Writers Guidelines

Viva List

Guide to Writing Successful V!VA List Pieces

The V!VA List is a way for travelers to share experiences and have those experiences published in our award-winning books. Unlike traditional guide books, which list all of the must-sees and the must-dos from any given place, V!VA List focuses on unforgettable individual experiences. Here are some tips to follow for giving the best chance of having your work star in the next V!VA publication:

1) Uniqueness

What is it about your story that is going to make it stand out from the competition? If you are writing about a big, well known tourist attraction, what makes your experience stand out from that of others who might also be writing about the same place? Did you have an unusual cultural encounter or experience it in a way few tourists have? If writing about a common type place, such as a beach, imagine how many beach stories the editor will see. What makes your beach special? The editors will be looking for a mixture of well-known attractions, and fascinating little-known places that are off the beaten path.

2) Find your niche

Are you a ruins hound? A food connoisseur? An expert in traveling with kids? A birding expert? Write about what you know and enjoy. Our readers want to hear from those who really know what they’re talking about!

3) Focus

Find a focus and stick to it. Tell what needs to be told, what you think makes it interesting, and remember to only tell it once. Remember to make every word count.

4) Narratives

Both the very best, and the very worst pieces received for the last book were personal narratives. First-person narratives often make for the best travel pieces; however, if you are not confident, avoid them. Instead, use your experiences as a starting point for a place or activity to write about, but then dive into writing about it from a third person view. Included here are some links to examples of great first person and third person writing.

First Person: La Ciudad Perdida Ruins arren Fizgerald 

Third Person: Mothers of the Disappeared

5) Story structure

The structure of your story is hugely important. First, grab your reader with a powerful opening sentence that will make him or her want to read the entire piece. Writing about a beach? Avoid opening sentences like “The beach at Ipanema is very, very nice.” Try something more sensational, like “Brazil has many beaches, but only one has such beautiful women that it inspired a best-selling timeless song – Ipanema.” Once you’ve got your reader, think about the structure of your piece. It should flow logically.

6) Proof Read

ALWAYS proof read your stories before submission:

• Spell carefully and proofread. Use the spell checker and grammar checker features on your word processing program: it will help you catch typos as well as avoid common pitfalls like run-on sentences and fragments, but this is NOT replaced by good old-fashioned proofreading.

• Fact-check. Always check on dates, times, history, addresses…. Be detail oriented. If you don’t know something, look it up, or consult a reputable expert (like the tourism office or embassy). Research and confirm facts with 3 different sources. If you find a good web site that confirms your facts, include it for our reference.  
• Read your story aloud. Are all the sentences well structured and do they make sense? Often times, sentences that look good on paper will sound funny when read aloud. It’s a good way to improve your work. 
• Get feedback. Ask a friend or family member to read the piece through and give you feedback. Pick someone who will be honest, such as a family member who does not like you. Just kidding! Seriously, pick someone who will tell it like it is. Ensure that you do not jump around between tenses within the piece. Example: “I’m bouncing around in the back of a beat-up bus. Through the window, I can see kids running alongside. Once I got there, the bus stopped and I got out.” See how different tenses can disrupt a narrative?

7) Plagiarism

This is your chance to let your voice be heard! Why would you want to copy someone else’s voice? Needless to say never, ever plagiarize, and plagiarized material will not be published.

8) Relax

Relax and enjoy the writing process. Don’t try too hard to write an academic or formal piece if that isn’t you. Let your natural voice shine! Travelers have unique experiences and stories, but what makes them interesting is the tone and ease of which you tell your story. Readers, and especially editors, can tell when you are trying too hard, or not at all.