Welcome to the very first SpecialtyBuzz! SpecialtyBuzz is a segment designed to highlight the various specialties our fellow freelance writers have chosen for themselves. By the end of each interview, you will know a little more about the specialty, how to get started writing in that specialty if you are so inclined, and all the other insider information that only a specialists can reveal.

Ready to specialize? Look for SpecialtyBuzz every Thursday in this spot. Over the next few weeks SpecialtyBuzz will feature writers who specialize in journalism, business and finance writing, textbook supplement writing, and many more interesting niches. 

Our first specialist is Margart Montet, a freelancer who specializes in travel writing.

What is your specialty and how did you get started in that particular area?

 I am a travel writer who writes mostly about her birthplace, Cape May, NJ. I actually grew up about 100 miles away from this beach town, but all my life I’ve travelled to Cape May for weekends and vacations any time of year. One of the first contacts I made once I had a few articles published was with the editor of a local magazine for travelers to the area. I write about all aspects of the greater Cape May area, either through assignment or my own ideas. That magazine continues to be my best client.

What are three things a writer needs to know before choosing to specialize in travel writing?

Any writer who wants to specialize in a certain place must:

• Know the place inside-out. This means researching what would interest children, couples, families, single travelers and girlfriend getaways, not just what you find interesting.
• Talk to locals. As a shy person, I find it hard to chat up strangers. I have found a good hairdresser in Cape May who fills me in on where the locals eat and play, and I find that sitting at a lunch counter with locals on lunch breaks can be a great way to get a different perspective.
• Network with the organizations that plan events for visitors and get on their email or snail mail lists.

Does travel writing require any particular training or could a layperson pick it up?

My training is ongoing: I read lots of travel writing (books and articles) and writers’ magazines. I attend conferences whenever feasible. I took a correspondence course a long time ago that was helpful, but I have since seen many books and workshops that would be helpful for beginners as well.

Are there any potential pitfalls associated with specializing in travel writing?

I rely on the same sources (chambers of commerce, tourist bureaus and arts organizations) over and over, so I must be diligent with quotes and how I represent the area or event. If I make a misstep, I could potentially damage their business, lose the helpful contact and jeopardize my travel writing future.

What is the current market for travel writing? Who is buying and who is selling?

I sell articles to regional and national publications, but I do my best selling when the article is on a particular aspect (a kite festival, bird watching, World War II historical sites) for regional magazines. Once in awhile I sell a more general article to a magazine with a readership in a larger geographic area, but I do better when there’s a secondary focus besides the ‘place’.

What do you enjoy most about travel writing?

I love seeing Cape May as a tourist would. I eat in the popular restaurants, dress up in Victorian costume for Sherlock Holmes Weekend, check out festivals, and visit the museums frequently all in the name of research. I get to meet lots of local experts who share my love of the town, too.

What do you enjoy least about travel writing?

I don’t enjoy rush jobs so much because I feel pressured to get the article in without doing proper research and getting a feel for the topic. I have many contacts and lots of data to fall back on, but I like to put a personal spin on my articles by experiencing subjects myself.

How would you suggest networking within your specialty? 

As I mentioned before, tourist bureaus, chambers of commerce, and arts organizations are very helpful and can sometimes provide comps! I would also recommend getting to know local proprietors who provide services for visitors. For example, I interviewed a wedding planner for an article about destination beach weddings, and she was a wealth of information about that topic and others. Again, finding places to interact with the locals can yield great insight. I’m just beginning to use Twitter for networking, but I’m liking it a lot. It takes awhile to compile a collection of Twitterers who tweet knowledgeably about a topic and who will reply to   questions, but once you have a good set of people following you, Twitter is a great resource.

What advice would you give to freelance writers interested in specializing in travel writing?

Learn about the place thoroughly by reading, talking, and experiencing before you try to get anything published. Visit in all seasons and see what people are doing. Blogs are a great way to record your impressions and discoveries and can eventually help establish you as an expert. Be thoughtful when you write and include lots of photos. Pictures tell a story sometimes better than words.

Margaret Montet is a freelance writer and academic librarian who teaches, writes, and speaks frequently on information seeking and mind mapping. She has written extensively about her favorite place, America’s oldest seashore resort, Cape May, New Jersey. Margaret has published   articles on various topics including medieval art, murder mystery dinner parties, apples,  cranberries, quilting, kite flying, and assorted travel destinations. She lives in Hamilton, New Jersey. Check out her blog at http://margaretmontet.blogspot.com or find her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/margaretmontet. 

Readers, if you have questions for Margaret, please leave them in the comments section.