A Travel Writer’s Call to Arms

Travel Blog  •  Eva Holland  •  11.29.07 | 1:06 PM ET

imageThe Hollywood writers’ strike is in full swing—I’ll be pining for those sassy doctors on “Grey’s Anatomy” tonight—and it was only a matter of time before other writers started organizing as well. In his latest column, South Florida Sun-Sentinel travel editor Thomas Swick calls for travel writers to take some action. Writes Swick: “Our concern is not so much money but respect. In the literary hierarchy, we fall even lower than the screenwriters and TV scribes in L.A. There’s never been a joke about an ambitious blonde sleeping with a travel writer. We are so invisible we don’t even figure in punch lines.” Swick makes a number of demands. My favorite: “No one is allowed to ask us, on our return from a trip, how our ‘vacation’ was.”

Related on World Hum:
* Thomas Swick on Travel Writing

Tags: Life of a Travel Writer

Eva Holland is co-editor of World Hum. She is a former associate editor at Up Here and Up Here Business magazines, and a contributor to Vela. She's based in Canada's Yukon territory.


4 Comments for A Travel Writer’s Call to Arms

M Rajan 11.30.07 | 1:27 AM ET

I am heartened to hear about the Hollywood writer’s strike. More power to the writers. Good article. Well written.

I have come across this interesting article: http://johnpmathew.blogspot.com/2007/11/edge-digital-maoism-hazards-of-new.html Do have a look.

Earl A. Boek 11.30.07 | 10:07 AM ET

Some of you travel columnist, I offer MSNBC’s John Freneye, Jr as an example, do not even rise to the level of Used Car Salesman. 

But like you say,  It’s not about money for you guys, if it was, you’d be doing something else for a living.

RobertsResorts.Net

Baxter 11.30.07 | 12:02 PM ET

At least your office has a great view! But Lower than screenwriters and TV writers?  They’re the best paid writers on earth.  This is between rich people who get paid up front(writers) arguing with rich people who don’t get paid until 3 years in and only if the show is a success(producers).  Of course when it’s a hit it’s a hit $$$$$$

TambourineMan 11.30.07 | 4:16 PM ET

I loved “demands” #‘s 4, 7 & 9.

I’ll add a demand my own:
Writing of tedious “Need to Know/Before You Go” sidebars shall be rewarded with a powdered cocaine donut.

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