Moon Travel Guides: An Employee's Experience And Insights

Working at Moon Travel Guides involves a lot of hard work, but it also comes with the perks of a nomadic lifestyle. The company was founded in 1973 to advocate for independent, active, and conscious travel, and it has since become the number one publisher of travel guides to the Americas with global coverage. Moon authors are experts with a passion for their destinations, and they almost always live in the places they write about, providing an insider's perspective. The job involves meticulous organization, meeting deadlines, managing data, and documenting thousands of details. It also requires a deep knowledge of the place, a passion for travel, and the ability to stir a sense of wanderlust in readers. Prior travel writing experience is not required, but writing for other publications about the destination is important, and all applicants must have at least two years of professional writing experience.

Remote work opportunities and high pay

Moon Travel Guides offers remote work opportunities and high pay for freelancers. A review on Glassdoor mentions the pros of working for the company as "Remote Work" and "High Paid".

Moon Travel Guides is always on the lookout for writers for specific destinations and topics. The company publishes print travel guides that offer a combination of practicality and spirit, with a traveller-to-traveller perspective. Their books cover countries, regions, cities, getaways, the outdoors, and living abroad.

The majority of their assignments are for their Moon Handbooks series, which is their most extensive. The company is not interested in fiction, children's books, or memoirs.

To apply to become a writer for Moon Travel Guides, you must submit a resume, a cover letter, and up to five relevant clips to [email protected]. In the cover letter, you must specify which title you are interested in and explain why you are the best person to author that guidebook. A full proposal is not required initially.

Moon Travel Guides will then contact applicants they think are a good fit for a phone interview. After the interviews, the best candidates will be invited to write full proposals for the project.

It is important to note that it is rare for a writer to be considered qualified to write about more than one or two destinations. Therefore, applicants should be specific in their cover letters about which title they are applying for and why they are the best person to write that book.

The full proposal must include the following:

• An introduction that gives an overview of the destination, including its personality and character, in about one page.
• Author credentials that highlight why the applicant is the best author for the book, including applicable experience, education, and other published materials.
• A competition analysis that describes other books currently available on the same topic, and how the proposed book would be different and fill a gap in the market.
• A detailed outline of the book's contents, including the general structure and how each region will be covered.
• Regional chapter descriptions and highlights, including a brief description of each area covered and 5-10 highlights for each region.
• Sample profiles, including one sight profile, two restaurant profiles, and two hotel profiles.
• Marketing and promotion strategies, including information on the applicant's website, social media presence, and willingness to participate in author programs and interviews.
• Manuscript specifications, such as estimated page count, time needed to complete the manuscript, number and types of photographs and maps to be included, and how they will be obtained.
• Sample photos (five TIFF or JPG files) with accompanying captions.
• An electronic map that outlines the geographic divisions used in the book (Google Maps is recommended).

Travel inspiration and exclusive discounts

Moon Travel Guides offers travel inspiration and exclusive discounts straight to your inbox. By signing up for their newsletter, you can receive updates on the latest travel guides and get access to discounted prices.

The Moon Travel Guides website provides a wealth of information for aspiring travel writers, with tips on how to pitch ideas, submit proposals, and find open opportunities for specific destinations. Their guides cover a range of topics, including countries, regions, cities, getaways, outdoor adventures, and living abroad.

Moon Travel Guides also has a wide range of travel books available for purchase on Amazon.com, offering comprehensive guides to various destinations around the world, such as USA National Parks, Prague, Vienna & Budapest, and the Pacific Coast Highway Road Trip.

In addition to their books and website, Moon Travel Guides also has a presence on TripAdvisor, where travellers can find and share information about their guides. Whether you're an aspiring travel writer or a seasoned explorer, Moon Travel Guides offers a community and resources to inspire your next adventure.

So, whether you're dreaming of meandering through night markets in Thailand or cycling through the French countryside, Moon Travel Guides can provide the inspiration and practical advice to turn your travel dreams into reality. With their exclusive discounts and insightful guides, they can help you explore the world and create unforgettable memories.

Requirements for writing a Moon Travel Guide

Insider Knowledge

Authors for Moon guides usually live in the destinations they write about, so they can offer a local's perspective. Moon authors have explored their subjects from top to bottom and want to share their knowledge with others.

Passion

Moon looks for writers who are passionate about their destination and can convey that passion through their writing. Editors ask themselves: Does this person deeply know and love the place they are applying to write about? Does the writing make me want to go there?

Writing experience

Prior experience writing a travel guidebook is not a requirement, but writing for magazines, newspapers, or blogs about the destination you’re applying for is important. All applicants must have a minimum of two years of experience working as a professional writer and should submit a portfolio of published articles and reviews related to their destination.

Proposal

To be considered, potential authors must submit a full proposal, including:

• An introduction that evokes a sense of place
• Author credentials and applicable experience
• A competition analysis of other books on the market and how your book would be different
• A detailed outline of the book's contents, including a general structure and how each region will be covered
• Regional chapter descriptions and highlights
• Sample profiles of a sight, two restaurants, and two hotels
• A marketing and promotion plan, including any websites or social media platforms the author has
• Manuscript specifications, such as estimated page count, time needed to complete the manuscript, and the number and types of photographs and maps to be included
• Sample photos and an electronic map outlining the geographic divisions

Photography

Moon authors provide the photos for their books, so photography skills are a plus.

Values

Moon Travel Guides prioritises local businesses, outdoor recreation, and travelling strategically and sustainably. Authors should share these values and be culturally and politically aware, adventurous, and inspiring.

Independence

Moon does not accept payment for inclusion in its travel guides, and authors do not accept free goods or services in exchange for positive coverage.

The acquisitions process for new authors

Moon Travel Guides is always on the lookout for new authors to write for its print travel guides. The company seeks writers with insider knowledge of a destination, usually locals who can offer a unique perspective to travellers.

The Pitch

To apply, send your resume, a cover letter, and up to five relevant clips to [email protected]. In the cover letter, specify the title you are interested in and explain why you are the best person to write that guidebook. A full proposal is not required initially.

Moon Travel Guides will then contact suitable applicants for a phone interview and ask them to write a full proposal.

The Proposal

The proposal must include the following:

• An introduction to the destination, evoking a sense of place in one page.
• Author credentials, including experience, education, and previously published materials.
• A competition analysis of other books on the same destination, and how your book would differ.
• A detailed outline of the book's contents, including regional chapter descriptions and highlights.
• Sample profiles of one sight, two restaurants, and two hotels.
• Marketing and promotion plans, including any websites, blogs, or social media presence you have.
• Manuscript specifications, including estimated page count, time needed to complete the manuscript, and number and types of photographs and maps.
• Sample photos and an electronic map of the geographic divisions used in the book.

Moon Travel Guides typically provide authors with 6-12 months to research and write the book, which will range from 200 to 600 pages. Authors are responsible for providing photos and map materials.

Marketing and promotion of Moon Travel Guides

Marketing and promotion are key aspects of the Moon Travel Guides business. Moon Travel Guides is distributed internationally, with the majority of its market in the United States and Canada. The company works closely with its authors to market their books, encouraging them to create online content and build a social media presence. Moon also has an influencer marketing program where they collaborate with influencers and content creators to promote their guidebooks.

• Radio interviews and bookstore events: Moon's marketing team and publicists work with authors to set up radio interviews and events at bookstores to promote their guidebooks.
• Online content: Authors are encouraged to write posts for Moon.com and create their own websites or blogs to generate interest in their books.
• Social media presence: Building a following on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is another way authors can promote their guidebooks and connect with potential readers.
• Influencer marketing: Moon Travel Guides collaborates with influencers and content creators who have an audience base that is primarily American or Canadian. They offer review copies of books, sponsor blog posts and social media campaigns, and provide gear or books for group excursions.
• Email marketing: Moon offers a newsletter with travel inspiration and discounts, encouraging readers to sign up and stay engaged with their brand.
• Partnerships: Moon works with the Hachette Book Group, and authors can potentially connect with them for Q&As or interviews to promote their books.

Moon Travel Guides understands the importance of marketing and promotion in reaching potential travellers and building a community around their guidebooks. By utilising a combination of traditional and digital marketing strategies, they aim to increase brand awareness and engage with their target audience.

Frequently asked questions