Travel writing tips from writer and editor Jennifer Bain
by Monte Stewart
Jennifer Bain was a travel editor at The Toronto Star before she took a buyout in April. She is currently freelancing as a travel writer and completing a master of fine arts degree in creative non-fiction.
In this Q&A, she discusses some of her experiences as a freelance writer and travel section editor and provides tips on how freelancers can get travel stories published.
What are editors looking for in travel story pitches?
Every editor and every publication is different. There’s no one answer fits all. Analyze every publication and learn every editor’s quirks. But the starting point: Why this story, why now, why you. I’m big on transparency. I attach a resume and links to recent clips. I say where I am based, when I travelled or expect to travel, and whether the trip was self-funded or a press trip that I have a spot on or need an assignment to secure a spot on. You’d be shocked at how many people ignore these basics.
What makes a good travel story?
Every story needs characters. It needs real people and quotes and colour and detail.
How did you get started in travel writing?
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Freelancers: “Level up” at the PWAC & CMG Freelance conference in Toronto September 20-23
Freelance writers, mark your calendars for the Professional Writers Association of Canada’s “Level Up: The Conference,” scheduled for September 20 to 23 in Toronto. For the first time, PWAC’s annual conference is being co-presented by CMG Freelance. The schedule of events is packed full of useful professional development and networking opportunities.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Freelancers Level Up” and the panels and workshops are aimed at helping freelancers reach the next level with their writing businesses. Subjects of this year’s panel discussions include contracts, collaboration, book writing, and social media, among others. The weekend will also include a “working tour” of the St. Lawrence Market and Kensington Market, which will give participants an opportunity to find story ideas while sightseeing, as well as a speed networking and mentorship session.
CMG Freelance branch president Don Genova will be leading several sessions, and will be joined for a workshop on contracts by independent journalist Alison Motluk. Tassia Poynter, an employment and labour lawyer with the CMG’s law firm, Cavalluzzo, will also be presenting during the conference.
At the end of the weekend, observers are welcome to attend PWAC’s Annual General Meeting, which will be held on Sunday, September 23.
For more information or to register for the conference, check out the 2018 conference program on PWAC’s website. And check back over the next few weeks as more speakers and panelists are confirmed.
Don’t wait too long to register: Early Bird registration ends on August 16.
Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 17-23
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- National Observer aiming to raise $1 million to build audience [J-Source]
- Can reporting on vulnerable people do more harm than good? [J-Source]
- Trust in local news shaken over racetrack controversy in B.C.’s Cowichan Valley [The Discourse]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Visual storytelling tips from creators of Humans of New York [Journalism.co.ik]
- 4 Ways Reading “Bad Writing” Can Actually Make You a Stronger Writer [The Write Life]
- A day in the life of Maryn McKenna [Open Notebook]
- CJR Special Report: Photojournalism’s moment of reckoning [CJR]
- As local newsrooms shrink, college journalists fill in the gaps [Poynter]
- How to create a successful podcast in five steps [Newsrewired]
Recently on Story Board:
- It’s time for government to act on a growing abuse of workers: As Ottawa considers revisions to federal labour standards, it’s time for a reckoning: thousands of workers in this country are wrongly and deliberately misclassified as ‘independent contractors’ and they’re being ripped off. And so is the federal government. Tax coffers are likely out millions of dollars because of the sham…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
It’s time for government to act on a growing abuse of workers
Why Canada should follow others and take on fake ‘independent contractors’
An op-ed by Lise Lareau, Canadian Media Guild and Chris Roberts, Canadian Labour Congress
As Ottawa considers revisions to federal labour standards, it’s time for a reckoning: thousands of workers in this country are wrongly and deliberately misclassified as ‘independent contractors’ and they’re being ripped off. And so is the federal government. Tax coffers are likely out millions of dollars because of the sham.
The scheme is not new. But it’s growing – and now pervasive in such wide-ranging industries as construction, IT, academia, media and the new so-called ‘gig’ economy. What is new is that other Western countries, governments and regulators are cracking down.
Just last month, the California Supreme Court tightened up the definition of independent contractor dramatically, and the Irish government proposed a ‘Protection of Employment Bill’ aimed at what they call ‘bogus self-employment’. This year, Ontario placed the onus on employers to prove a worker is not an employee and put 175 new inspectors in place to monitor workplaces. So some change is on the horizon, but more is needed.
Employers have many reasons for pretending that their workers are independent contractors. It’s cheaper and easier. There are fewer obligations, next to no basic standards to meet – and there’s been little oversight by government to ensure correct classification.
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Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 10-16
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Public broadcasting, private boardrooms: Inside the push to put workers on CBC’s board of directors [J-Source]
- Vice Canada hit with round of layoffs [J-Source]
- Business Boost: 10 Ways Writers Can Beat the Summer Slowdown [PWAC Toronto]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- 3 ways to build a work-life balance [Freelancers Union]
- Boss Of Northside Fest & Brooklyn Mag Has Refused To Pay Freelancers For Years, Ex-Employees Say [Gothamist]
- Using true crime to teach Indigenous history: Reporter Connie Walker on ‘Finding Cleo’ [CJR]
- The Freelance Whisperer Explains How He Built a Full-Time, Jet-Setting Career [The Freelancer]
- 6 essential tips for beginning freelancers [Freelancers Union]
- 3 Times I Haven’t Been Paid and What They All Had in Common [The Freelancer]
Recently on Story Board:
- 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #36 — Sharon J. Riley: Sharon J. Riley got her start in journalism as an intern at Harper’s magazine. Researching and fact checking for the publication gave her a foundation in journalism from which to start writing her own feature stories…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #36 — Sharon J. Riley
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life.
Sharon J. Riley got her start in journalism as an intern at Harper’s magazine. Researching and fact checking for the publication gave her a foundation in journalism from which to start writing her own feature stories.
Her writing has appeared in publications such as The Walrus, Maisonneuve, The Tyee, and Harper’s itself, among others.
Her recent Walrus feature Rise of the Robots included interviews with two dozen truck drivers from across North America about the development of autonomous trucking technology and what it might mean for their jobs.
Sharon took the time to speak with Story Board recently about the pains of pitching, the importance of finding a freelance community, and the self-imposed challenges that come from being a freelancer without home wifi.
A lot of your projects are big and ambitious. How do you keep yourself motivated when you’re trying to get a new feature underway?
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Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer July 4-9
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- The Discourse hosts series of workshops to improve coverage of refugee stories [J-Source]
- CMG Freelance members gain access to National NewsMedia Council support [CWA Canada]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Law helps freelancers collect from deadbeats [The Villager]
- “You good?” The importance of checking up on a fellow freelancer [Freelancers Union]
- For many journalists, the bonds formed in the newsroom remain long after they leave [Poynter]
- The Globe and Mail is slipping a little extra context into its stories (while explaining its editorial thinking along the way) [Nieman Lab]
- 10 portfolio and publishing platforms for freelancers [Journalism.co.uk]
- What to do when clients don’t pay their invoices [Freelance Writing Jobs]
- 6 Great Portfolio Sites for Freelance Writers [The Write Life]
- How to leverage your passion to launch a successful freelancing career [Freelancers Union]
Recently on Story Board:
- Factual TV workers summer social in Toronto July 19: If you work in factual TV in the Toronto area you’re invited to a social night hosted by the Canadian Media Guild. Come and catch up with colleagues and friends, meet some new ones, and find out what’s happening in the industry…
- The Born Freelancer Attends a CBC Info Session Hosted by Field and Post: Two hundred or so independent writers and producers are attending an information session with an impressive panel of seven CBC executives flown in from Toronto. We are there to learn directly what CBC’s top executives are thinking when it comes to developing and pitching new content for its numerous video platforms…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
Factual TV workers summer social in Toronto July 19
If you work in factual TV in the Toronto area you’re invited to a social night hosted by the Canadian Media Guild.
This event is scheduled for Thursday, July 19 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Bier Markt King West (600 King St W). The social night is open to all and free to attend but please RSVP on this Eventbrite page. Drinks and snacks will be served.
Come and catch up with colleagues and friends, meet some new ones, and find out what’s happening in the industry. The CMG will also have free copies of our Guide to Working in Canadian Factual TV available.
The Born Freelancer attends a CBC info session hosted by Field and Post
This series of posts by the Born Freelancer shares personal experiences and thoughts on issues relevant to freelancers. Have something to add to the conversation? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
The scene: A downtown Vancouver conference centre during a rainy Friday afternoon early last month. Two hundred or so independent writers and producers are attending an information session with an impressive panel of seven CBC executives flown in from Toronto, hosted by Vancouver’s Field and Post with the participation of The Development Collective.
We are there to learn directly what CBC’s top executives are thinking when it comes to developing and pitching new content for its numerous video platforms.
While not focused on freelancing opportunities per se (being more about looking at creating opportunities for content creators and producers to partner with CBC in developing new programming) there is still much for this freelance writer to hear about and to take in.
While waiting to fill up, the room buzzes with friendly industry chatter. There is a real sense of community. And according to Field and Post’s Robert Hardy, that’s exactly Field and Post’s purpose.
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Off the Wire: News for the Canadian media freelancer June 26-July 3
Once a week, we gather stories about the media business, journalism, writing, communications, and freelancing—with a Canadian focus—and share them in Off the Wire. Who needs a water cooler?
From Canada:
- Torstar cutting 11 full-time, 10 part-time staff at StarMetro in Toronto [Globe and Mail]
- Journalism organizations condemn criminal charges against two community journalists [J-Source]
- Feds must take action to stop Postmedia destruction of local news [CWA Canada]
- Postmedia to close more local newspapers, cut staff cost by 10 per cent [J-Source]
From The U.S. and beyond:
- Getting used to the sound of your own voice: 4 tips for podcasting beginners [Journalism.co.uk]
- How the Globe and Mail blew its news meetings wide open [Poynter]
- Capital Gazette journalist on Twitter: ‘Please understand, we do all this to serve our community.’ [Poynter]
- 10 overlooked press freedom groups that deserve support [CJR]
- Women in public-facing journalism jobs are exhausted by harassment [Poynter]
- 10 vital elements to making your freelance website superb [Freelance Writing Jobs]
- Why you should consider writing a book: Yes, you! [Freelancers Union]
- How to Stick to a Schedule When You Work From Home [New York Times]
Recently on Story Board:
- CMG Freelance members gain access to National NewsMedia Council support: As part of a new agreement between the two organizations, CMG Freelance members are now able to access the National NewsMedia Council’s pre-publication support and ethics advice…
- Take the Writers’ Union of Canada’s 2018 income survey: Canada’s national organization of professionally published book authors is conducting a survey of authors’ incomes. It’s designed to try and help the union understand how current industry conditions are impacting writers’ incomes…
Spot a story you think we should include in next week’s Off the Wire? Email the link to editor@thestoryboard.ca or tweet us at @storyboard_ca.
