From the Editor’s Mouth: Spud Hilton of the San Francisco Chronicle

Spud Hilton and I met on the bus at the NATJA conference in October, and we had a rousing conversation about the ten worst ways to take travel photographs, ever. Spud, who is the travel editor of the San Francisco Chronicle and writer/editor of the Bad Lattitude blog at SFGate.com, isn't afraid to speak his mind or tell you exactly what he's looking for in good writing and photography. When he's not filling up the travel section at the newspaper, he's blogging about free beer on international flights, bachelorette stripper schools in Vegas, and where not to take photographs. His writing, which has taken him to five continents, has earned him five coveted Lowell Thomas awards. Check out his blog here!

What path led you to the position you have now? What's your background?

Honestly, I had been in journalism as a reporter and city editor for 10 years, but had never considered being a travel writer and had only been to 3 countries (including the U.S.) when I took the job. I had been copy editing feature sections at the (then) San Francisco Examiner and one day read a travel story that so moved something in me that, before I finished it, I was on the phone to book the trip. It occurred to me that being able to inspire people that way – to get them off their butts and see other places – was both attractive and necessary. I got into the department as a copy editor and page designer, but immediately read every word (then) travel editor John Flinn had ever written, as well as everything his influences had ever written (Cahill, Bryson, Morris, etc.). I offered up a good angle to a story, so he let me go. He started sending me places after that.

What qualities do you look for and admire in someone you hire to write material for your publication? Similarly, what mistakes do freelancers make in how they approach you and what do the good ones do right?

We operate on spec, so I only deal with finished manuscripts -- except for a very small group (6 writers) who have proven themselves with me and with the previous editor as being reliable: they know how to tell a story, they know what I’m looking for, they do their homework on what we’ve already done, they turn it in on time and, most of all, they know their stories have to have A POINT. Ninety percent of the manuscripts I get are, essentially, a re-hash of the writer’s diary. “I did this, then I did that, then I did this …”, which no matter how well it’s written, is still NOT storytelling. Narrative without a point or an angle is just talking. As far as freelancers go, the good news for writers with not a lot of experiences is this: I don’t care what you’ve done before; I only care if the story in front of me right now is any good. Veteran writers hate this because many want to coast on their credits, but some of the worst stories I’ve read came from longtime, established writers who have credits with the New York Times. Again, what the good ones do right is this: Have a point, know what that point is and write to that point.

Based on what you know in your position, what honest and unvarnished advice would you give to an aspiring freelancer who wanted to become a successful travel writer? (Besides, "Don't do it.")

Find a few others in a similar position to compare notes and manuscripts with. Everyone needs an editor – not just for grammar but to say “Sorry, but this is stupid” – and since freelancers don’t often have access to an editor, join a group and be each others’ editors. Also, take a class from people who are in the business of writing (for instance, at Book Passage, the teachers are working print and online editors), instead of from people who just make a business out of teaching travel writing. Lastly, be flexible. You might have put your heart and soul into a story, but to an editor it’s another in a line of million stories and his/her job is to make it as good as it can be and move on. The more flexible a writer is, the easier it is for everyone. It’s OK to stand your ground on some things, but pick your battles and get over being protective. Often, the biggest prima donas will turn in some of the worst copy – and argue over every word. Those people don’t work for me anymore.

Where do you see the future of newspaper travel writing as the new media landscape continues to evolve? What can writers do to prepare for these changes?

There will always be room for travel narratives (people love a story that transports them) along with the chunky, McNuggety “7 best places …” stories. Hopefully, the bloggosphere and online publications will evolve so that the talented writers (not just the highest hit-counters) rise to the top, especially in venues THAT PAY FOR MATERIAL. Writers should seek out venues that respect good writing and are willing to pay for it (even if only a little) and make sure that the facts of the story are bulletproof and attributed, not just cribbed off Wikipedia. How to prepare? READ! Find a writer you love and read every word they’ve written – twice, once for enjoyment and a second time to dissect it to see what the writer did.

The San Francisco Chronicle often publishes what we might call “travel narratives,” as opposed to practical guides or consumer-oriented pieces for trip planning. In your opinion, what makes a killer travel narrative and how does it differ from other subgenres of travel writing?

We do our share of “chunky bit” and consumer features, albeit with a different twist (“How to Travel with Sex Toys”), but our bread-and-butter are the narratives that entertain, inform, inspire the reader to travel and/or transport the reader to the place for a little while. Narrative is the only kind of writing that will take the reader along for the ride, but it’s important to remember that the story isn’t about the writer’s trip, it’s about the reader’s trip. (Too many writers don’t get that readers REALLY DON’T CARE about the writer. They don’t even read the byline. Readers want to know about the place; the writer is the guide who takes them there.)

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Spud Hilton is Editor of the San Francisco Chronicle’s weekly Travel Section, as well as writer and editor for the Bad Latitude blog at SFGate.com. His feature writing, photography and columns have appeared in more than 60 newspapers in North America – several of which are still publishing. He lectures around the country on travel, travel writing, travel photography and social media. He is on the faculty of the annual Book Passage Travel & Food Writing and Photography Conference, and is on the organizing committee for the annual Travel Bloggers Exchange (TBEX) conference.

Interview conducted in February, 2012 by Kristin Mock.

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