One of the biggest problems with writing a travel story is getting started. Here's a tip: pick out a friend or family member who understands you best, and write them an email or a letter about your trip. You will find you are not censoring yourself and the material you write will be fresh and personal. Afterwards, be sure to take off the "Dear Tammy" before you send in the story!

When writing the beginning of your story, also called the lead, start with an anecdote, quote or fact you encountered on your trip that surprised or delighted you the most. The reader will probably feel the same and will read on.

In order to encounter real people outside the usual tourist groove, complete a mundane task you'd have to do at home, such as washing your laundry or shopping for groceries --- even if it's only for a piece of cheese. In these situations, it will be easy to be natural and to ask for help and you'll meet locals in the process. In the store, ask "How do you cook this?" or "What plant (or animal) does this come from?"

Remember that a place is not an idea. To interest an editor in your story, there must be an interesting angle. Think about this before you set out on your trip. Instead of simply "Paris," as a theme, try "Paris with a Two Year Old, " "Paris in Winter For Less" or "Paris: Thirty Years Later" or "Finding Couture Clothes at a Discount in Paris."