EP 11: Five Ways to Start a Travel Story That Hooks Readers In Immediately

<p>The first sentence of a travel story can take me hours. Sometimes days. But once I find it, the rest flows.</p><p><br></p><p>If you're getting stuck on beginnings, you're definitely not alone. This week I'm sharing five of my favourite ways to open a travel piece, with real examples from published stories (including a couple of my own) that show exactly how each one works.</p><p><br></p><p>We cover dialogue, foreshadowing, immersive scene-setting, the informational opening, and the action drop - and why the best openings across all five types share one thing in common that most writers don't think about.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Articles mentioned in this episode (where there are online versions):</strong></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/ecuador-hothouse-heart-jungle" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ecuador: the hothouse heart of the jungle</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/goodfood/eating-out/travelling-india-as-a-vegan-20190814-h1h3ma.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Vegan food adventure across India</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/why-this-hidden-oasis-is-the-coolest-luxury-destination-right-now-20230905-p5e22i.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why this hidden oasis is the coolest luxury destination right now</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://missourireview.com/article/au-train-de-vie-that-voice-you-hear-when-traveling/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Au Train de Vie: That voice you hear when travelling</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.escape.com.au/destinations/asia/japan/i-found-myself-on-spiritual-pilgrimage-in-japans-kii-peninsula/news-story/3c580a78efe9d9c86a9afaef598cc7fe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Me, myself and Kii</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/an-australian-plane-wreck-gives-insight-into-a-surreal-landscape-20240927-p5ke0y.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This plane wreck in a remote part of WA is like a scene from Lost</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.australiantraveller.com/nsw/outback-nsw/magical-mysterious-mungo/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Explore magical, mysterious Mungo National Park</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.internationaltraveller.com/europe/transylvanias-mushroom-hat-artisans/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Transylvania's last mushroom hat artisans fight to save their art</a></p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/traveller/inspiration/the-moment-a-grizzly-stopped-hunting-fish-and-noticed-me-20250404-p5lp6c.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The moment a grizzly stopped hunting fish... and noticed me</a></p><p><br></p><p>Want more travel writing content? <a href="https://thefreelancersyear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sign up to get weekly email newsletters all about travel writing here.</a></p><p><br></p><p>Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻</p><p></p><p>Love the show? Share it with a fellow writer or leave a review 🙏🏻</p><p><br></p><p>For more resources, visit <a href="https://www.thefreelancersyear.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.thefreelancersyear.com</a></p><p><br></p><p>Let's connect! Come say hi on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thefreelancersyear/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@thefreelancersyear</a></p><p><br></p><p>Happy writing + travelling! - Lindy</p>