This week I'm breaking down something almost nobody talks about: why your email subject lines might be the real reason editors aren't replying to your pitches (or even opening them).

I'm sharing the exact subject line formulas I use (including one that took multiple rewrites before it finally landed a commission), the difference between a subject line and a headline that almost every writer gets wrong, and how to tell whether your subject lines are the problem in the first place.

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Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This week I'm joined by Fiona Tapp, award-winning travel writer, editor, and my co-coach inside The Travel Writer Accelerator.

Fiona is a Londoner who's been based in Ottawa, Canada for 20 years, which makes her the perfect person to unpack exactly how press trips and pitching work differently on each side of the world.

We get into all of it, including:

• Why Australian writers are expected to confirm commissions before they say yes to a trip (and how to handle it when you can't)
• Why North American writers almost never pitch before a trip and what editors actually want instead
• The document Fiona sends PRs who push back on her - and why it works every time
• The unspoken triangle between writers, editors and PRs (and why the press trip is almost treated like a secret in North America)
• How many stories a good freelancer should realistically expect to place from a single trip, and what's changed in the PR world post-COVID and what it means for your relationships with PRs.

Plus: payment terms and the hidden costs of press trips

🎓 Fiona and I work together helping writers land regular travel writing commissions inside The Travel Writer Accelerator — find out more here

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From Silence to National Geographic and BBC Travel: Jade Raykovski's Travel Writing Breakthrough

For years, Jade Raykovski pitched without seeing much success.

Rejections, when she got them, were rare - mostly she heard nothing at all.

Then something shifted, and in a relatively short space of time, Jade went from wondering if travel writing was ever going to happen for her to landing commissions with National Geographic, BBC Travel, and a growing list of other publications.

In this episode, we unpack exactly how that happened.

We talk about:

• How a seven-week solo trip to Europe, taken just days after Jade quit her job, turned into 10+ commissioned articles
• The moment a small mention of a local festival in a pitch became the seed for a National Geographic commission
• How a rejection on one story idea led to a BBC Travel commission on the same idea — and what changed in between
• What it actually feels like opening an email from a major publication's editor

If Jade's story resonated with you and you'd like support building this kind of momentum in your own travel writing, applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator (TWA) are open now. Apply here to join The Travel Writer Accelerator

Applications for The Travel Writer Accelerator are open, and over the past few weeks I've been receiving lots of questions about the program.

If you've been considering applying, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at how the program works and whether it's the right fit for you.

1:51 — Do you have a shorter version of TWA?

Why I moved from one-day pitch workshops to a 12-month accelerator, and why building momentum in travel writing takes longer than most people think.

7:08 — How long will it take to get results?

What "results" actually means, realistic expectations, and what the writers getting the best outcomes inside TWA are doing consistently.

8:44 — Am I too inexperienced for the program?

For aspiring travel writers who haven't studied journalism, don't know editors, or haven't pitched a travel story before.

9:41 — I've already been published. Is TWA just for beginners?

Why many of the writers inside TWA have already been published and are looking to build more momentum, stronger editor relationships, and regular commissions.

10:37 — Won't AI make travel writing obsolete?

Why I believe travel writing is uniquely positioned in an AI-driven world and what kind of stories editors are looking for right now

12:22 — Editors only commission writers they already know. Is it even worth trying?

How writers break into new publications and why strong angles and compelling pitches still matter.

13:24 — What exactly do you get inside TWA?

A complete walkthrough of the program, including:

• The TWA curriculum
• Personal essay publication support
• Story Blueprint Training
• Pre-Trip Blueprint
• PR and hosting training
• Publication Hit Lists
• Weekly pitch critiques
• Monthly coaching and Q&A calls
• Community support and feedback

25:39 — Who is TWA for?

The three types of writers who tend to thrive inside the program:

• Published but stuck travel writers
• Professional writers transitioning into travel writing
• Reinvention seekers looking for a creative and meaningful second act

If you still have questions after listening, I'd love to hear from you.

Reach out and let's chat about whether The Travel Writer Accelerator is the right fit for you.

Susan Reoch is a UX copywriter who went to Nepal with her dad and came home with a story she couldn't stop thinking about.

She had no travel writing bylines. She didn't even know what a personal essay was. And yet six months later, her piece was published the most widely read masthead in Australia.

In this episode, Susan and I walk through exactly how it happened: the trip, the angle that almost didn't make it, the early draft that needed a complete overhaul, and the moment she sent me the vomit emoji when the editor said yes.

If you've ever wondered whether a personal essay could be your way into travel writing (spoiler: it might be the smartest move you make), this one's for you.

📖 Read Susan's published essay here

🎓 The Travel Writer Accelerator opens for applications soon - find out more here.

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That feeling when an editor doesn't reply to your pitch? We need to talk about it. This week on Inside Travel Writing we're unpacking why silence and rejection erode confidence for so many writers... and how to stop letting it with super practical advice (that really works).

Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here.

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This week’s episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the smartest (and easiest) way to break into travel writing - especially if you don’t have bylines yet.

If you’ve been wondering how to land your first commission and get published without constantly traveling or having a huge online presence, this episode breaks down what actually matters and the simple steps to start.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻

See how aspiring travel writers have landed commissions with Conde Nast Traveler, National Geographic, The Sydney Morning Herald and more here.

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy

This week's episode of Inside Travel Writing is all about the one thing that will determine whether you ever get invited on a press trip (and it's probably not what you think).

If your inbox is quiet and the invitations just aren't coming, there's usually a very specific reason why. In this episode, we get into what that reason actually is and the practical steps to change it.

Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review! For more resources, visit www.thefreelancersyear.com

Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: @thefreelancersyear

Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy