Old Friends, New Friends, and Rich Adventures

Sunday, June 17, 2007
Paris, France

A couple of Saturdays ago, I met an old friend, Jen Stevens, for lunch at a café here in Paris. Jen was for years my top editor at IL, but it had been seven years since I'd seen her.

Sitting down to lunch with Jen, her husband, and their little baby, I was reminded how far-flung our friends are. Scattered all over the planet.

It can be hard to get together. On the other hand, no matter where I travel, I nearly always know somebody on the ground.

In fact, meeting interesting, like-minded people has been one of the greatest pleasures I've enjoyed in my 21 years at International Living. Both locals and other expats on the move like me.

Americans in Belize…a Canadian couple raising their kids in Argentina…a British antiques dealer I've recently become acquainted with here in Paris…

I value the chances my work brings me not only to get to know these people, but to introduce them to each other, as well. And to you.

Traveling as a writer is what started all of this for me. I've known I wanted to be a writer since I was in the sixth grade. But I found my way to travel writing by chance. A very fortunate, as things have turned out, series of random events led me at an early age to the doors of International Living, where I've found a happy home ever since.

I have always felt the tug of wanderlust. But traveling with an excuse to travel really has changed the way I experience the world--for the better. When you travel as a travel writer, you travel more attentively, and that makes your understanding of a place richer.

And, of course, you meet people--more readily, I think, than you do when you're a standard-issue tourist.

The truth is, if you knew me, you might call me shy. But moving around the world with an agenda as I do makes it easier for me to start conversations and to ask questions. I never want for an opening line at a cocktail party…thanks to you. When I know I'll be reporting back to you and your fellow IL readers about my discoveries, I suddenly have more to say.

I'm a firm believer that you don't need a degree in journalism, or even any writing experience, to be a successful travel writer.

Look at Steenie Harvey, our lead editor in Europe. Steenie's been writing for us for more than 15 years. She didn't study writing in school and had no previous experience when she contacted us cold a decade-and-a-half ago to ask if we'd be interested in reading an article she'd like to write on buying property in Ireland.

"Sure," we responded. "Send it along."

Steenie did. And that one article has led to a full-time occupation that has allowed Steenie, often with her husband and sometimes her daughter in tow, to travel far and wide. And to make a good living along the way.

Over the years, we've published hundreds of articles from people who simply had good recommendations to share and who could explain themselves clearly, in ways our readers (that is, you) could understand. To me, that's what's most important.

Here's my point: If you're a closet travel writer…we'd like to out you.

If you have an experience, discovery, or recommendation from some corner of the world that you think might benefit fellow readers, I encourage you to send it along to us here at IL. We're always in the market for on-the-ground, from-the-scene intelligence. You'll find our Writer's Guidelines here.
Take me up on this invitation, and I think you'll discover, as I have over the years, that, when you begin to travel with an eye to telling stories, your travels become more textured, more fun, and more rewarding. And maybe even money-making in the bargain.

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher, International Living

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