SATW: 60 Second Travel Writer #11 - Being Professional

Being a talented writer is just the beginning. To be successful, you also have to be great to work with. I’m Westways Travel Editor Elizabeth Harryman, and here’s a 60-Second Travel Writer Tip.          Be professional. That means turning your story in on deadline, on word count, and make sure the copy is as clean as you can make it—grammatically correct, with proper spellings. And don’t trust spellcheck or auto-correct. If your editor asks for a rewrite, rewrite cheerfully. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It just means the story can be even better. We editors have to rewrite, too. How you handle the rewrite can make or break your relationship with an editor you haven’t worked with—consider it your literary audition. Follow directions. An editor’s job is to make your story better. If the editor is good, you’ll be glad you had the chance to rewrite. It’s teamwork. Be great to work with, and you’ll get that next assignment. For SATW professional development, I’m Westways Travel Editor Elizabeth Harryman. SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave