I'm often asked if there are any guides on how to write. Well, there are, and there are loads of writing courses at colleges / night school etc.
As well as these there are the 'Make a fortune out of travel writing' type programmes that seem to be awfully popular in the USA.
Believe me - you won't make much at all, unless your name is Bill Bryson.
The best you can hope for most of the time is to do a little bit more than break even (and have some really cool adventures along the way of course, which is why we do it).
For my money, the best way of learning the craft is to write, write a lot, write about everything and anything, ask for feedback from friends who aren't afraid to hurt your feelings and:
Buy this book (and no, I'm not getting a kickback from Amazon, although I think there is some way of doing so on a blog??).
The Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Writing
I've read about 10 plus books on travel writing (which is really what most dive magazine stuff tends to be about) and most of them are rubbish.
The test of whether the authors are any good (and this goes for those get rich quick programmes) is to Google them.
Most of the book's authors haven't written anything of note, it's a bit like taking advice on pensions from a 12 year old who is great at maths.
But this book comes with some serious credentials, and even after 12 years of self teach in this world, I've learnt a lot from its pages.
Mine was a second hand version for about $10, and even that can be offset against my income tax! But that's another meaty subject in itself, for another time.
Keep writing....
Brendan
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