Travel Writer's Guide [Paperback]

Gordon Burgett (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is an excellent and comprehensive book that should appeal to any writer or traveler. Writers will find the book's coverage of such topics as the art of interviewing, organizing trips, article building, and marketing strategies indispensable. Travelers will appreciate the pointers for planning and organizing trips. The author recommends developing observation skills which may increase enjoyment. The professional, novice, or potential travel writer is provided with a simple, well-laid-out, step-by-step guide that shows how to plan, write, and (most importantly) sell travel articles. The material presented here is not quickly outdated. A valuable purchase.
- Jo-Anne Mary Benson, Os goode, Ontario
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Burgett's updated, 3rd edition of Travel Writer's Guide is a first-rate compendium filled from cover to cover with practical ideas. -- Midwest Book Review, January, 2003, by James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief

Gordon Burgett does a fabulous job informing writers, new and experienced, how to make money from travel writing. -- Editor's Pick in Making $$$ the Write Way (by Victoria Beninga, Travel Author)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Communication Unlimited; 3 Rev Upd edition (September 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970862113
• ISBN-13: 978-0970862112
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #970,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gordon Burgett currently speaks nationwide about his three arenas of specialization: "How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in Days," "Niche Publishing: Publish Profitably Every Time," and "Empire Building by Writing and Speaking," offering keynotes, break-out sessions, and workshops at conventions, retreats, and colleges or universities. (See www.gordonburgett.com; for seminar descriptions, please see www.gordonburgett.com/seminars.htm.)

In late 2010, Gordon published "How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in Days." In bound and/or digital format, it is available from Gordon, Amazon.com, lulu.com, lightningsource.com, createspace.com, smashwords.com, and as a Kindle book. (See www.ancillarypublishing.com.) He then published a how-to example of that book's thesis in "How to Create a High School Graduation Book."

Burgett has also published 1,700+ articles and 40 books, plus offered over 2,000 professional spoken presentations, mostly to associations and conventions and through university extension programs. During that time he has appeared extensively on radio and TV, as a guest author and a publishing specialist. Burgett is a long-standing member of the National Speakers Association, the American Society of Authors and Journalists, and the Independent Book Publishers Association and has produced 26 audio CD and cassette programs. His published books also include How to Sell 75% of Your Freelance Writing, the Travel Writer's Guide, Speaking for Money (with Mike Frank), Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles (for Writer's Digest Books), Treasure and Scavenger Hunts, Life After Dentistry (with Dr. Jay Hislop), Standard Marketing Procedures for Dentists, The Writer's Guide to Query and Cover Letters, Standard Marketing Procedures for All Dentists (with Reece Franklin), Ten Sales from One Article Idea, and The Query Book. (See www.gordonburgett.com for specifics about each book or product.)

Four of Burgett's books have been Writer's Digest Book Club top choices: Sell and Resell Your Magazine Articles, The Travel Writer's Guide, The Writer's Guide to Query and Cover Letters, and How to Sell More Than 75% of Your Freelance Writing.

Gordon has owned and directed a publishing company, Communication Unlimited, since 1981. It originally specialized in (and continues to offer) books, reports, and cassettes about writing, empire-building, and niche publishing. In 1995, his company merged with Marsha Freeman's Team Systems and created Dental Communication Unlimited and Medical Communication Unlimited, to begin a series of standard operating procedures manuals (and other, related office operations products) for health care professionals. In 2007, Gordon sold Dental Communication Unlimited to Marsha. (See www.sops.com.) For the past five years its education imprint has published key education books for superintendents, principals, and K-12 teachers, including What Every Superintendent and Principal Needs to Know, Teachers Change Lives 24/7, The Perfect School, and Finding Middle Ground in K-12 Education: Balancing Best Practices and the Law. (See www.superintendents-and-principals.com.)

Burgett earned four academic degrees: B.A., University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana (Latin American Studies), M.A., University of Wisconsin, Madison (Luso-Brazilian Studies), M.F.T., Thunderbird Graduate School (Foreign Trade), and an M.A., Northern Illinois University (History). He was twice a university dean, taught Portuguese and history, created a city recreation program in Illinois, directed CARE (and Peace Corps) programs in Colombia and Ecuador (including the Land Directorship of the HOPE ship medical/dental program in Guayaquil), twice studied in Brazil, played professional baseball, and led a gold hunt up the Paushi Yaco (Upper Amazon) River in Ecuador.

He survived to write newsletters, articles, and books. See the newsletter at www.gordonburgett.com/nl.htm. He also has a blog at www.blog.gordonburgett.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel writing advice for the published writer, May 10, 2000

By 

Kooper Ivans "kivans" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Travel Writer's Guide, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This is by far the best travel writing book that I've encountered for the EXPERIENCED writer. So many books about traveling writing or writing/publishing, in general, are targeted to a completely inexperienced audience. This book seemed to focus more on strategic approaches for selling your writing, and not so much on "how to write a good lead," etc. This was a refreshing change. The author's ideas are novel; the book is easy to read; and the reader will gain confidence that travel writing to make some money is not an unrealistic goal.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars NOT an easy hobby--but PROBABLY a good profession, December 13, 2005

By 

Jeffrey N. Takle (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Travel Writer's Guide (Paperback)

Before reading this, I fancied myself as someone who might get into travel writing to make a few thousand extra dollars a year. After reading this book, I said, "That's WAY too much work for the money" and the realization was, quite accurately I think, that travel writing is a PROFESSION. Professions take full time attention to be successful and a lot of time (years really) to build up the knowledge, contacts, and writing style to make a living. I'm just not willing to put in the 40 hrs per week on it.

The book is very prescriptive, giving detailed instructions on what to do "x" many months before departure, who to contact, where to find them, what to say, how to say it, how many pictures of what kind to take and send, how to do your background research etc. I created project management spreadsheets (because I am a dork) based on the recipe in the book. When I got done I realized how incredibly much work it required. I do not doubt at all that if you followed this prescription you would be a successful travel writer, but it's not something you can dabble in and do well unless you have unusually remarkable connections.

If you have already dedicated your heart to being a travel writer, ABSOLUTELY buy this book and follow the advice. If you were looking to dabble, like I was, you may want to pass.

Not because the book isn't well written; its style is accessible, very helpful and made me really excited about traveling and writing again. As a compromise, I just started a travel blog. No money in it, but no pressure or research required either so I can focus on enjoying the writing part.

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel Writer's Guide, January 15, 2001

By 

Arleen Simonson (Norwalk, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Travel Writer's Guide, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

As a novice travel writer, I have read numberous "how-to" books on the subject, but Gordon Burgett's "Travel Writer's Guide" is by far the best. A virtual bible on the business of travel writing, Burgett gives the reader a clear, no nonsence approach to the ins and outs of getting your article published. Thanks to the the advice in this book, I hit "pay dirt" with my very first article. In fact, I sold it twice!