It took me a while to realize why I had agreed to teach, Travel Writing for Fun and Profit. It surprised friends that know me well because I’m prolific and, if not traveling, write in a state of tunnel vision that temporarily excludes people and time—children may interrupt in case of blood or fire.
It’s not that I haven’t enjoyed workshops and writer’s conferences. But, frankly, they were all to advance my career in some way. So, my fellow writers are a bit curious when I talk about preparing to teach a course that interferes with my work for six weeks. But I have selfish reasons.
I want anyone interested in writing travel to know they can do it—but, nobody just sits under a palm tree on an sunny island with a laptop computer making $100,000 per year. To write travel, you must leave the comforts of home, or the island, and that can be a grueling . . . out of bed at four a.m. back in at midnight. Yes, sleeping in airports. But you do it to take a three-day camel trek across the desert, or float along the canals of France or walk on the Great Wall of China.
Also, it’s a fascinating life writing magazine articles—stand before the magazine racks and pick your interest. From there, I can show you how to write for publications that could, sooner than you might expect, have you meeting celebrities or traveling the world on assignments.
My main reason for teaching is I want the pleasure of seeing you smile in class when you realize, “Wow! I really can do this.” I want to bask in your new excitement and enthusiasm, take you to lunch to celebrate your first sale.
Travel writers can bloom where they are planted too. My next post will show how.
See you in class,
Rogayle Franklin
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