No Poodles…No False Teeth…No Travel Articles – Eight Reasons Why Good Articles Get Unwanted Rejection Slips
Eight Reasons Why Good Articles Get Unwanted Rejection Slips.
Steenie Harvey got into the life of a professional freelance travel writer when she moved from the UK to Ireland in 1989. Her first-ever published story was a humorous piece on her search for an affordable cottage in the rural West of Ireland, published by UK newspaper The Independent. Since then she has traveled the globe, from northern Europe to New Zealand and Latin America - and many points in between. Her travel writing passions take in history, art, mythology, macabre places, and quirky experiences. She writes extensively for leading overseas travel publication International Living and is regularly called upon to share her wealth of writing experience at workshops both for IL and Great Escape Publishing.
Loves: As a travel writer, I love to spend time in European cities. My two favorites are Berlin and Barcelona. As a flawed human being, I thoroughly enjoy playing blackjack at 3 am in Vegas, reading and writing poetry, and philosophizing on the ludicrousness of life.
My favorite travel-related websites are www.spottedbylocals.com, which is great for insider tips, and www.atlasobscura.com, which features weird places.
My motto: “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” - Hunter S. Thompson
I’m happiest when: I’m vagabonding on the road. It feels like I’m living a second life. Hanging out with like-minded friends. And writing poetry in graveyards, of course.
Eight Reasons Why Good Articles Get Unwanted Rejection Slips.
Pitching a whole bunch of article suggestions to an editor is definitely a bad ideas. For starters, a well-thought-out query letter shouldn’t really be any longer than a page.
You don’t want to go completely over the top. If your story starts reading like a plot-line for a Jaws remake, there’s a danger you’ll lose credibility with your readers (and your editor).
When writing scary stories, the dictionary is full of glorious words that help conjure up that shivery atmosphere you’re trying to convey. Here are a few ideas from freelance travel writer Steenie Harvey.
Regarding pen-names, changing your name legally isn’t necessary. Your byline, the name an article appears under, can be whatever you choose.