Getting off to the Best Start: How to Write a Winning Travel Writing Opener

Never underestimate the power of a good opening line. First paragraphs — even just first sentences — will dictate your reader engagement. While the headline hooks your reader’s attention, it’s the introduction that reels them in.

Travel writing relies heavily on storytelling (we spoke about this already in a previous blog post), but it’s important to remember that good stories don’t always begin at the beginning.

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Photography: A Collector’s Perspective

Few art forms have undergone as much upheaval as photography. Changes in technology over the last century-and-a-half have regularly thrown the medium into flux. And yet the impact of a great photographic image remains.

Recently, we had the opportunity to discuss the medium of art photography with two of the world’s most influential photography collectors: the Chicago-based husband and wife, Richard and Ellen Sandor. The Sandors have been avid art collectors since the 1970s, and have amassed a stellar collection of around 2,500 pieces. The collection encompasses not only photography but also other artistic mediums, including new media and sculpture. During our in-depth interview with the prominent collecting couple, we spoke to them about photography as an art form, their own prized collection, their unique collecting philosophy and their views on the current photography market.

The resulting article was published in the most recent July-August edition of Private Air Luxury Homes Magazine. To find out exactly what the Sandors had to say, scroll down to read an extended excerpt from the feature article.

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Travel Writing Clichés to Avoid – Part 2

Clichés are rampant in travel writing. Melting pots, best-kept secrets and cities of contrasts proliferate. And while we believe these phrases can, on occasion, merit an airing, we can’t help but feel that some travel writers are simply choosing the path of least resistance – inserting these familiar and frequently used phrases rather than seizing an opportunity to be creative. We previously listed our dirty dozen of travel clichés on the blog, but that was only the beginning. Now’s the time to share even more worthy additions to the canon of travel writing cliché.

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Always Plan Ahead: Why Every Travel Company Needs an Editorial Calendar

In the past, we’ve discussed some of the content weapons every travel brand should have in their arsenal, from a company blog to the all-important style guide. And this time around, we’re focusing on another must-have: the editorial calendar. As the old saying goes, ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. It is advice we should all heed. Try to tackle a marathon without any training or embark on a desert trek without water and the outcome won’t be pretty.

If you’re looking to make a significant impact with your travel content, first you must make a travel content plan…

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