How to Write a Moon Travel Guide

You imagine yourself meandering through a night market of food stalls in Thailand, engulfed by the tangy air rising from steaming pots in search of the perfect noodle. You see yourself cresting a rolling hill on your bicycle in the verdant countryside of France, deciding which farmhouse guest accommodations will be suitable for the night. Maybe you long to hit the road and share your love of quirky roadside Americana, or can’t wait to set off through the jungle to explore ancient cities in South America.

For many travel writing is a dream job. I’m amazed and encouraged by how many people want to write for Moon. I was a senior editor at Moon prior to moving into my current position as the acquisitions editor, and in both roles I worked with authors through the many stages of developing and producing a guidebook. Travel writing is a fantastic gig, but it’s also a lot of hard work.

Seeking out new authors for Moon is one of the fun things about being a travel acquisitions editor. I love hearing stories from people all over the world and learning about the places they live and love. But finding the right person to write a Moon guide isn’t always easy. Here’s what I’m looking for and how to grab my attention.

Becoming a Moon author

What makes Moon authors unique is their insider knowledge about a destination. Authors for Moon guides usually live in the destinations they write about, so they’re giving a local’s perspective and not one of a travel writer who drops in on a place and writes about what they discover.

Each time I review an application, I ask myself these questions: Does this person deeply know the place they are applying to write about? Is it clear they love this place? Are they passionate about travel? Does the writing make me want to go there?

When I review cover letters and resumes from people who want to write for Moon, often a small detail will grab my attention that shows their knowledge and love of a place. It could be sampling every batch-brewed beer in greater San Diego (because it might prove useful at some point), or tracking stats of every nationwide football match for a blog in Argentina. Whatever the destination, if you can show me your passion for it through your experiences and stir my interest in the place through your writing, you’re off to a good start.

Is prior travel writing experience required?

Prior experience writing a travel guidebook is not a requirement for becoming a Moon author, but writing for magazines, newspapers, or blogs about the destination you’re applying for is important. Travel writing takes skill, and I look for candidates who not only inspire a sense of place through words, but who also understand the importance of providing the nitty-gritty details of trip planning. All applicants must have a minimum of two years’ experience working as a professional writer to be considered. I ask applicants to submit a portfolio of published articles related to their destination.

Where in the world is Moon publishing?

I primarily seek out writers for specific destinations and solicit book proposals from qualified candidates. A list of prospective titles can be found on the Moon Acquisitions Web Page. I update this list regularly, so check back to see where we are currently looking to publish.

If you don’t see a destination you feel qualified to write about but have an idea that fits into one of our existing Moon series, you can send in a pitch to acquisitions@hbgusa.com.

Who takes photographs for Moon travel books?

Moon authors provide the photos for the books they write. Please note that we never hire people solely to take photographs for Moon books. If you are a writer with photography skills, be sure to mention that in your application.

Where are Moon books distributed and how are they marketed?

Moon is distributed internationally, with the widest availability in the United States and Canada. Our marketing team and publicists work with Moon authors to promote their books. Authors play a key role, and we encourage our authors to write posts for Moon.com, create their own websites or blogs, and build a social media presence through sites like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

What is it like to be a Moon author?

I hear it’s pretty great. In fact many Moon authors love it so much they end up wanting to write more than one Moon guide. But let’s be honest, writing a travel guidebook is hard. It’s not all about chatting up restaurant owners and sampling the local sauce. It’s about meticulous organization and meeting deadlines. It’s about managing data and documenting thousands of seemingly innocuous details, all while typing away into the wee hours of the morning and then dashing out at first light to make the most of the day. It’s also not going to make you rich. But for most, travel writing is a labor of love.

What is the process for applying to write for Moon?

Still interested in applying? Please send in your query, cover letter, and resume to acquisitions@hbgusa.com and put the title and destination you’re applying for in the subject line. I look forward to hearing your ideas.

For a more information about how to write a pitch and destinations for which we are seeking authors, please be sure to check out: Writing for Moon Travel.