Local Travel Guide opportunity

My biggest oversight during my time in Los Angeles was that I didn’t write local travel guides about this coveted destination. My first foray into travel writing was when I started visiting Turkey, and writing about it when I returned to LA.

Why didn’t I realise the potential of my adopted home town, and use my local city knowledge and expertise to write a travel guide or two about any of the local destinations in my neighbourhood?

A common phrase comes to mind: “familiarity breeds contempt”

extensive knowledge of or close association with something that leads to a loss of respect for it.

I didn’t lose respect for Los Angeles, but my mind and heart was captured by Turkey. I spent all my free time writing about those foreign lands, rather than what was on my doorstep.

… “The grass is always greener” syndrome perhaps?

So rather than immersing myself in my local surroundings, I wrote about what was new and exciting, rather than what I saw and experienced every day on my doorstep.

Local Travel Guides in Norfolk

On a recent trip to my home town in the UK I popped into a local bookshop. I discovered three large sections on local books, which included narratives, travel memoirs, and of course travel guides. There were some travel guides by the major publishers that covered broad regional areas, and many more local guides from indie authors. I was even pleased to discover a local publisher or two.

Click here to view example of these Norfolk guides at a local retailer, Jarrolds of Norwich.

I was surprised by the sheer volume of local travel guides available. It was a pointed reminder of the potential of our surrounding areas.

Write Local Travel Guides

If you’re set on being a travel guide writer, but don’t have the budget or time to spend on travelling far afield to explore new countries or continents, don’t worry – because the destination you’re most knowledgeable about is right outside your front door.

Let your neighbourhood inspire you, and see what personal spin you can bring to a local travel guide about your area. You’re in an enviable position of being able to offer insider insights, and this is an extremely valuable commodity.

Isn’t it about time you went out your front door to look at the neighbourhood with a fresh set of eyes?

In Part 2 of this post I share some resource sites to help inspire you to plan and write your own local travel guide for your neighbourhood.

As well as writing more on the topic of local travel guides, I’ve also published a podcast on the same topic “How to Become a Local Travel Guide Author”

Read more articles in my How to Write a Travel Guide Series

I’m putting the finishing touches on my How to Write and Self-Publish a Travel Guide Series, which details a step by step approach for writing and producing your own travel guide. It’s part of a four-part series aimed at helping travel bloggers achieve passive income based on their passions and existing content.

Each month I host a monthly free prize draw and give away a travel writing e-book to the lucky winner. Sign up to join my mailing list to participate.

I’m looking for collaboration partners to publish a series of local travel guides. Do you have a Local Travel Guide idea you need help planning or writing? I can help you develop the idea, and take you concept to a published ebook.