Travel Writing Introduction

Hello! I’m Cynthia Dial

Let me introduce myself. My name is Cynthia Dial and since 1988 I’ve been in a profession most covet. I’m a travel writer. I like to say that I “travel to write” and confess that sometimes I “write to travel.”

What is my workday like? I’ll describe one as I did in my book Teach Yourself Travel Writing. “Lying lazily in a hammock securely strung between two palms, I sway back and forth, back and forth. My eyes focus toward the cloudless cobalt sky. It is late afternoon. I’m luxuriating in the moment, making note of everything – the gentle sea breeze, the pearlized sand and the hypnotic roll of the surf. I’m in Fiji, I’m recollecting every detail of my morning and I’m working. The day started with a village tour and a catamaran cruise to an uninhabited island, complete with an outdoor barbecue, snorkeling and impromptu dancing to the beat of a native band. Tonight I’m the resort’s guest at its weekly Meke (Fijian-style luau). Tomorrow it’s on to Tonga where I’ll attend Sunday service at the local church – I’ve been told to expect to see the His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, a member of the congregation. My only complaints of this work day? I still have to pack, and I should have used more sunscreen.

“But to fairly illustrate the complete picture of a travel writer’s life, I’ll briefly recap one more day. Indulge me as this description is crucial to consider before you gather your suitcase, notebook and camera in quest of your newly-acclaimed travel writing career.

“Surrounded by pamphlets, maps, press kits, notes and slides, I sit at my desk and stare at a blank computer screen. I’m on deadline. I spent my morning online, checking and double-checking facts and making a time consuming, yet fruitless search for an important detail. A brusque, not-so-friendly editor phoned and explained that he likes my recently-submitted piece but needs an additional 500-word sidebar within two days. And the school just called. My daughter has an ear infection.

“Now that I have your attention and your luggage is back in the closet, let’s talk reality. To be a successful (definition: one who is published and will be invited to visit destinations like Fiji and Tonga) travel writer, you play many roles. One obvious role is that of a reporter; others include historian, grammarian, private investigator, photographer and diplomat. And for some stories, you’ll become (my favorite roles) a shopper, skier, hiker, theatergoer or diner. Remember, the above list is plentiful but it is far from complete. The requisites change from piece to piece, publication to publication and year to year.”

What doesn’t change, however, is the constant pleasure I derive from travel writing. I admit that I continue to congratulate myself on this career choice each time I fly first class, step on the deck of a cruise ship or board a train to go to work.

How did I get started in this somewhat unconventional job? While my educational background includes a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, my entry into the travel industry was actually a career change from writing and producing audio-visual films in Minneapolis and Chicago to selling travel in San Diego.

Jumping into my career as a travel agent with both feet, I became very active in the worldwide travel community. But after several years of loving travel but missing writing, I combined the two. Thus, my travel writing career was born.

Since that time, I’ve published hundreds of travel articles (many with photography) in newspapers and magazines, both national and international. For many years my byline appeared as a contributing editor (approximately 24 annual articles) for two leading industry magazines. In addition, my work has been featured in a variety of travel and special interest publications ranging from Radisson International’s Voyageur magazine and inflight magazines Aboard and Hemispheres to Shape, Fit and Fit Yoga (national women’s fitness magazines), Destination Weddings & Honeymoons and San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles (San Diego’s oldest publication). As a regular contributor, I authored the monthly feature, Shopping Trips, for the Toronto Star and was a columnist for World Golfer, a U.K. magazine. Most recently, I’ve contributed to TIME Asia, TIME Europe, Yacht’n Life, www.imaginetraveldaily.com and write a monthly column for the Professional Authors Newsletter. I also serve as a special correspondent for Travel n’ On radio. Over the years I have become a specialist in an assortment of topics, writing frequently about the things I love – golf, spas, soft adventure, shopping, health & wellness, hiking and upscale travel destinations and activities.

My book, entitled Teach Yourself Travel Writing, is based on a course I developed for those who love to travel and long to write about it, which I teach at several Southern California educational venues. I also guest speak at events such as the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference (Seattle, WA), Southern California Writers’ Conference (San Diego, CA) and Lake Tahoe Writers’ Conference.

Over the past several years, I have served as vice chairman of public relations for IFWTO (International Federation of Women’s Travel Organizations), president of the San Diego chapter of Women in Travel, board member of San Diego PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) and producer of special projects for San Diego ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). In 1990 I received a CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) designation, an advanced travel industry certification awarded after completing a 3- to 5-year program.

My home is in San Diego, California, where I live with my husband, Kent, and where we enjoy frequent visits from our two daughters, Erin and Kathryn. My annual challenge is to take advantage of everything Southern California offers. The rest of the time, I travel.

Cynthia Dial
Bio

Author of non-fiction book entitled Teach Yourself Travel Writing, which is published by Hodder Headline Plc., London, England, and has worldwide distribution. U.S. distributor is McGraw-Hill Companies. Book is in its second printing.

Freelance travel writer/photographer. Outlets have included national and international newspapers and magazines such as TIME Asia, TIME Europe, Hemispheres, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Shape, Fit, Fit Yoga, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, Yacht’N Life, Radisson International’s Voyageur, Orange Coast (the regional magazine of Southern California's exclusive Orange County), the Wellness File and author of a monthly column, Shopping Trips for the Toronto Star newspaper (Canada’s largest daily). Contributing editor for Imagine Travel Daily e-zine. Monthly columnist for the Professional Authors Newsletter, columnist and contributor for World Golfer and Travelling Golfer, U.K. magazines.

Contributing editor for Coastal Communications (Corporate & Incentive Travel, Insurance Meetings Management and Insurance Meetings & Incentives magazines) from 1993 to 2001. Responsibility included approximately 24 annual travel-related articles.

Former San Diego correspondent for TravelAge West magazine, the unofficial “bible” to the nation’s travel agents.

Travel specialties include golf, spas, soft adventure, health and wellness, hiking, shopping and upscale travel.

Travel writing instructor for several learning institutions – Palomar College, The Writing Center and The Learning Annex ("How to Make the Most of Foreign Travel" and "Travel Writing Tips"). Guest speaker at the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference, Southern California Writers’ Conference and Lake Tahoe Writers' Conference. Course is entitled Travel Writing: For Those Who Love to Travel and Long to Write About It. Also offers a one-day Travel Writing Workshop/Field Trip. Speaks at educational venues such as San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) and California State University (Chico, CA); program is Travel Writing: It’s a Trip!.

Guest speaker at organizations such as the San Diego Writers & Editors Guild, Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, Diamond Gateway Women’s Organization and Soroptimist International.

Appears as travel specialist on radio and television programs. Special correspondent for Travel’n On radio show. Frequent guest on Shutterbug Magazine radio show. Hosted a regular segment entitled No Passport Required, on “Travel Hub,” a World Talk Radio show.

Received award in Non-Fiction: How-To and Reference category at the 10th Anniversary of San Diego Book Awards Association, San Diego, CA.

Active in travel community. Vice chairman/public relations for International Federation of Women’s Travel Organizations, president of San Diego Women in Travel, board member of San Diego PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association), unofficial photographer for San Diego ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Received a CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) designation, an advanced travel industry certification awarded after completing a 3- to 5-year study program.

I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself

"She Teaches Travelers," The Coast News

"Award-Winning Travel Writer Charms Her Way from the Arctic to the Amazon with a Smile and a Touch of Southern Politeness," Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Voice

	Hello! I’m Cynthia Dial Let me introduce myself. My name is Cynthia Dial and since 1988 I’ve been in a profession most covet. I’m a travel writer. I like to say that I “travel to write” and confess that sometimes I “write to travel.” What is my workday like? I’ll describe one as I did in my book Teach Yourself Travel Writing. “Lying lazily in a hammock securely strung between two palms, I sway back and forth, back and forth. My eyes focus toward the cloudless cobalt sky. It is late afternoon. I’m luxuriating in the moment, making note of everything – the gentle sea breeze, the pearlized sand and the hypnotic roll of the surf. I’m in Fiji, I’m recollecting every detail of my morning and I’m working. The day started with a village tour and a catamaran cruise to an uninhabited island, complete with an outdoor barbecue, snorkeling and impromptu dancing to the beat of a native band. Tonight I’m the resort’s guest at its weekly Meke (Fijian-style luau). Tomorrow it’s on to Tonga where I’ll attend Sunday service at the local church – I’ve been told to expect to see the His Majesty King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV, a member of the congregation. My only complaints of this work day? I still have to pack, and I should have used more sunscreen. “But to fairly illustrate the complete picture of a travel writer’s life, I’ll briefly recap one more day. Indulge me as this description is crucial to consider before you gather your suitcase, notebook and camera in quest of your newly-acclaimed travel writing career. “Surrounded by pamphlets, maps, press kits, notes and slides, I sit at my desk and stare at a blank computer screen. I’m on deadline. I spent my morning online, checking and double-checking facts and making a time consuming, yet fruitless search for an important detail. A brusque, not-so-friendly editor phoned and explained that he likes my recently-submitted piece but needs an additional 500-word sidebar within two days. And the school just called. My daughter has an ear infection. “Now that I have your attention and your luggage is back in the closet, let’s talk reality. To be a successful (definition: one who is published and will be invited to visit destinations like Fiji and Tonga) travel writer, you play many roles. One obvious role is that of a reporter; others include historian, grammarian, private investigator, photographer and diplomat. And for some stories, you’ll become (my favorite roles) a shopper, skier, hiker, theatergoer or diner. Remember, the above list is plentiful but it is far from complete. The requisites change from piece to piece, publication to publication and year to year.” What doesn’t change, however, is the constant pleasure I derive from travel writing. I admit that I continue to congratulate myself on this career choice each time I fly first class, step on the deck of a cruise ship or board a train to go to work. How did I get started in this somewhat unconventional job? While my educational background includes a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, my entry into the travel industry was actually a career change from writing and producing audio-visual films in Minneapolis and Chicago to selling travel in San Diego. Jumping into my career as a travel agent with both feet, I became very active in the worldwide travel community. But after several years of loving travel but missing writing, I combined the two. Thus, my travel writing career was born. Since that time, I’ve published hundreds of travel articles (many with photography) in newspapers and magazines, both national and international. For many years my byline appeared as a contributing editor (approximately 24 annual articles) for two leading industry magazines. In addition, my work has been featured in a variety of travel and special interest publications ranging from Radisson International’s Voyageur magazine and inflight magazines Aboard and Hemispheres to Shape, Fit and Fit Yoga (national women’s fitness magazines), Destination Weddings & Honeymoons and San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles (San Diego’s oldest publication). As a regular contributor, I authored the monthly feature, Shopping Trips, for the Toronto Star and was a columnist for World Golfer, a U.K. magazine. Most recently, I’ve contributed to TIME Asia, TIME Europe, Yacht’n Life, www.imaginetraveldaily.com and write a monthly column for the Professional Authors Newsletter. I also serve as a special correspondent for Travel n’ On radio. Over the years I have become a specialist in an assortment of topics, writing frequently about the things I love – golf, spas, soft adventure, shopping, health & wellness, hiking and upscale travel destinations and activities. My book, entitled Teach Yourself Travel Writing, is based on a course I developed for those who love to travel and long to write about it, which I teach at several Southern California educational venues. I also guest speak at events such as the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference (Seattle, WA), Southern California Writers’ Conference (San Diego, CA) and Lake Tahoe Writers’ Conference. Over the past several years, I have served as vice chairman of public relations for IFWTO (International Federation of Women’s Travel Organizations), president of the San Diego chapter of Women in Travel, board member of San Diego PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) and producer of special projects for San Diego ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). In 1990 I received a CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) designation, an advanced travel industry certification awarded after completing a 3- to 5-year program. My home is in San Diego, California, where I live with my husband, Kent, and where we enjoy frequent visits from our two daughters, Erin and Kathryn. My annual challenge is to take advantage of everything Southern California offers. The rest of the time, I travel. Cynthia Dial Bio Author of non-fiction book entitled Teach Yourself Travel Writing, which is published by Hodder Headline Plc., London, England, and has worldwide distribution. U.S. distributor is McGraw-Hill Companies. Book is in its second printing. Freelance travel writer/photographer. Outlets have included national and international newspapers and magazines such as TIME Asia, TIME Europe, Hemispheres, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, Shape, Fit, Fit Yoga, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles, Yacht’N Life, Radisson International’s Voyageur, Orange Coast (the regional magazine of Southern California's exclusive Orange County), the Wellness File and author of a monthly column, Shopping Trips for the Toronto Star newspaper (Canada’s largest daily). Contributing editor for Imagine Travel Daily e-zine. Monthly columnist for the Professional Authors Newsletter, columnist and contributor for World Golfer and Travelling Golfer, U.K. magazines. Contributing editor for Coastal Communications (Corporate & Incentive Travel, Insurance Meetings Management and Insurance Meetings & Incentives magazines) from 1993 to 2001. Responsibility included approximately 24 annual travel-related articles. Former San Diego correspondent for TravelAge West magazine, the unofficial “bible” to the nation’s travel agents. Travel specialties include golf, spas, soft adventure, health and wellness, hiking, shopping and upscale travel. Travel writing instructor for several learning institutions – Palomar College, The Writing Center and The Learning Annex ("How to Make the Most of Foreign Travel" and "Travel Writing Tips"). Guest speaker at the Whidbey Island Writers’ Conference, Southern California Writers’ Conference and Lake Tahoe Writers' Conference. Course is entitled Travel Writing: For Those Who Love to Travel and Long to Write About It. Also offers a one-day Travel Writing Workshop/Field Trip. Speaks at educational venues such as San Diego State University (San Diego, CA) and California State University (Chico, CA); program is Travel Writing: It’s a Trip!. Guest speaker at organizations such as the San Diego Writers & Editors Guild, Rancho Santa Fe Rotary Club, Diamond Gateway Women’s Organization and Soroptimist International. Appears as travel specialist on radio and television programs. Special correspondent for Travel’n On radio show. Frequent guest on Shutterbug Magazine radio show. Hosted a regular segment entitled No Passport Required, on “Travel Hub,” a World Talk Radio show. Received award in Non-Fiction: How-To and Reference category at the 10th Anniversary of San Diego Book Awards Association, San Diego, CA. Active in travel community. Vice chairman/public relations for International Federation of Women’s Travel Organizations, president of San Diego Women in Travel, board member of San Diego PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association), unofficial photographer for San Diego ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Received a CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) designation, an advanced travel industry certification awarded after completing a 3- to 5-year study program. *I Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself* "She Teaches Travelers," The Coast News "Award-Winning Travel Writer Charms Her Way from the Arctic to the Amazon with a Smile and a Touch of Southern Politeness," Carmel Valley News/Del Mar Voice
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