region, I realized, “I’m a travel writer!” I still write about local attractions for a statewide online travel publication, as well as for American Roads.
I have seen a few sites like these, it is a great concept!