This summer, I was officially accepted into the Society of American Travel Writers – SATW for short. In order to qualify for membership, I had to meet certain criteria – like adhering to ethical standards in travel writing, providing colleague recommendations, and having enough “points” (i.e., recent articles and travel guides) to demonstrate my travel experience.So, needless to say, I’m tickled to have been accepted into this professional organization. Silly as it might sound, it feels like a modicum of validation for years of hard work in my chosen field. It’s heartening, too, to think that I’m part of a group of like-minded folks who all love travel and genuinely want to help one another. Besides, in two years, the national convention is in New Zealand!!!!
Ahem.
Apparently, there are SATW members everywhere. My sponsor, Cindy, lives just down the road in northern Michigan, and Christopher Baker happens to be one of my fellow bloggers at Moon.com.
And not to change the subject completely, but speaking of Moon.com, there are a few travel guide giveaways happening over there. So, if you’re restless wherever you are at the moment – and hoping for a getaway – here’s your chance to win a free travel guide. You never know – it might just inspire a mini-vacation.
Author Wayne Bernhardson is hosting a contest to give away two free Moon Chile guides, while the Moon editors are offering a free copy of Moon Monterey & Carmel. So, of course, I jumped on the bandwagon. I, too, am giving away a free travel guide: the third edition of Moon Michigan. To win, you just have to answer a few trivia questions. Give it a go – it just might be the start of a wonderful trip to the Great Lakes State. (And for those who live in Michigan, feel free to enter, too. Anyone can benefit from having a guide to his/her home state. I mean, you haven’t been everywhere yet, have you?)
