“Ready for some good news?” asks a friendly voice streaming from the American Profile website, where “kindness always makes headlines, and tales of sacrifice prove that what we do best defines who we are.”
This four-color magazine is distributed weekly through newspapers, highlighting small-town stories with a positive, patriotic slant. Here are a few recent headlines, to give you an idea of what the magazine likes to run:
- Ice Cream Crank-Off
Churning a cool summer treat in McKinney, Texas - Holy Cow!
Milking stools fascinate Illinois woman - Highways & Buy-Ways
Multistate yard sales crisscross the country
If you’re a road tripper or you live in a small town, you could easily pen a piece for one of the magazine’s travel-related story categories, including:
- AMERICAN ARTISAN
Featuring stories of American crafts and the people who make them - AMERICAN ROOTS
On lesser-known places or things that have strong American roots and compelling stories behind them - HOMETOWN SPOTLIGHT
With stories of unique communities that are proud of their history - PLACES
Features about American museums and historical sites - COVER STORY
These are broader stories, generally on a national level, but maintain a focus on American life, culture, people, and places.
Once you have an idea of what you’d like to write about, query the old-fashioned way, by sending your one-page printed query letter with an SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope) to:
Queries, American Profile
341 Cool Springs Blvd. Suite 400
Franklin, TN 37067
If you’ve been published before, include copies of your recent clips (published articles). The editors prefer stories that are not written in first-person. Article length can vary from 350 to 1,000 words, and payment is “competitive.”
You can sell photos here, too. See the “Photo Queries” page for more information: http://www.americanprofile.com/aboutus/photo.html
[Editor’s Note: Learn more about opportunities to profit from your travels (and even from your own home) in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel.]
Travel Writing Resources
How To Become A Travel Writer – The Easy Way
Easy Steps To Landing Your First Byline As A Travel Writer
Marketing For Travel Writers: 5 Ways To Get Started
22 Travel Story Ideas To Get You Published
