Inside travel writing

Lindy Alexander
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Inside Travel Writing is the podcast for writers who want to travel the world and get paid to write about it. Whether you're just starting out or already you're already published and ready to land more commissions, I pull back the curtain on how travel writing actually works - from coming up with ideas editors want, to pitching, press trips and building a writing career you love. New episodes every week.

Episodes

  1. 3 days ago

    EP 9: Press Trips and Pitching: Australia vs North America

    This week I'm joined by Fiona Tapp, award-winning travel writer, editor, and my co-coach inside The Travel Writer Accelerator. Fiona is a Londoner who's been based in Ottawa, Canada for 20 years, which makes her the perfect person to unpack exactly how press trips and pitching work differently on each side of the world. We get into all of it, including: Why Australian writers are expected to confirm commissions before they say yes to a trip (and how to handle it when you can't)Why North American writers almost never pitch before a trip and what editors actually want insteadThe document Fiona sends PRs who push back on her - and why it works every timeThe unspoken triangle between writers, editors and PRs (and why the press trip is almost treated like a secret in North America)How many stories a good freelancer should realistically expect to place from a single trip, and what's changed in the PR world post-COVID and what it means for your relationships with PRs. Plus: payment terms and the hidden costs of press trips 🎓 Fiona and I work together helping writers land regular travel writing commissions inside The Travel Writer Accelerator — find out more here Love the show? Please share the love with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

    53 min

  2. 16 June

    EP 8: Years of Pitching. Then National Geographic Said Yes

    From Silence to National Geographic and BBC Travel: Jade Raykovski's Travel Writing Breakthrough For years, Jade Raykovski pitched without seeing much success. Rejections, when she got them, were rare - mostly she heard nothing at all. Then something shifted, and in a relatively short space of time, Jade went from wondering if travel writing was ever going to happen for her to landing commissions with National Geographic, BBC Travel, and a growing list of other publications. In this episode, we unpack exactly how that happened. We talk about: How a seven-week solo trip to Europe, taken just days after Jade quit her job, turned into 10+ commissioned articlesThe moment a small mention of a local festival in a pitch became the seed for a National Geographic commissionHow a rejection on one story idea led to a BBC Travel commission on the same idea — and what changed in betweenWhat it actually feels like opening an email from a major publication's editor If Jade's story resonated with you and you'd like support building this kind of momentum in your own travel writing, applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator (TWA) are open now. Apply here to join The Travel Writer Accelerator

    31 min

  3. 9 June

    EP 7: Everything you need to know about The Travel Writer Accelerator

    The questions everyone is asking before joining TWA Applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator are open, and over the past few weeks I've been receiving lots of questions about the program. If you've been considering applying, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the program works and whether it's the right fit for you. 1:51 — Do you have a shorter version of TWA? Why I moved from one-day pitch workshops to a 12-month accelerator, and why building momentum in travel writing takes longer than most people think. 7:08 — How long will it take to get results? What "results" actually means, realistic expectations, and what the writers getting the best outcomes inside TWA are doing consistently. 8:44 — Am I too inexperienced for the program? For aspiring travel writers who haven't studied journalism, don't know editors, or haven't pitched a travel story before. 9:41 — I've already been published. Is TWA just for beginners? Why many of the writers inside TWA have already been published and are looking to build more momentum, stronger editor relationships, and regular commissions. 10:37 — Won't AI make travel writing obsolete? Why I believe travel writing is uniquely positioned in an AI-driven world and what kind of stories editors are looking for right now 12:22 — Editors only commission writers they already know. Is it even worth trying? How writers break into new publications and why strong angles and compelling pitches still matter. 13:24 — What exactly do you get inside TWA? A complete walkthrough of the program, including: The TWA curriculumPersonal essay publication supportStory Blueprint TrainingPre-Trip BlueprintPR and hosting trainingPublication Hit ListsWeekly pitch critiquesMonthly coaching and Q&A callsCommunity support and feedback 25:39 — Who is TWA for? The three types of writers who tend to thrive inside the program: Published but stuck travel writersProfessional writers transitioning into travel writingReinvention seekers looking for a creative and meaningful second act If you still have questions after listening, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out and let's chat about whether The Travel Writer Accelerator is the right fit for you.

    28 min

  4. 3 June

    EP 6: How to Write and Pitch a Personal Travel Essay That Gets Published

    Susan Reoch is a UX copywriter who went to Nepal with her dad and came home with a story she couldn't stop thinking about. She had no travel writing bylines. She didn't even know what a personal essay was. And yet six months later, her piece was published the most widely read masthead in Australia. In this episode, Susan and I walk through exactly how it happened: the trip, the angle that almost didn't make it, the early draft that needed a complete overhaul, and the moment she sent me the vomit emoji when the editor said yes. If you've ever wondered whether a personal essay could be your way into travel writing (spoiler: it might be the smartest move you make), this one's for you. 📖 Read Susan's published essay here 🎓 The Travel Writer Accelerator opens for applications soon - find out more here. Love the show? I would be so grateful if you shared it with a fellow writer or left a review 🙏🏻

    32 min

  5. 27 May

    EP 5: How to Navigate Rejection (and Silence) From Editors

    That feeling when an editor doesn't reply to your pitch? We need to talk about it. This week on Inside Travel Writing we're unpacking why silence and rejection erode confidence for so many writers... and how to stop letting it with super practical advice (that really works). Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

    18 min

  6. 20 May

    EP 4: The Easiest (and Smartest) Way to Break into Travel Writing

    This week’s episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the smartest (and easiest) way to break into travel writing - especially if you don’t have bylines yet. If you’ve been wondering how to land your first commission and get published without constantly traveling or having a huge online presence, this episode breaks down what actually matters and the simple steps to start. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻 See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here. Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

    12 min

  7. 13 May

    EP 3: Why You're Not Getting Invited on Press Trips (And How to Fix It)

    This week's episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the one thing that will determine whether you ever get invited on a press trip (and it's probably not what you think). If your inbox is quiet and the invitations just aren't coming, there's usually a very specific reason why. In this episode, we get into what that reason actually is and the practical steps to change it. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

    19 min

  8. 6 May

    EP 2: Travel Writing Without Constant Travel

    This week's episode of Inside Travel Writing tackles one of the biggest misconceptions in the industry: that you need to be constantly on the road to build a travel writing career. Host Lindy Alexander (a self-described homebody who burnt out from over-traveling) makes the case that the key to travel writing isn't the destination, it's your ability to find stories. Lindy uses her own small regional town as a case study, walking through the surprising range of pitchable stories hiding in a place she considers entirely ordinary. She also shares a practical search strategy for scoping out what's already been written about a destination (and how to find the gaps worth pitching). If you have family or work commitments, a body that's done with long-haul travel, or simply prefer sleeping in your own bed, this episode is for you. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

    17 min

  9. 9 Apr

    EP 1: The 3 Pitching Mistakes Good Travel Writers Make (and How to Fix Them)

    This week’s episode of Inside Travel Writing breaks down three pitching mistakes even good writers make and how to fix them: including irrelevant information, not giving enough attention to the headline/subject line, and sending pitches that are too vague. If your travel pitches are being met with silence or rejections, one of these three issues is often the cause, and diagnosing it is the first step to improving. Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

    16 min
  • 9 Episodes

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About

Inside Travel Writing is the podcast for writers who want to travel the world and get paid to write about it. Whether you're just starting out or already you're already published and ready to land more commissions, I pull back the curtain on how travel writing actually works - from coming up with ideas editors want, to pitching, press trips and building a writing career you love. New episodes every week.

Information

  • Creator
    Lindy Alexander
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Freelancer's Year All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Inside travel writing

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