How I Became a Professional Travel Writer (Lonely Planet, NatGeo, AFAR)

I didn’t study journalism. I didn’t know anyone in the industry. And I definitely didn’t understand how travel writers actually get published. But one pitch at a time, I went from writing small blog posts to landing guidebook assignments with Lonely Planet, published stories with National Geographic, AFAR, Fodor’s Travel, and more. In this video, I break down: How I got my first travel writing assignment The difference between cold pitching and warm pitching (and why it matters) How travel writing opened doors to press trips, brand work, and more If you want to pitch travel editors, land assignments, and get paid to write about travel, here are two resources I wish existed when I started: 1) The Jet Plane Crew ✈️ Subscribe to my Substack where I share calls for pitches, travel opportunities, and insider tips. https://jetplanecrew.substack.com 2) The Jet Set Pitch List ✍️ 80+ outlets currently commissioning travel stories, including rates, editor contacts, and what they’re looking for. https://jenonajetplane.thrivecart.com... Whether you want to write guidebooks, features, service pieces, or digital travel stories, I hope this gives you a clearer path into the industry. Let me know if you want a video on how to craft a pitch, how to find ideas editors love, or how to turn writing into creator work.