A couple of weeks ago, I was out for dinner with my sweetie, and he asked me to name something that inspired or helped me to be who I am today (yes, he’s one of those “thousand questions” kind of guys).
In the time it took me to swallow my mouthful of chicken piccata, I had my answer…
In the spring of 2011, I had an epiphany: I decided that what I really wanted to be when I grew up was a travel writer. Given that I was already middle-aged, I needed to find a fast-track method to springboard me into that new career.
I furiously began searching online for travel writing programs, and came across Great Escape’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop. As I read the description of what they would teach me at the workshop, I could hardly contain my excitement! This was exactly what I was looking for.
So that July, I headed to Chicago with a laptop, notebook, and soaring spirit. And I was not disappointed. Here are a few of the things I learned in those three days:
- • How to write a saleable article
- • What to write (and not write) when you pitch a story to an editor
- • How and where to get your first bylines
- • How to land perks and press trips
- • How to find magazines that want your stories
- • How to get assignment letters
The tools I was given at the workshop changed my life.
For the last five years since attending the workshop, I’ve had more than 100 bylines in 35 different publications.
I’ve gotten paid to travel around the world to places I’d dreamed about, but never thought I’d visit. I’ve been all over Europe, on dozens of Caribbean islands, explored Mexico from coast to coast, and visited Bali, Bora Bora, Tahiti, Hawaii, and Colombia, just to name a few. This October, I’ll be on a press trip to China – I’m REALLY excited about that!
I’ve had memorable adventures such as swimming next to whale sharks, skydiving, hang gliding, dog sledding, and race car driving. I’ve attended festivals, visited museums, stayed in 5-star luxury resorts, and eaten some delicious (and some very odd!) native foods.
People are always telling me that I have a dream job. And I always agree! William Arthur Ward said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it. If you can dream it, you can become it.”
Is your dream to get paid to travel the world? Make that dream a reality. I highly recommend it!
[Editor’s Note: Learn more about how you can fund your travels and make an extra income with photography, travel writing, blogging, and more in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel. Sign up here today and we’ll send you a new report, Four Fun Ways To Get Paid To Travel: A Quick-Start Guide, completely FREE.]