To get started, here are 6 must read tips you can use to inspire us. Ready?
Great titles sell the story.
When was the last time you just had to grab a magazine off the shelf and read it? This is exactly the effect you should try to have on your readers.
Aim for short, descriptive titles that inspire, interest or engage the reader right away. When it comes to Barclaycard Travel Community, travel story titles should be less than 40 characters (or it cuts off with an ellipsis.) Here are a few examples:
• Amazing Rock-Climbing in Vermont
• Yikes! A Close Call with Va Wildlife
• Life Lessons X-Country from Pa to Ca
• Girls’ Day Out at Arizona’s Mesa Spa
Photos are a must have.
There’s a reason that photos get 53% more likes on Facebook than any other type of post. People love to see your adventures. Go ahead and make them envious by adding your favorite pictures to every travel story you write.
Not sure which photos to add? Pick the ones that show you in action or include an incredible view. Signs, entrances and general information shots are good too. However, stay away from blurry pictures and portraits of the family standing somewhere.
One more tip on great photos: if someone can picture themselves in the shot, they will immediately connect emotionally with your image. That means landscapes top the charts for most people.
Don’t be afraid of details.
If you feel a little overwhelmed by how many ways you traveled, restaurants you ate at and tourist attractions you enjoyed, just break up your trip into multiple categories.
Remember that you control how your information is organized. You can post multiple pictures for each attraction and title the story, “A Breath-Taking Day at the Taj Mahal, “then title your next story, “Three Days in Rajasthan, India.”
Narrative reels us in.
Everyone loves a good story. Try your hand at being a National Geographic reporter and tell us something interesting that happened to you. Use action verbs, lots of adjectives and let your personality shine through your work.
Often, the best travel stories are how you resolved an issue, language barriers or miscommunications with reservations. Try to stay away from blaming and negativity. Stick to fun, funny stuff that describes your emotions.
Mind your p’s and q’s.
No one expects you to have perfect grammar. However, if your writing is unclear or confusing, it will bore your readers. Read over your work carefully to make sure it makes sense. Have someone else read your story if you are trying to explain something difficult.
Make every day an adventure.
If you don’t know what to write about, think about the last time you went absolutely anywhere. From a day at the zoo to a birthday in a favorite restaurant, it might make a great travel story. Include details like how you got there and what you ate.
For example, maybe your family headed to the park for a picnic. Did you hike any trails? See some wildlife? You’ll soon find you have a lot more advice to give reader’s than you thought.
The key to great travel stories is to share. That means letting the good, the bad and the ugly all come out in the details of your adventure.
