Karli's Story - Making progress with her blog, getting published in Campr and being let down

Regular readers will be aware of Karli's (this site's very own budding photojournalist) dream to become a regular contributor for diving, travel and adventure related magazines. 

One of the ways Karli is improving her writing skills is through her blog, The Adventure Girl's Guide. What this site also demonstrates is her commitment to get the job done. Karli's latest post, all about a trip to the Dordogne, will have taken some time to put together and time is a commodity anyone who writes will tell you is very precious. Karli has also taken advantage of social media to get her blog 'out there' - writing good material for your blog is the first challenge, the second is to find ways to get people to read it. 

Here's an update from Karli's site:

"It’s been a great first week for The Adventure Girl’s Guide... Since launching the blog to the world the site’s had 500 hits and has attracted some fantastic followers on Twitter including ‘The Times Travel’ and leading luxury camping website ‘Go Glamping‘, who posted my article on their Twitter page.

The ‘Campr’ website has also got interested in what The Adventure Girl’s Guide has to offer and would like to run ‘Glamping it up in Yorkshire’ on their site. Here’s what James from Campr had to say: “If you would like to write anything else for Campr we’d love to feature your adventures! Anything Camping or outdoors related really.”

Result! So keep an eye out for that, I’ll let you know when more of my adventures get featured across the web. They’re sending me a camping essentials pack in the post to keep me stocked up for my next travels. It might not pay the rent, but that’s a good enough perk in my first week I reckon! York Yurts were really chuffed that I mentioned them and are going to feature my musings on their website – Sara the Yurt lady said she remembered us because of ‘the really romantic boyfriend’. The good start has also got a smiley face from my blogging coach, Brendan, who’s giving me tips on how to get published and break into the world of travel magazines."

Good progress so far although slightly soured as it turns out Campr didn't send Karli her goody bag. While this might be a genuine error, over the years I've also been the victim of let downs from magazines and websites whose editors have promised either payment or a goodwill gesture. I'm afraid this has become accepted practice in the industry where some editors believe getting published is payment enough for a contributor. I've even heard one editor 'joke' that potential contributors should pay him to get published in the pages of his magazine. There's no point in complaining about this practice, it is what it is and as a potential contributor you're not really in a position of power, although a gentle reminder from Karli to her contact at Campr might provide a better ending to this chapter of her story. 

Karli - "Where are my goodies?"

Keep Writing...

Brendan

Comments

[James]

Hi Brendan

James from Campr here. Just wanted to say Karli's camping pack is going in the post on Monday! It did get forgotten and I'm really sorry about that. She wrote a great article and it deserves far more than a few camping bits. Happy to do anything we can to help her along the way!

[Brendan]

James,

Great to hear that - I know Karli is looking forward to receiving her goodies. Will post something when she does.