W R I T I N G N O N - F I C T I O N / 25
Without some kind of a track record as a freelance article writer, it is unlikely that you would be invited by any travel company to take a free trip. Travelling light Travel books are a very different kettle of fish. They range from guidebooks produced by tourist boards to exciting tales of daring-do. The intrepid traveller who crosses deserts, scales mountains and shoots rapids equipped with little more than a change of underwear, a toothbrush and a blunt penknife will clearly have a fascinating tale to tell. It is, however, worth bearing in mind that, more often than not, our canny explorer already has a publishing contract signed and sealed before the toe of his or her walking boot hits the floor of the departure lounge at Heathrow airport. Guiding and informing For would-be travel writers, keen to master what is a highly specialised skill, travel guides such as the Lonely Planet series can be an excellent place to begin. Aimed at the independent, adventurous traveller, these practical guides offer their readers clear, down-to-earth information to support them with their journeys around the globe. At the time of writing, Lonely Planet are looking for authors who can meet the following criteria set out in the guidelines on their website: