Sure, Travel Writing 2.0 is the best guide around to becoming a travel writer who actually makes money. But to learn how to write better, find new markets, or build a better blog, here are some other good books to check out.
Good Starting Points for Your Library of Writing Books
- (Lonely Planet) Travel Writing by Don George (2009)
- Travel Writing: See the World, Sell the Story by L. Peat O’Neill (2005)
- The Travel Writer’s Handbook by Louise Purwin Zobel and Jacqueline Harmon Butler (2006)
- Writing Away by Lavinia Spalding (2009)
- A Sense of Place by Michael Shapiro (2004)
- Do Travel Writers Go to Hell? by Thomas B. Kohnstamm
- Smile When You’re Lying by Chuck Thompson (2007)
- Writer’s Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing edited by Michelle Ruberg (2004)
- Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt-Thomas (2009)
- Telling True Stories by Mark Kramer and Wendy Call
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.
- Grammar Girl’s Quick & Dirty Tips for Better Writing
by Mignon Fog
- ProBlogger by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
- The Well-fed Writer by Peter Bowerman
- 31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse
- A Practical Guide to Going Digital by Christine Gilbert
E-books and Reports
- 31 Days to Build a Better Blog by Darren Rowse
- A Practical Guide to Going Digital by Christine Gilbert
Wooden Horse Publishing is a great resource and it’s hard to beat the value of what they sell. Their main product is a subscription to their database, which is constantly updated and has key contact information for editors at magazines. They also publish a series of short $5.95 reports by Meg Weaver on specific aspects of freelance writing. Here’s a partial list:
- Calendar Queries: How to Line Up a Steady Stream of Assignments for Next Year
- Writing Query Letters: Use the Same Proven, Customizable Letter this Veteran Writer Has Successfully Used for Years
- How to Send 50 Queries per Week. – Forget the Editors – How to Sell the People Who Really Count
You can find other good writing and querying e-books at WritersWeekly.com