Normally, I would cut down a general interview about a destination like South Africa down to 2-3 minutes, but I left this one unedited, because Sthu was such a pleasure to interview. I have always suggested to site owners to have an elevator pitch of 15-30 seconds about his or her company, products, or services memorized to rattle off at the drop of a hat. This advice comes from the numerous people I have interviewed in the past that needed a lot of “encouragement” to get information about their products out.

Not only does Sthu come prepared but she is pleasant, covers her topics both obvious and less so seamlessly, handles the loud speakers next to us well, is enthusiastic, makes her homeland sound incredible, important and exciting with good humor throughout. She also did this on short notice, in between appointments, and I had only had to ask one question. I love that!

This interview is about seven minutes, but I found it worth noting her many strengths as an interviewee.

So I blew it. I wanted to develop Travel. Write. Live where I could talk about travel and writing that fell outside of a traditional travel article, something that explored the art of writing and included thoughts about how travel and writing pertained to life, but I blew it.

It was not that I ran out of creativity or topics. Instead, I started worrying about social media and keeping up with the googles. I found myself rushing to get articles done before they were fully fleshed out, because other bloggers were spitting out new content at alarming rates. I found myself spending more time partnering with legions of people trying to keep up with the googles, most of whom ran sites I only felt so-so about, and I strived to be more like them. I worried about competing with large corporations and SEO masters so my little site might be found by the masses, as if I were selling get rich quick schemes or miracle floor-wax. I also became less willing to point out how some of these corporations and organizations are ruining travel, so I might play “the game” with them. Travel. Write. Live. became more like a banal video game than a useful site, or, at least, a site I could be proud of writing. It all became a huge mistake on my part.

Once I figured out the mistake. I stopped maintaining Travel. Write. Live. I needed to step back and regroup, think about what I hoped to accomplish. I have done that. I have some clarity of vision. It has taken eight months to finally write this little article.

During this time I thought about what I wanted to do, how I wanted to rededicate myself to travel writings and life. The answers were easy.

1. Never again publish a story that is not completely baked. This might mean fewer stories in the beginning.
2. Let knowledgeable experts chime in and help us become better at traveling, writing, and even leading a better life.
3. Promote travel, but not always. I love travel, but there are plenty of companies that make the process of doing it terrible. Expect to hear a rant about the TSA in the future.
4. Criticize, when necessary.
5. Because I intend to explore social issues as it relates to travel, writing and leading a better life, TWL will now become “the No BS Blog about life.”

I know, maybe it does not seem like much, and do not get me wrong; there are still a number of stories that I am proud of presenting on TWL. I just am not willing to publish duds to keep up with the googles. I will take a few more chances.

Welcome to the new thoughts on travel, writing and life on Travel Write Live.

So how does an unfair perception get fixed? The folks at several of the Marriotts in Mexico came to pose this exact question to me and several other prominent travel writers in Los Angeles. The answer? Discuss traveler’s concerns head on. This is what I tried to do in my interviews with Christopher Calabrese, the Vice President and General Manager of the JW Marriott Cancun Resort and Spa and Casamagna Cancun Resort Marriott, and Dennis Whitelaw, the General Manager of Casamagna Puerto Vallarta Resort and Spa.

Please pardon my glibness during the interviews. I admit that I have traveled to many places that have had less than a savory reputation — so have many other traveling friends. I have never even heard of something that would be more than some mild irritation during all of those travels. So I have little concern about the prospect of visiting Mexico, but many others do — these interviews are for them.

To see my interview with Chris In Video: Is Cancun Safe

To see my interview with Dennis In Video: Is Puerto Vallarta Safe?

For more about Mexico on ITKT

Sadly, in travel writing and in my personal experience of building In The Know Traveler, the line could not be further from the truth. Miracles just don’t show up. Success comes from hard work and a little luck that feels a lot like more hard work.

So with all the issues I have had with ITKT over the years, I have made a list to help future travel bloggers to debunk some the myths that come with the enthusiastic starting, and maintaining, of your own blog.

1. I Can Write a Good Article in a Minute.

Well, this one is true — at least for poorly written stories. Good writing takes time and planning. Good travel writing takes an eye for details and an experience to inspire others to travel. Few can spit out a good travel story

2. I Love Travel and Will Always have Interesting Things to Say.

This sure wasn’t true for me. Sometimes great ideas take forever to form into a story that others will appreciate. Other times, the pictures in the writer’s head never quite make it to paper. As a passionate reader of travel writing, I receive tons of submissions with this exact problem. I can just tell there is an exciting experience the writer wants to get down on paper that never quite becomes an exciting experience for the reader.
To my series to Avoid Travel Writing Rejection

3. I Will Start a Blog and Trips Will Fall from the Sky.

Most press trips and media invites will come because you have developed your site beyond something ordinary and have done so consistently over time. Don’t expect things to happen over night. Remember, while many PR firms and NTOs have a hard time filing out press trips, the hard part of not finding the warm body, but a quality writer. This means your blog will need to be perceived as quality next to your fellow writers. A site will have to stand out.
For tips on How to Get on a Press Trip

4. I Will Make Money.

Probably not for a while. I would argue that it is probably much easier to get a press trip that might cost the host $10-20,000 than it is to get that host company to pay $100 a month on an ad online. Most affiliate programs suck, which leaves using your brain more than traditional programs. Be prepared to think outside the box and convey ideas that set yourself apart and make you attractive to potential media partners.

5. My Friends Will Help Me Promote My Travel Blog — They are My Friends, Right?

Wrong. Maybe a few friends will help a little, for a little while. Unless you have friends who love the subject you are writing expect minimal help and to build your own community of like-minded people who like the information you are presenting.

The main focus for this week is reaching out to companies that may make good media partners with ITKT in the future. I hate self-promotion, and have convinced myself that I am bad at it. So I have decided to prove myself wrong by going for it and making calls on my own behalf, walking a line between terror and euphoria.

I have purposefully added part of my to-do list here in order to make sure I do them. I promise to bust myself when I do not — like this Monday night launch of a Sunday Check-In.

Phone

I have set up phone appointments with several national and regional tourism boards for potential partnerships for the beginning of the week. I am also conducting a phone interview with the fabulous Jenny Block for my upcoming project to help writers and bloggers break into the industry side of the industry he or she hopes to write about.

Video

I am having a sit down with the press relations head of a major tourism board on Tuesday to talk about what it takes to get onto the list of writers on the radar of a national tourism board’s invite list.

Reading

This week, I have received another nine submissions (not including regular contributors) and I am still a few weeks behind, even with two readers and a new editor.

Writing

I am working on a new story about Japan as a guest blogger. I have received a number of these invitations over the last few weeks and it is about time I take advantage of the link backs.

Networking

I have been looking at Stumble Upon this last week, which is an interactive social networking system that makes going viral astonishingly fast while appearing completely random. I have attempted to play along in the attempt to crack the code and remove some of the randomness.

So far, I am starting to see how people can work together to create fast exposure for each other. However, I am not sure of the value of the traffic created, so far. SU can make a story go viral quickly and I have had several ITKT and TWL stories get several hundred page views in the matter of moments. While this sounds good on paper, I do question the long-term value of many of the readers coming from SU. Most did not stay on the site long (far less time and far fewer pages looked at than a regular TWL reader with zero newsletter sign ups). So while the fast blast of numbers appears impressive at first, I have not seen the potential for a community building aspect yet. And that’s my future week.

For more on Jenny Block

Photo of art work by Axul of Ataco, El Salvador

What do you plan to accomplish this week in your own projects?

As a traveler, I lugged around that rucksack with all those international flag patches on it everywhere I went. I shared bagettes with other travelers and ordered extra butter to save money (one bagette and four plates, por favor). I slept on the floor of train stations and the bunk beds of youth hostels. I carried my own toilet paper and cans of sardines – just in case. Travel still happens after forty, but things have changed.

Food

The game of seeing how little I can eat in order to save money will never happen again. I have learned that fine dining has its place and I want to make sure I have a variety of locale faire. I still shop at local markets and buy food from side of the road push carts.

Accommodations

I know there are some spectacular youth hostels. However, my last dorm-style youth hostel stay was in Reykjavik Iceland. I slept in the top bunk and was awoken by an 18 year-old student who was urinating on the 72 year-old-backpacker sleeping below me. I vowed never to rest in a dorm room again.

Packing

I finally have a big-boy bag. I call it luggage. It has wheels. I leave it in my hotel room and unpack it. Although, I still never check it at the airport

Speed

I am much more will to take my time, but less willing to take my time on the slowest option from getting from one place to another. I think I once took a train that was pulled by a mule instead of the ultra sleek bullet train in order to save $9.

Planning

On my first backpacking trip ever. I arrived in London without a place to stay and never once made reservation. Now, I call ahead.

Of course all of this has to do with money and how I choose to spend it. I know that if pressed I can live quite happily on next to nothing. I am proud of that fact and have proved it many times. However, I have also learned that travel and adventure can take many forms. I look forward to even more of the second half. The old rucksack will go to my daughter who may one day want to see beyond her own back yard.

Sadly, the Internet has changed the world of writing. Print publishing is crumbling and print money advertising that at one time paid writers well, is quickly disappearing — making magazines thinner and needing fewer writers. Advertisers are still learning what value advertising on the Internet means. Articles are getting shorter. Tons of new online magazines are popping up daily. Writers are looking for new ways to break into a once solid field. Plus the world economy sucks.

By the time I found myself at the bottom of the comments section, I found myself defending writing on the cheap against a writer who finds the practice of writing for little pay “laughable.” He made some good points about starting your own blog and that the money exchange is simply not worth the time and effort.

Truthfully, I totally agree. The money compensation is not worth the effort. However, money and the ability to do your own blog should not be the only deciding factors in whether you write for peanuts, or even free.

Here is my short list of questions to ask yourself before offering your considerable talents for less money than you are worth.

Will I get something out of the experience?

I have written for free or cheap numerous times. The money is never worth it. However, the relationships are always worth it. So are new experiences? Getting edited by someone else is important. So is being on assignment. So is having to hit deadlines.

Can the publication open doors?

Does the publication have enough experience, connections, industry respect, exposure or something else that will move you further along in your writing career. As an example most writers with the Huffington Post get paid zilch, but the prestige is worth it to most writers. If you are on the fence with a publication, ask questions.

Can I get something instead of money?

I have frequently sent my writers on press trips and media events as a thank you whenever possible. I have also worked with people interested in doing product reviews in exchange for, well, products. Special note: I would never ask an editor for a free trip as compensation. For more on How to Get on a Press Trip.

Can I get link backs to help promote myself?

If you own your own site and want more exposure, getting link backs in your stories bio is always a good idea. Having link backs coming from a Google respected is site is even better. Look for sites with PR2 and higher.

Does the site have lots of other writers?

Exposure is exposure. A site that feature a lot of writers usually has a more developed fan base and more eyeballs seeing your writing.

Do you really want to be a blogger?

Being a blogger can be great. However, most blogs simply fizzle out because most people do not realize the effort it takes to get one off the ground. Bloggers must have something consistent to say about a particular subject and enough people who want to read it, must spend time marketing (because there will be competition), must develop a focus (what makes the writer unique), must deal with social networking to find readers, maintaining readership with newsletters, contest and other reasons to return to the writer’s blog, and then do about a million other things.

In the end, it is a good idea to find out what you are comfortable doing for little or no money and make personal guidelines that you can live with for your writing future.

I had just emailed a woman information she did not want to hear. I had to inform her the last cupcake was sold and I had no more cupcakes (I am choosing to use cupcakes as an analogy because the whole story is long and boring and cupcakes are delicious. FYI, this had nothing to do with writing or travel life — just mundane living stuff).

I knew the call was going to be trouble because immediately after sending my cupcake-less email, I had received multiple, increasingly hostile, emails from her in the previous ten minutes before my cell phone frantically vibrated. She was sad about not having a cupcake. She wanted me to give her a cupcake, anyway. She demanded a cupcake. Knowing this, I answered the phone anyway. I got more than what I had expected. She complained and yelled and went crazy. I tried to explain but she didn’t want explanations. She wanted a cupcake –- even though they were all gone.

After twenty long minutes, I told her there were other bakeries and other cupcakes and wished her well in her cupcake quest. Later I received yet another long, upset email. The smart thing would have been to say nothing, but I had to respond. It was a compulsion and I had to answer her letter. Also, I was annoyed. I went to write an angry letter of my own.

Here are the stages of writing out the anger in an angry letter:

The First Draft

Here is where the finger pointing, judgment, sarcasm and cleverness all shine. There are many flowing sentences and hundreds of unnecessary words. The key descriptive word here is “rambling.” I keep the first draft down to three pages.

First Revision

I really do not want to be mean. So, I remove all the mean stuff (and edit down to a single page). However, I want to prove I am right, because I am right. I want to defend giving away the last cupcake. It was my damn cupcake, after all.

Second Revision

Perhaps I am being defensive, I ask myself. I probably am. I rewrite the letter again. I want a softer approach, because really I understand. I like cupcakes too. However, there is something to be learned here and I want to show her that I care and I am a good guy.

Final Revision

I write a letter filled with altruism and virtue, because I am a good guy, right? I realized that during all my rewrites, because no one gets the last cupcake all the time. My explaining why I have no cupcake for her will not fix her need for a cupcake. I am only writing this letter for me, which requires very little explanation.

The Actual Letter

Dear Jerky Jerkface,

Again, I am sorry it didn’t work out and I wish you all the best..
Devin

Note to reader: Jerky Jerkface was replaced with the recipients real name.

I felt so much better.

I did not shoot for the stars, but I wanted to say thank you to the people who have been reading, commenting and, in general, showing an interest in travel and writing. So, thank you! Welcome to my 100th blog post. Here are the latest headlines in honor of 100.

In The Know Traveler Gets a Face Lift

Beyond the long overdue cosmetic upheaval and navigation redesign, I have added some functionality to those leaving comments and visitors looking for linkbacks to their own blogs by adding ComLuv, or CommentLuv. ComLuv is a system that allows visitors to leave a link to their personal blog posts within the comment section of any ITKT post. There is also an increasing community of sites using this service. I recommend using ComLuv any time you leave a comment. I have also added TwitterLink (also from ComLuv, which offers optional twitter contact information on all comments. I have found them both to be useful in developing an online community. It is my small way of giving back to In The know Traveler readers.

Honesty Till it Hurts

Because it is important that readers have an honest understanding about whose words they are reading, I wanted to offer a little more of myself on the Meet the Editor page. I have taken a small handful of thoughts that have started some compelling conversations and an occasional “frank exchange of ideas” (a quote from my friend Peter). I offer these ideas not as a reason to argue, but as a reason to be more honest about myself in a very public forum — these damn Internets. I want it all to just hang out. Yes, it is a gamble. I hope you won’t hold it against me and even consider challenging some of my ideas. There will be more “outrageous statements” on the way.

My New eBook

Because writers have been asking me about breaking in to the travel industry (and other industries) for years, I have decided to boil my successes down and mistakes to create a practical guide for getting the most from the travel world from the inside-out. I have reached out to my travel friends who are experts in their fields and who have agreed to help me give readers a step forward in the right direction at getting what you want from a travel writing hobby or career. Learn exactly what the travel industry is looking for from writers and know the rules of the system to help put your best foot forward. This information will come directly from decision makers for national tourism offices, media contacts specialists and public relations firms who work directly with the media. What are the mistakes writers make, and how can you avoid them.

While I have yet to come up with a name, I have been putting together interviews with some of the most experienced and important experts in the travel industry to offer you advice and give you a leg up on the travel writing competition.

And now to march forward into the next 100 posts with more travel philosophy, travel writing tips, and living the writers life. Thank you so much for being part of this trip with me.

Happy travels,
devin

To be honest, the thought of change scares me. While In The Know Traveler has experienced it’s fair share of upgrades over the last five years, this redesign is far more than what I planned. However, it is time to make a change. I now realize how much I have learned about techy content management and web sites, so this transition has been moving faster and more easily than I expected. Still I could use some help from the discriminating eyes of enthusiastic travelers.

I need to know what you like. What you don’t. What you would like to see. And how ITKT can help you travel more, and better.

If you are interested in a sneak peek at the new ITKT and want to offer your two cents (I hope you do), I am a grateful audience.

The reliable In The Know Traveler, comfy old-school design

A friend recently described ITKT as “Web 0.0″ and “a sincere effort to turn back time.” Okay, I can take a hint. It has been a great five years with this design, but it is time for a change.

And the new vision — so far, ITKT’s new paint job

Of course, there are still a million small things that need to be added and changed, but I am looking for an official launch in the next week or two. Of course, I would love to hear any thoughts feedback and even blunt criticism.

On a side note, I am still deciding what my 100th blog post should be about. It is a difficult process to boil down an intense time of passionate blogging into a single post, but I will try. It has been a fun time.

Keep traveling. Keep writing.
devin