How to Pitch Five Magazines Looking for Profiles of Interesting People (Edition II)
Welcome to the Friday Freebie Five, a new weekly feature on Dream of Travel Writing’s Six Figure Travel Writer blog.
Each week, we comb our Travel Magazine Database to bring you five magazine sections open to freelancers around a theme–front-of-book trend pieces, long-form first-person features, short narrative postcards–to inspire your pitches.
Robb Report (US)
“Source File” profiles an interesting person, often one working in the luxury or fashion industries. There’s a 100-word third-person introduction, covering what they do, followed by a 400-word article. This is written in a first-person as-told-to style and could cover their favorite places to visit worldwide, more in the industry they work in, or anecdotes from their childhood and any future plans. Examples include “Eve of the Beholder,” profiling Paola Russo, founder of boutique Just One Eye, “Driven to Discover,” about Pierre Lagrange, owner of fashion brand Huntsman, and “Forecasting Time,” profiling Hamilton Powell, founder of Crown & Caliber.
Modern Luxury Hawai’i
“People” and “Profile” both take the form of profiles of interesting people who work and live on Hawai‘i in about 300 words. Q&As are often seen and occasionally the article appears as a third-person piece with quotes throughout. Examples of “People” articles include “Once Bitten,” a Q&A with the founder of Hawai‘i-based jewelry brand BYCHARI, “Lash Love,” a Q&A with lash extension expert Kristin Wood, and “Picture Perfect,” profiling illustrator Dallas Shaw who was recently named the bridal illustrator for St. Regis Princeville Resort Kaua’i. Recent “Profiles” include “Cavier Wishes,” covering the jewelry brand LAGOS which recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, “Jeweled Musings,” a Q&A with jeweler Maria Canale and what she loves about Hawai’i, and “Natural Woman,” profiling founder of Tulura skincare line, Eileen Feighy.
enRoute
“Insider’s Guide” is a profile of Canadian native who is now based abroad. There is a 70-word sidebar introduction followed by a 250-word first person article rounding up four of their favorite spots in their adopted city. This frequently includes restaurants, parks, and hotels with their addresses and phone numbers included. Recent examples of cities covered include Vienna, Quito, and Tulum.
How to Spend It
“The Aesthete” takes the form of a profile of an interesting person in the luxury world. In 1,000 to 1,500 words, the article appears as a Q&A covering luxury shopping and product related questions. Questions change slightly with each issue although the following are seen regularly: “personal style signifiers,” “the last thing I bought and loved,” “and the thing I’m eyeing next,” “a recent find,” “the grooming staple I’m never without,” “an indulgence I would never forgo,” “If I had to limit my shopping to one neighbourhood in one city, I’d choose,” and “my favourite websites and apps.” People recently profiled include ceramist Peter Ting, fashion designer Amanda Wakeley, and founder of perform brand By Kilian, Kilian Hennessy.
True West
“Unsung” is a 500-word article which profiles an interesting person from the American Frontier. The piece is written in third person and tells the story of a little-known person in a conversational and informal tone. Examples from recent issues include “Robber’s Roost Defender,” which describes Daniel Boone May and his job to protect stagecoach passengers traveling through Black Hills, “From Slavery to Cattle King,” profiling Daniel Webster “80 John” Wallace who was born a slave but became a successful rancher in Texas, and “The Youngest Prisoner,” telling the story of Claude Hankins who murdered the son of a famous Old West sheriff and became the youngest prisoner in San Quentin State Prison at 14 years old.
You can find complete how-to pitching information for each magazine listed, including email addresses for all editors, in our Travel Magazine Database by clicking on the magazine’s name and logging in with your account.
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