Whether you’re relaxing on a beach in Cancun, exploring the forests of New Zealand, or just visiting your hometown museum, you could be earning a tidy sum on the side…

Just by recording your observations.

So this Easter, why not write your first travel piece?

There are few publications these days that don’t have a regular travel section. This means there are hundreds of editors seeking travel stories each week. Simply by reporting what you get up to on your next holiday, you could make at least R5,000.

Here’s how to do it.

Get a fresh perspective

Editors are always on the lookout for new angles on well-worn destinations, or original pieces on up-and-coming locations.

Do some homework on your holiday destination and find out the hot places to see. If you are online, go to www.travelmole.com, which has lots of up-to-date travel news. Also try www.whatsonwhen.com for worldwide listings of arts and sporting events.

Know your target

Read the travel sections of your target publications. Get an idea of their style, the length of articles they usually run and whether, for example, they are keen on adventurous or more family orientated features. If a newspaper or magazine has recently run an article on your destination, then it probably won’t be interested in your piece, but another publication may be desperate for it.

When in Rome…

Once on holiday, throw yourself into the spirit of things: Eat the goat’s testicles, dance the tango and drink the mead made with spit… Then simply write down what happened. It all makes for great copy.

Be inquisitive

Good local knowledge is vital. Ask lots of questions to discover amusing anecdotes and information about the area. One invaluable tip I’ve used time and again is rather than asking a local if they can recommend a good bar/restaurant/beach (you’ll probably be sent off to the most touristy place in town) you should ask them instead where do they go to eat, drink or hang out?

Knock them out with the opening paragraph

Kick off your article with your juiciest, wittiest, most audacious point and grab the editor’s attention in your first few sentences. Avoid diary-style waffle The “and then we did this and then we did that…” step-by-step accounts of your summer holidays will probably hit the editor’s bin faster than you can say “and then we had eggs for breakfast”. Ask a trusted friend to help edit out all the boring links and emphasise the good stuff.

Don’t over-plug

Always bear in mind that you are writing a balanced article and not a glossy tourist brochure. Readers want an honest account of your travels. So if the mulligatawny soup tasted revolting and there were cockroaches in the bathroom, say so.

Gather hard facts while you’re away

Most travel pieces need to be backed up with a file of names, addresses and prices – including places to stay, restaurants, the airline and tour company that got you there. Believe me, it’s a lot easier to collect this information on the spot. Use the spell check and word count If you misspell something in English, why will the editor trust that you’ve spelt Hacienda San Jorge correctly or, for that matter, have your other facts straight?

The one thing guaranteed to drive your editor up the wall is not sticking to the word count. If they ask for 750 words, give them 750.

Contacting editors and selling your piece

Travel editors are often inundated so your initial approach or ‘query’ is vital in selling your piece. Track down the travel editor’s email address and send them a brief message, outlining your idea for the article and pointing out any special angles you have in mind.

Don’t try to sell your piece to lots of newspapers or magazines at the same time – you could find yourself in a terrible mess. The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook (published annually by A&C Black, around R120.00 from Exclusive Books) is an indispensable guide for freelancers, with names and contact details of every newspaper and magazine in South Africa, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK, plus advice on issues like tax and copyright.

And finally: Talking money

Most publications have a set rate of pay (usually per 1,000 words) which will save you having to ask any of the awkward “how much are you going to pay me?” questions. Visit http://media.gn.apc.org/ rates/index.html, listing rates for the job that will give you an idea of how much you can expect to be paid on publication.