getting money from publishing articles
 

Has anyone been paid to have an article published in a magazine about there trip? If so how much were you paid?

If you did weekly/ monthly reports to the paper or magazine - how much did you get paid for that?

I write some articles from time to time.
Prices differs over the world but up here it’s generally around 200-300€ / page.
The articles opens some doors concerning sponsors.

Personally I avoid weekly / monthly reports because it makes to much influence on the journey. I find it’s better to write when you are in the mood and you have enough good pictures.

Interesting! How do go about getting them published? Do you write an article and then send to several publishers or do you pick one and offer them sole publishing of the article. Have always wondered how people get articles published.

Cheers
Wilky

There are multiple ways of doing this and the way I have chosen is the way I believe have less influence on my travels.
I write for only one magazine and usually I take contact before I go on a trip. From time to time I have written articles without prior agreement and except once it has been published, but it might take some time. It depends on the story..

It’s normal that the magazines don’t like that you write for several magazines. There are ways to work around this issue, but I have found that in total it’s best (for me) to keep it this way. If you write for several Magazines I think it’s important to tell it to your customers.

There are different magazines and different people but most magazines are keen on good pictures. The text can be rewritten when you get back home but that’s more difficult with pictures so you need to get it right. Bad pictures = No story. My articles usually have more then 50% pictures.

So what to do…. Find some of your best pictures; get them printed in big size (at least A4) and arrange a meeting. Tell them about your plans, tell them about prior trips, tell them something nice about the magazine. Be extremely careful and don’t promise them that they will have an article about you drinking tea with the Touaregs on their table in six weeks, because your bike will brake down, or you will have visa-problems or you simply meet a girl…. Don’t make any stupid promises.

This may be a stupid question - but what makes a good or bad picture...
what do they like to see??

I know when ever I was stuck in deep mud or taken a bad spill, I never thought about getting my camera out. I was just concentrating on the task at hand!

First of the entire picture the picture should be sharp and it should remain good quality when printed in a large size. The exposure should be correct and the pictures should not contain big areas that are completely black or white.
Books have been written about technique (and composition) and it might be wise to read one and then start to practice.

As a traveler you have the opportunity to take pictures which are different then the rest in the magazine. That’s a good thing and you should use it for what it’s worth.
Look on what types of pictures that’s in the magazine and try to make something different, it shouldn’t be to difficult.
Often you find that your location is completely different, it might be the nature, the people or whatever.
Don’t take 100 pictures of your bike in the sunset; try to mix it with some local stuff. Some action-shots are nice, but difficult if you travel alone.

The pictures should be varied and the text should fit the pictures.

Take a look at other pictures in blogs or here at Horizons, see what you like and what you don’t like. Then go through your own pictures…..

If you have an interest besides just travel, you'll have better luck, ie, I write for dog magazines about dogs overseas. Pay is anywhere from $200 to $900 an article with photos. I write for dog mags in Australia, England and the uS. If you have farming experience, you could write for farm journals about techniques overseas, doctoring, mechanical etc. all with an overseas angle. It helps if you feel passionate about your subject!

Lorraine

Very interesting thread.
 

I have thought of doing this myself, but like others, I haven't known where to start. Which sort of magazines are interested in travel stories? Are we talking about travel specific magazines or general weeklys? How do you set up meetings do see if they would be interested in your stuff?

Magazines
 

I have to be a bit sheepish as I haven't yet had anything published myself but: I e-mailed the editor of Bike magazine.( UK m/c mag.) who answered that they are always after WELL written articles and pay £1,000. I checked and that is about 6 pages of the right words in the right order and 2 pages of relevant pictures. Don't have a copy here but if you need his e-mail address I can get it tomorrow. Linzi.

Nice one Linzi, I'd appreciate any info you could pass on. But let's keep the sheep talk to the bar shall we!

Bike
 

Hi, do you know anything about the various UK magazines and what sort of bike and riding do you have and do? Linzi.

Magazines
 

Bike magazine editor: steve.rose A-tt bauermedia.co.uk

Motorcycle Sport and Leisure editor: tcarter A-tt mortons.co.uk

I just learnt that "10 meg is minimum file size needed at 300dpi print."

They really DO want top quality photos. Magazine quality actually, funnily enough!

Seems I need a new camera, curses. Tight-fisted Linzi.

Has anyone heard from the lad who was asking for articles a few months ago? Apparently they were to be published in TWO magazine and the lad was blasted by a number of people because no payment was being offered.

Did anyone write anything or did TWO even publish any such series or articles?

Thanks for the info Linzi. I have a feeling that my camera isn't up to the task either, I'll look into it.

The 300 DPI-rule is old but is still used as a rule of thumb. The quality of the pixels is better then they used to be. If you follow this rule you need 20 mega pixels to make a double page like this (Sorry about the crappy scanning.):

http://www.actiontouring.com/afart1.jpg

http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/afart2.jpg


You don’t find many 20 mega pixels cameras but you still se a lot of big pictures…
The number of megapixels is just a small part of the equation.

Pixies
 

Thanks, I went and checked a camera magazine and shop. The Canon Powershot G9 has 12 megapixels but staff don't know anything beyond that. This camera costs £290. I asked a guy who works for a multimedia firm. He simply said 10 megas, any camera with that is OK. So thanks Alibaba, there's more to it than most people realize. At least I know roughly what they cost.I shall also take pictures with my old Rollei Trip 35 using 200ASA and scan them to compare quality. It would be cheaper to stay at home and use software to superimpose self and bike onto exotic spots. Hm, wonder how often that's already been done... And here's one of me checking my last water in northern Chad, on a weekend break. Linzi.

News
 

Just thought of another market for sale of pictures/stories. Always carry a camera and newspaper editorial office details. Especially if away from home you could get a scoop, and if first in with the pics/story get a payment. But of course it even works in your own country. (This time next year we'll be millionaires", Linzi.

I have a two year degree in photography and use a cheapie Canon PowerShot SD 1000 which I believe is now discontinued, but costs about $150. It's 7.1 megapixels and I haven't had any complaints from the mags I'm writing/shooting for. They rarely do double-page spreads, but when they do, there are programs which merge the pixels together so what would normally only fill one page, can be expanded to quite a large size.

Do NOT get caught up in the technical side of the camera or what laptop to buy. What editors really, really want is a well-written and interesting story they can't find elsewhere with decent photos, which gets delivered on time. Spend your time practicing the craft, as opposed to figuring out what equipment to buy. Pen and paper works well for first drafts.... Writer's Marketplace or numerous websites are a good place to go to find out how to query an editor by email.

Lorraine

Before I converted to digital a company scanned some of my pictures on a drum-scanner , with good results. But it’s expensive so I bought a dedicated slide-scanner which is pretty good.

As long as you use quality lenses (as you should do anyway) there is nothing wrong using film. The pictures I posted earlier is taken with Velvia 50.
But scanning is hassle and it takes time.

Decisions
 

I had a suspicion that my lovely, reliable, little Rollei would do the job but if the pictures from my trip in next two weeks aren't accepted I'll be heavily out of pocket and unable to go to Morocco where people are waiting for me. My problem is the old cash flow one. I am overstretched and my Scottish genes say, watch your pennies! So do I "Take a Chance", as Abba said or "Just Do it", as Nike say? So who do you trust? Linzi.

Wotcha! I’m a photographer, and although I use mostly digital nowadays , I still use film from time to time. And yes, film still compares favourably to pixels – its just slower to convert it into a useable state and to the final destination. But that doesn’t matter unless you have an urgent deadline. A camera is just a tool, and how you use it is what counts – and that goes for old or new, cheap or expensive.

You can increase your picture usability by planning your shots in advance. Make each shot count by thinking about how you might use them and work to that. Get in close, fill the frame, get the exposure right, think about the angle of shot, subject position, isolating the subject in relation to the main scene. Don’t go for general shots or copy what you’ve seen before because if you have, the mags will have. Think about what would grab your attention and draw your eye, and then set about telling the story in pictures. If it’s a people story, concentrate on people – personalities, appearance, occupation, rituals etc. Don’t clutter it with irrelevant background. If its about a place, or a bike or whatever, make it your main theme, but include enough background to set the scene and not make it look like it could have been shot anywhere. Use angles – get up high, down low, get your subjects off centre, isolate them against backgrounds, and use it all to tell your story.

Linzi, your Rollei is well up to the job:thumbup1: – small, unobtrusive, easy to use. Just get in there, plan in advance and look for opportunities – don’t wait for them to appear. If you want any help, bell me on 079411 34296 and I’ll talk you through more or help you with an action plan.
Cheers,
Belle

I don’t know the Rollei but it uses 35mm film and has probably Zeiss optics so it should not be the limiting factor (it seldom are), it will probably work great!
Remember that some films are harder to scan then other.

Limits
 

The Rollei Trip has a Zeiss lens and can give superb quality if camera shake and focus are sorted carefully. The limit is the 28mm lens' views. It is excellent for shots of people or bikes and buildings but it flattens mountains and gives a bit of a boring set of landscapes. I have two Trips and they cost so little that's yet another attraction.
Just checked my cashflow carefully and it's got to be the two Rolleis. I can afford the scanning when I get back. But I can hardly wait to use my new Go Pro Hero 3.1 megapixel toy. It can mount on my helmet or the bike and shoots video, single or 3 in a burst or 1 shot every 5 seconds for 2 hours. Now THAT is going to give some interesting shots. The little wonder is waterproof too. I got 30 2GB SD cards for it from Hong Kong and that is more than enough with the advantage of a new card each day in case of loss of camera.
Thanks Belle for the advice, I saw you at the Hanover meeting but got caught up in chatter with others. I am a great believer in the idea that the camera cannot take photos on its. Creativity is the word. The Rolleis will excel in bike shots with background, but the alpine shots will look pitiful and I can't get a ride-by shot without getting a helper. What if they leg it! Linzi.

A cheap, lightweight digital SLR kit gives faster handling and better control than any compact.

And 35mm is dead. I have a freezer full of the stuff.:(

While we're discussing photos and cameras, am I right in thinking that you should still avoid digital zoom like the plague, as all it's really doing is digitally cropping and enlarging, and if you want to do that it's better to do it in a PC?

And also is there a particular file format that's better to shoot in? It looks like most pocket cameras give you a .jpeg, but I've heard talk of .raw files.

EDIT: Just had a thought, Grant's posted about the new ride reports section. Perhaps as well as entertaining stories about trips we might also use this to invite critique? Only if we wanted it though, might be a bit mean to start with the literary criticism univited. But it'd be a great way for those who know to share experience of what makes a good article and good photos. Bit like an online writers' group.

Wish I had done that when I was in Italy a couple of years ago. Saw a Ferrari engineer moving an early Alfa 8C Competizione between 2 of the workshops, months before it hit the front covers of the car mags. Doh!!!

Most dslr have raw format as an option instead of shooting in Jpeg, If I remember rightly u can do a bit more editing with them and they are slightly better quality[larger ] than jpegs. I shoot in raw and then use lightroom or raw shooter to edit them.

Most stock agencies require at least 3000 pixels on the longest side for selling photos which I think translates to around 6-7 megapixels. My canon 5d mk1 offers just over 4000 which is suitable for almost pro level sales. The new canon 5d mk2 and top of the range canons are sitting at around 21 megapixels now. But being full frame sensor you do not get as much range out of your lenses. Sony have just released a dslr with over 20 megapixels too. Nikon are still I think offering around the 12-13 megapixels and are not full frame and plenty of pros still use them.

Most people don't have the time, software and expertise to process raw files - and for the purposes required here (editorial) it's overkill.

Also, jpegs won't slow (or sometimes stop) a camera working at a critical time.

If used right RAW boosts the quality a lot.
Some magazines will accept some types of RAW-files (directly from cameras). If you want the magazine to print big pictures I would not say using RAW is overkill.

Raw is expensive in equipment, software, learning curve and time. My thoughts are to keep it simple (and cheap) for those who want to add pictures to their words. Personally, I would never send a raw file to anyone - but that's me.

We might be getting :offtopic:, but I'm willing to chat somewhere else if needed.

Cheers.

You use JPG and I use RAW, I don’t have a problem with that. Anyone should use the tools they like to get the final product they want.

I actually use both, but it's not about me - or you. It's about passing on useful information to those that may know very little about photography, but want to add something to their writings. It can be done for far less than some will have them believe.:wink3:

35mm film has more pixels than most (all? I know one with 35Mp .. but that is way beyond my buget!) digital cameras . so the 35mm film will be ok resolution wise.

RAW vs JPEG .. RAW means you have all the information for latter photo manipulation. JPEG means you have a smaller file size on the memory card .. and possibly quicker file saving between shots. I shoot in JPEG .. be aware that before you save after data manipulation that saveing in JPEG will loose more information - each save will try to compress the data more .. unless you tell it other wise. For safety - save in TIFF .. no further compression occures. If I know this shot will need photo manipulation and I have the time and space I might shoot in RAW. I too would not send a RAW onwards .. unless paid to do so. I'd not send the original JPEG off either .. compresed and/or cropped yes. I figure that the original is my best way of proving that I have copywrite over any reproductions.

Whatever you do -
Don't select a smaller sample size than the maximum avalible for your camers .. why buy a 10 Mp camera and only shoot in 5Mp?
Don't use digital zoom .. it simply crops the information .. you can do that latter, and there may be something going on that would other wise be cut off.

With the best photos in the world the mag won't be too intrested unless the words around them are also interesting ... novels sell due to the content not the photos .. they sell really well with good words, concepts and entertainment.

Good Luck.

I think it’s nice that RAW was mentioned here (thanks Pictish).

People can argue if it’s better or not but it’s nice to know that RAW exists, and if you go to an interview with a magazine it’s nice not to look as a question mark if/when they ask you if you shoot RAW.

Yes, but remember that all printed pictures are manipulated. (Change of color space, hue, saturation, levels, sharpness, interpolated++)



Which brings up a few important subjects….


I might be a bit biased because I mostly have experience with the glossy magazines. But like I said earlier bad pictures = no story.
If you have great pictures but you are not able to write the story they help you to write the story or they do it in an interview-form and pay you for the pictures.

I’m sure it’s possible to sell “plain text” but certain magazines have some layout-rules like at least 25% of the total article should be pictures.
Most people are to lazy to read 4-8 pages with plain text, they skip through the pages and start to read when there are pictures that catch their interest.


I once met a guy who now is trying to publish a book about his travels. He has been struggling with the text since 2002. He has been rejected time after time… But the nice thing with text is that he can rewrite it. He can even study how to write and ask people to get help.
Sadly he doesn’t have good pictures, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Jpeg it is then.:clap: Seriously though - why make it harder than it is? It should be fun.

No argument there.:wink3:

Hi there,
there is always huge debates about raw or jpeg in most digital magazines.
Raw comes standard in nearly all DSLR canon and nikon as well as other makes digital cameras[ you nomrally get small med and large jpeg as well]. Even the older models from a few years ago which are pretty cheap now have this dual feature. Never had any problems shooting with it or slow down in either the basic entry level dslr or my 5d. Downloading to pc takes a bit of time but most editors allow you to view the first ones while the others download. Most dslr also have a auto mode which means the camera does everything for you which is great for learning about taking pictures[composition, settings ect] while you figure out what everything does. Cf cards are also pretty cheap these days and again havnt really had any problems using the slower cheaper sandisk ones.
My advice about choosing a camera[dslr] is choose one that is comfy to hold as well and one you can actually hold and work the buttons.Go into a store and hold them all and see what you feel, do not let the guy talk you into buying a cutting edge newly released model as they drop in price very quickly. Then go online get the best deal and go to jessops or some other store that will price match as its much easier to replace if it breaks when you face to face. Buy lenses and other bits online you will save a fortune.
If you have small hands you may struggle with alot of the more pro/mid level ones due to their size and they arnt exactly light either. My backpack weighs around 20kgs minimum with just the camera stuff which is fine for me but my ex who had identical equipment struggled a bit while hiking as you had to add nibbles and water on top of that. A 350d sized dslr with a either a cheaper zoom or small prime lens will fit easily into a tankbag]
The canon 350d is an ideal first venture into dslr for those with smaller hands[but not so good if like me you have spades]. Its also cheap as it was replaced with a newer model. Nikon have also uprated all their entry level ones and they are becoming more affordable. Both companies also produce budget level ones as well now. The good thing about buying a cheaper well known brand such as nikon or canon is you can keep your lenses and upgrade your camera[apart from canon digital fullframe cameras dont like the digital only lenses]
As for my processing it only takes hours if you really get into the manipulation side of things[ and know what your doing ]. Most of the time I just use it for checking the photos, quick removal of spots of dust,unwanted stuff and evil seagulls who always manage to screw up that perfect horizon, over/under exposure, white balance and cutting which takes a few minutes each picture[there is automatic setting to do this for you] as I havnt got really into the using all the curves and graphs and all the other wonderful stuff you can use. Then with one click of a button after a few choices you have your jpeg or tiff at any size you want suitable for web[smaller] or printing[bigger]. The good thing about raw is when you return home or have the time to play around you can always go for the longer manipulation and really get the best out what you have shot. You can also create very large jpegs which are great for large poster sized prints.

For canon
- cheaper lower range sandisk cards are fine so shooting lots of raw isnt a problem.Dont buy them from a camera store! they charge a fortune.
-Tamron and sigma lenses[or older canon model ones that have been updated] are good alternatives to expensive canon ones
-Older models drop in price[ 1-2 years they uprate the models] so their not that out of date
-Non canon batteries and other bits work fine and save a fortune My radio shutter release[for pic of yourself while doing something] cost 10 quid the canon one is over £100
-You can get cheap rain guards of ebay which are copies of expensive ones[kinda like a giant hand muff thing] or even better a freezer ziplock bag works well.
-bottom to mid range have a pop up flash not the greatest but does the trick.
- A 20 quid tripod does the job just as well as a 200 quid one if it breaks bin it, and you dont mind so much sticking it in a river. Walking stick monopods are also very handy.

As for making money by photography have a look at fotolibra, and photographers direct for the sort of stuff that sells. You will be surpised its not all mindblowing sunsets and nature shots. Pictures of buildings,food on plates, plants, people doing everyday things in other countries. Pretty much everything does.
recent requests I have been emailed are pictures of hotels,lodges and resorts all over the world and UK[huge list], an energetic indian bloke, a loaf of bread from pompei[volcano bread excavated] and first edition kids books[100 of]. My exmissus even sold a picture to bbc wildlife magazine of a herring on a plate, so if your going to weird and wonderful places shoot everything people ,places, beasties, flowers, food as you never know.

If you have a 7 megapixel plus. You should be able to take motorbike magazine pics without a problem.

I have a 7.2 megapixel Canon and have had photos published in a newspapaer and a book published this year. I have just moved onto a Canon Rebel Xti which I got from E-Bay at a steal of a price, so look on there. I will still use the pocket canon as it takes great pictures and is easier to haul around than the Rebel.

Steve

Ebay is good but its also full of what they call grey market items[non eu spec stuff] the rebel was the name for the 350d canon outside the uk and most of the EU, the earlier ones also had some issues which did not appear in the uk versions.
So if your going down that route you should check with friends in asia and USA and you will save a hell of a lot if your from the UK, but you may not have a warranty for UK[some do have worldwide ones].
I recently got alot of new stuff from hong kong through ebay[lenses and filters]and saved almost 40% on the uk prices.

I would also like to say there is probably more chances of a female [couple even] getting stuff published as womans magazines tend to be more abundant, and unless your doing a worldwide tour of strip joints or wet t shirt contests most men magazines tend not to publish this kind of thing unless you do something totally insane.

Tips from an Editor
 

Hey everybody,

This might be of use re working out what editors are looking for - from the horse's mouth as it were. The first article/interview with MaryAnn Golan is particularly useful for tips on how to approach photo editors. Note her comment: " we're increasingly looking for photographers who've found their own voice and can write a narrative..........not just copy what is already about."

Canon Professional Network - In front of the lens

Regards

Belle:thumbup1:

Thanks all for the points raised in this thread. I've been thinking about writing articles about my travels for some time now and needed a bit of a reminder to start sorting out my kit and attitude to doing so.


Ok some camera advice please then: I know little about camera lens and the difference between one camera's picture quality and another's. At the moment I've got a Canon Ixus 65 (6MP) but this I have found doesn't give enough a large enough picture size to meet the 3000dpi requirements of most companies/high level photography websites. So I'm now thinking that I should get something better for my trip which starts in a month's time. Maybe another Canon- the Ixus 9O IS is 9MP and should allow me to use the same power cable as my girlfriend's Ixus 65. BUT as I already have the compact I may get something slightly larger like the Canon PowerShot SX110 (and only £209 from Canon themselves)

Actually, sod it. I'll start making suggestions and just for some advice:

Can someone recommend a camera that meets the following requirements:
1. High enough picture quality to be magazine acceptable and have decent sized prints printed off (A4 at least).
2. Easy to use yet good enough manual settings to allow for fine-tuning the settings.
3. Under £400.
4. Good zoom (at least 3x but preferably more as I'm going to be travelling in Southern Africa and going on a few safaris).
5. High quality lens.
6. Relatively compact size (an SLR is too large for me, especially with extra lens - but something between a compact and an SLR, like the SX110, could be good).
7. Tough design that will survive a few bumps and knocks.
8. Any make that will last me at least a couple of years (by when I'll have probably entered the SLR world).

Any more aspects of a camera that should be looked into?
:)

Camera Rec
 

Check out the Panasonic DMC-FZ50

Writing / Exchange
 

I once wrote two articles for a hostel organization and they provided me with enough passes to stay in their hostels while I was in their country. It was a win/win situation.

Now if Motel 6 would do the same I could traverse the USA.

Rates
 

Hi, it seems the going rate in UK for motorcycle magazine articles is £200 for a complete article including lots of photos. Rates may have come down a lot in last year as too many people sending in material now. Linzi.

£200 is a joke….
YouTube - Harlan Ellison -- Pay the Writer

Jokes
 

Yes, that's what I thought. It seems there are enough people happy with a little money and seeing themselves in a published magazine to make that sum acceptable to many. One year ago I WAS offered £1,000 from one magazine and that's now £200 from the other magazine. Still, I suspect that quality of both writing and photos would raise the offer. Too hopeful? Linzi.

Well!
 

Just watched Harlan Ellison's clip. Well what d'ya know? Must say I can't think of an answer to the problem he highlights. Must obviously make my expectations clear at outset when approaching an editor. Linzi.

For a professional writer maybe, but surely this thread is about amateurs trying to make a few quid out of what they've done?

For the average traveler, £200 is a ferry to northern Spain, a set or two of tyres, or a whole chunk of food and/or fuel?

Sure if you are looking for a commission (and are relying on the money to actually fund the trip) then negotiate, but as the clip highlights - there are plenty of people out there willing to sell their story for whatever the market is paying, either to recoup some of the their costs, or yes, simply as they want to see their trip in print - whether that's for ego or to inspire others to do the same?

For info, NUJ rates used to be around £200 per 1000 words. Your average A4 magazine feature will typically run to around 1500-2000 words, unless it's very picture heavy.

Yes, technically you should also be paid separately for the photography (anything between £25-50 a shot, depending on size - incidentals don't usually pay much), but this is usually for dedicated photography...

Editors know there is no story without the pictures (as Alibaba says at the beginning of this thread) so tend to expect them as the package - "you want paying for the words? then we want the pictures for free..."

Try to see it from their (business) point of view - a magazine has a monthly budget, and if the editor knows (and they can usually tell) you are an amateur writer, they will offer accordingly (freeing up valuable magazine funds so the staffers can spend a week razzing sportsbikes round a racetrack in southern Europe, in the name of 'testing' x)

If you are looking to use your trip write-up as a launch for a journalistic career, then consider that having your feature in a mainstream consumer magazine is a good addition to your portfolio - you can use that as a lever to get further commissions, and if you build a rapport with an editor, you'll tend to find subsequent commissions are more in line with the professional rates...

xxx

ps. that clip is great - what a guy!

Got it in One
 

Hi, I'm sure you're correct. I just leafed through a book about writing for magazines and the few motorcycle titles listed each had the note, " Negotiate individually". Suggests quality in all ways can attract a higher payment. Makes sense of course. Linzi.

It might be valid reasons for working “for free”, but I would call that exceptions.
People who work for free makes it harder for the professionals to get decent paid, which again make good writers quit and the quality of the magazines decreases.
In the end the magazine will be filled with hobby-crap, we have internet for stuff like that.

As a traveler you do something unique, you travel for months (or even years) and have loads of experiences. What would the cost be if the magazine sends a reporter away for 6 months? I think 250€ per page is dead-cheap for a well written story with good pictures.

I also think rates differ significantly between markets - the UK has a huge number of motorcycle magazines, and they sell to virtually every English speaking country too... the editors are not going to pay top dollar when they know so many writers will want to get their work in there?

Someone suggested the 'women's magazines' as a possible direction? The good thing about these (even though there are plenty of those too in the UK) is they tend to have a lot of advertising revenue, so you might find there is more money in the pot. Also, they like stories/features that are inspirational - a woman traveling around the world by motorcycle is still considered a rare and exciting thing...

Good luck with finding a nice (money) tree-lined avenue!

xxx

The more potential customers you have the easier it is to get the right price. The fact that they sell a lot of copies means that the expenses of paying you is divided on a lot of magazines – which is an ideal situation.




Most motorbike-magazines have loads of ads, that’s how they earn their money. But Woman-magazines can be a great opportunity, esp if you are female.

Oh I agree that should be the case, but in reality, the UK magazine editors know full well an amateur writer will take less money to get their work in a 'prodigious' magazine... it might not be right, but they call the shots... afterall, no piece of work is indispensable (like anything in the entertainment world), and if you price yourself out of the market, they'll just look elsewhere?

My point about ad revenue was that the women's magazines tend to have better paying ads - fashion, skincare, luxury goods... and therefore more income and bigger budgets...

xxx

I guess one way to drum up some interest about what your doing is to inform your local papers of whats happening most usually have sections about locals doing strange stuff especially if you do some volunteer work or ride supporting a charity. Means some mags may pic it up.
As well as the womans magazine I guess u could add the extras that do human interest in the sundays papers and readers digest type publications.
General good quality pictures sell from 20-50 depending on what they are some rarer stuff [objects from in country, foods,homes even old buildings ect] may be upto 100. Its the unique or very special ones that make the most money especially in nature or area views they really do have to be great quality and very special and its doubtful you would have that sort of equipment on your bike. It also depends what rights you sign away with the pictures and the print run of the magazine as to how much u get per picture.
Again have a look at photographers direct[website google it] they show the last few sales, sizes of the pictures and info[for judging type of camera] but just remember they reduce the quality for speed reasons on the site. Signing up is free and they give you requests by email on a daily basis[ you would be surprised at some of the strange or mundane things that are requested. Also look at the highest grossing images they show you what a very good image can earn and I would also point out that this is not a premium agency as its open to pretty much anyone with camera , they will also give you a picture rating[good average ect] with every one you upload.

It hardly seems worth the effort , does it ? . i would prefer to share my travel stories and pic,s with people who i know will have a genuine interest in it , like right here for instance ! . And as for the supposed ...prestige ... of getting your name and work in print , i cannot think of any magazine that i would bother with nowaday,s I stopped buying bike magazines years ago anyway . Here on the internet you can find an incredible range and variety of great stories pictures and video , so why bother buying paper magazines anymore ? .

Secondary benefits.
 

I suppose a reason to do it might not be to fund your trip directly after all £200 isn't going to go far, but if you can show you WILL get published then it helps with the blagging of the free stuff. After all if your photos should show someone's product and you happen to mention how good it is, then that's worth a fair bit to the suppliers.

I personally have been finding it catastrophically difficult to get any magazine to even acknowledge me.

I have sent mail to around a dozen different UK magazines, but haven't even managed to get my foot in the door. Not one person even replied to say 'sorry we don't take articles from nobodies,' let alone read any of my stories.

I have scratched the idea of getting in nepotistic/insider orientated mags, and will just keep trying to get myself noticed, then when I come back, get myself into the nepotistic/insider orientated world of publishing!

It makes it a bit harder now my cameraman has dropped out, because I now have to learn how to take interesting shots to illustrate my ramblings.


Joel

Guidebooks as an alternative
 

It's not quite the same as a full-page spread or regular feature on your personal exploits, but one way to get your name in print (because let's face it once one person has taken the risk and published you others are more likely to follow) is to write, or more likely nowadays update, a guidebook.

I'm off to do my second one for Rough Guides, last one was Hong Kong and Macau, this one is the Lot in France. The money is far from great (they pay your travel, travel insurance, and a lump sum out of which you cover all expenses) but I reckon if I hadn't had to cover my rent etc here as well I would have ended up with around £1000 profit from Hong Kong (3-4 weeks there, plus a few days of writing up, helped by it being a budget guide at a time with a strong pound, Lot will be less as a more expensive country and near-parity on the euro). It could however work out as a way of taking a break from constant moving around, getting to know a place in detail, and earning enough for the next stage.

So how did I get it? They advertised on their site that they wanted people for Central & South America, and South East Asia. So I applied - for a specific thing, not just on spec, which probably helped. My CV includes an English degree and a translation qualification, as well as translation experience. I also used to live in SE Asia, and speak Spanish, so had positive points on both areas. But like everything it's also about selling yourself - prove you can meet deadlines (most jobs need you to do that); send them a sample of your writing; show that you pay attention to details and can do research, that you'll spend time finding out about all the bus timetables not just all the bars; prove you're resourceful; and you'll already stand out from the hundreds of gap-year students fresh out of school who just think it would be a "cool job" - what matters to them as to many is reliability and professionalism, any publisher is better off with slightly inferior material than with an edition that would have been stunning if the writer had turned stuff in on time...

Oh and Rough Guides at least use agency photos, so you don't need to be an ace photographer, or risk huge problems if someone nicks your camera.

Hope that helps!!

Laura

PS other option: given the common themes of people who can write not meeting the sportsbike mag market's requirements, and of travellers wanting a bike mag that deals with what they're interested in, surely contributors to this forum have the necessary skills & experience to start one? Not just trip tales but kit reviews, planning advice, articles on how to get published :tongue_smilie: etc. Just a thought...

Laura

PS other option: given the common themes of people who can write not meeting the sportsbike mag market's requirements, and of travellers wanting a bike mag that deals with what they're interested in, surely contributors to this forum have the necessary skills & experience to start one? Not just trip tales but kit reviews, planning advice, articles on how to get published :tongue_smilie: etc. Just a thought...[/QUOTE]

Motorcycle Voyager tried just that , and they went out of business . it was a fine magazine while it lasted , but i guess it proved that there is just not a large enough readership interested in motorcycle travellers to make it financially viable . and anyway ! who need,s a magazine when we have this site ? :-)

People who want to get published I guess?

This sure is a nice page, but it doesn’t pay much…

Ease of pulishing
 

Well I got back and had for some time been wondering whether to say anything on HUBB or keep it all for earning money. Difficult to get published? Yep I'm sceptical now but can't even post the story here! I've posted the first long bit three times I think, only to lose it to the ether. Further, I used a film Canon EOS 50 with good zoom lens and got excellent, clear shots in Beograd. That was just to test me and the camera. Then in Montenegro, when the shots were for publication the pictures were all misty and grey. Oh shi...I am aching to get to a lab now and get the rest of the rolls developed. But. In northern Italy the camera went on the blink ie doesn't work anymore. I must have been too rough on the electronics. My Go Pro Hero camera didn't work from the start. The same I guess. Damn. I should have taken a painting set as well. Linzi.

Great Thread!
 

Thanks Guys for all your input, and well done to those that have already got into print in whatever form as my limited investigations so far (haver now spoken to 4 editors who had no real interest...) have shown this to be a tricky way to fund onward travel!

Still the advice here is great and I will continue contacting editors before i set off with renewed enthusiasm knowing that some of you HUBBers have made this work for yourselves. Will be sure to post on here with any foot in door or actual interest success!

Was curious to also know if anyone has had any success, or even attempted getting a longer peice published be it a book, novel, screenplay or what have you? Anybody??

Cheers
Jamie

Additional:
 

Hi guys,

For anyone interested this article seems to add a little more fine grain (and some great tips) to the travel writing idea, plus there are UK based courses included with lonks at the bottom!

British Guild of Travel Writers - How To

I also hear that you can pickup a "Press Pass" for around $5 in Bangkok which i fully intend to do... may even be able to take a couple of orders for these - will see when i get there

Hope it helps
J

Your link is a good one: thanks. That article would serve well in the other ongoing thread about writing for motorcycling magazines. For one thing, the writer is clearly a pro: crisp, clean, punchy prose which compels the reader forward steadily through the material to a defined end point. Most of us can't quite manage this--I'm including myself in this category, for sure.

Other important points: he suggests you not do it for the money, since there will likely be little or none. He says repeatedly that you need to be a writer first, a traveler second. And he recommends you keep your day job.

Mark