Good travel writing feels like a friend telling you about a trip: natural, easy to follow, vivid, free of clichés, honest about who paid for what, and clear about whether the place was worth it. These 6 tips show you how to get there.
Many people fill their blogs and social media accounts with their travels and adventures. After reading a few of them, you notice that some pull you toward those faraway places more strongly than others. Why is that? What makes some travel journals better than the rest?
6 travel writing tips
Here are 6 travel writing tips to help you leave a great impression on your readers. It is not a complete list, but it gives you a good start.
Be natural
Imagine that you are talking to a close friend and sharing your new experience. That is how good travel writing should feel. Forget about being formal. Make readers feel connected to you and let them live your adventure. That is what they are asking for, and that is what you should deliver.
Follow a clear storyline
When you have a story to tell, a clear storyline helps readers follow it. Write the first paragraph so that it outlines your story and grabs the readers' attention. Then fill each paragraph with a noteworthy event from your trip. Leave out ordinary things, such as the ride from the airport to the hotel, unless something important happened on the way.
Make the last sentence of each paragraph lead into the next one. Here is an example: My search for the best pad thai in Bangkok was supposed to end at the Thip Samai restaurant, but a friendly chat kept the search going. Then, in the next paragraph, tell readers which restaurant served the best pad thai you have ever tasted.
Entertain your readers
Travel writers should never brag about their journeys. Your goal is to entertain your readers with your experiences. Show them what made the trip worth your time. You have five senses to experience the world around you: use them in your writing to paint a vivid picture of what you saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt. Sensory words let readers live your life, even if only for a quarter of an hour.
Avoid clichés like the plague
Yes, that heading is a cliché itself, which shows how easily they slip in. Avoid phrases such as "To travel is to live" or "Take the road less traveled." Chances are that your readers have seen them far too many times already.
One cliché you are free to use as often as you like is "Take only memories, leave only footprints" and its many variations. Why? Because careless travelers have damaged many beautiful places on Earth. They spoiled them and left bags of trash behind, as if someone else would clean up after them.
Be upfront about any endorsement
When you come across a glowing review of a product, don't you wonder whether the reviewer was paid for it? People have the same feeling when they read an article or a blog post about a place they have never heard of. A small voice in their heads asks whether the article is genuine.
Frankly, there is nothing wrong with endorsements as long as you are honest about them. Disclose any payment you receive, and any commission you earn when readers buy through a link in your article. That is what credible travel writers do.
Summarize it
People travel for many reasons. Many travel to see new places and experience different cultures. Others travel to recharge after a long week at work. Tell readers why you chose that destination in the first place and whether going there fulfilled that goal. Sum up the pros and cons of the destination, too: it really helps readers when all the good and bad points are in one place.
Once you have found your voice, you can try different approaches. These 5 travel writing styles are a good place to start.