What's new in what you're writing?

(Sorry for skipping out a couple of months: Busy writing and product planning. Stay tuned, probably in later January, for an exciting new venue to sell your travel writing, which will also explain why I've been busy!)

I was reminded yesterday while visiting San Francisco's California Academy of Science of the importance of finding the "new" in every newspaper travel article you write--or almost every article. It's not by chance that the word "new" is in newspaper. That applies to every section of the newspaper too, if you want to be on its pages. You must bring something new to the table.

In yesterday's case, the Academy is in a huge temporary holding a block west of the Moscone Center, where downtown conventions are held. But the doors close there in one week (January 7, 2008), to reopen at the completely rebuilt center in Golden Gate Park in late fall, 2008. So there is no freelance article now inviting newcomers to see the penguin feeding and electric eels. By the time that article is read by the travel editor, the doors will be closed!

But there are several other articles between now and the door opening in fall:

* Focusing on the fall opening, where are all the exhibits and animals now (not many are in the temp museum), who feeds and sustains them, and how are they moved and integrated into the new building's opening?

* Describe the planning logistics of building a new series of exhibition buildings in this era of environmental and budgetary limitations. Lots of angles here: the architecture, the revamping of the old buildings (really, their removal), setting up the infrastructure (like the maze of piping and tanks for the huge variety), ...

* How will the way the animals and exhibits are displayed be different? Will this require different personnel? How will it be better than at other, similar museums in California?    

* And while this change is being made, what other changes are in store for the new museum once the new doors are open and the dust has settled? What can locals and visitors see and do in fall 2008 at the new museum? (Too soon? Hardly. Travelers are planning trips eight or so months out, and a good article can also be held by the travel editor, for quick updating as the opening approaches.)

That's it; nothing profound. Always ask, "What's new?" for every travel article, then build the piece around that novelty. It's the one hook that will catch every travel editor's eye because it gives a purpose to your prose and suggests a timely use date.

(Also, a response to a question two of you just asked. The essence of the Travel Writer's Guide is available on CD with a very useful workbook as a download. It's called "How to Sell 75% of Your Travel Writing," and follows very closely my travel writing seminar given mostly in California.)