Interview Time - Sarah Lee
Sarah Lee ‐ Travel Writer, Editor and Freelance Life Liver Extraordinaire
This month Rob Savage caught up with a rather funky travel writer who goes by the name of Sarah Lee. Sarah shared her top tips on what it takes to make it as a freelance writer, how far she’ll go for a story and who inspires her as a writer in the teenies.
OK ‐ just to get warmed up. You’re in a room with Leslie Phillips, David Cameron and Michael Douglas. Let’s play snog, marry, avoid and I want a reason for each!
- Snog: Michael Douglas ‐ if he’s good enough for Catherine he’s good enough for me.
- Marry: Leslie Phillips ‐ I’m sure he’ll be good fun and always well dressed.
- Avoid: David Cameron ‐ I don’t think I even need to give a reason for that, but let’s just say my husband would divorce me if I didn’t choose to avoid him.
What do you do ‐ in ten words or less?
I’m a freelance travel journalist and editor.
Now in as many words as you like …
I travel around and get paid for it. It’s the best job in the world, but also really hard work as you have to do everything from writing, to marketing and accounting, and like most travel writers I’m often to be found filing copy about Budapest when on a trip to Morocco, so you have to work on the road and be as comfortable in a group as you are in your own company. I write about all sorts of destinations ‐ generally, if it’s on the map I want to go there.
What is your favourite, fattiest comfort food and when does it come out of the cupboard?
Chocolate ‐ you really can’t beat it. Just in bars though, not chocolate cake or anything diluted! Just pure and unadulterated chocolate! It usually comes out with a nice cup of tea when I’m watching a good film.
You do a lot of your work online. For the sake of travel writers just starting out on the net, what are the basic bases that they need to cover?
I’m a bit of an old school journalist who thinks training is important. You’ll find that most writing is pretty formulaic ‐ not as in dull, but that there is a formula to it. At its most basic level that means a start, middle and end. For teaching you this and helping you to develop the ability to edit your work, I’d recommend some sort of training in journalism. For a broader view and for travel writing particularly ‐ a good starting point might be the courses on offer from Travellers Tales.
I’d also recommend starting a blog. Not only is this a good place to showcase your work but you’ll likely be invited to write for other blogs and websites. The most important thing when you’re telling a story online is to keep it short, lively and evocative, Make sure you use as many images, videos and sound clips as possible. They help bring the story to life.
How essential is Twitter in what you do?
I’m a big fan of twitter. People seem to get so hung up on it ‐ saying it’s just a fad, or not very useful, but it works well for me professionally ‐ giving me ideas and help with sources for certain stories. It’s good socially too. There’s a fantastic travel community on Twitter constantly tweeting tips, news and ideas. The #travel and #traveltuesday hash‐tags are the best places to start searching for these travelling tweeps. If you want to follow me I’m @sarahleetravels.
What was the first record that you bought?
Hmm, the answer to this question will surely age me. Wham’s Fantastic! … and it was for me ‐ I’m something of an 80s teeny bopper.
Who is your travel writing hero?
Alain de Botton ‐ not a travel writer as such but I think his analyses of why and how we travel, are fascinating. Also he’s pretty cool too.
In your expert opinion, what will be the biggest destination of the teenies?
I’m not really one for these sorts of predictions as they can be a little over‐inflated in the same way that people say ‘X destination has had its day / is really touristy now.’ The world is an incredible place. Why limit yourself to ‘the biggest’ or ‘the best’ this week, month, year, or decade? Instead get out there and see it all!
Finishing off the same way that we started out ‐ Hugh Heffner, Jerry Springer and Jamie Oliver. You don’t have to give a reason this time …
Oh but I feel I have to explain my choices!
- Snog: Jerry ‐ I have a thing for older men.
- Marry: Jamie ‐ Just think about the great home cooking.
- Avoid: Hef ‐ don’t do that kind of old!
