I saw a blog item about the "Bounty Board" on WrittenRoad.com in August, and came straight over in search of paying writing assignments. Then I saw the disclaimer about the most active members being given priority, filled out my profile, wrote my first blog, and was hooked! :)
Good topic, Julie - I too found Matador through written road - was in Cambodia, joined up and Ross commissioned this article from me:
That was the beginning.
Fantastic! I found Matador through craigslist.
I'm curious about the different paths that have led folks here.
stumbleupon.. actualy i stumbled across one of Tim`s articles and got linked here. i think this site is a great resource for all travelers.
Fantastic! David Miller will be happy to know that StumbleUpon is working! :)
Here's another question: How do you use Matador?
Fantastic! David Miller will be happy to know that StumbleUpon is working! :)
Here's another question: How do you use Matador?
what do you mean ?
2005, I was in Patagonia and looking for leads getting paid travel writing work. I found an ad on SF Craigslist, and ended up writing this piece: http://matadortravel.com/travel-writing/argentina/travel-place/searching-for-patagonia
It all started there.
Now, how do I use Matador?
I like to peruse new travel blogs on a regular basis. Always on the lookout for inspiration and always stoked at what I find.
These forums are getting better and better as well.
hey, cool! which article was it? and welcome to Matador by the way - looking forward to some blogs.
50 travel quotes(from BNT) which i think its great because it advocates all the reasons of the independent traveler.
Through BNT....just last week in the middle of the Matador "takeover" ....definately not a hostile one from what i can tell ;)
Interesting... so it seems several of you wandered to Matador via BNT. Which leads me to ask: How did you find BNT?
And
what other travel related websites do you frequent?
Sorry! That was vague, wasn't it?
David, who is Matador's Traverse Magazine and The Travelers Notebook editor, has encouraged readers to use StumbleUpon, digg, de.li.cious and the like to bookmark articles and see if that increases traffic to the sites.
I found BNT through Written Road, too... I believe it was Ian's famous "50 Travel Magazines That Want To Publish Your Writing" post that caught my attention. I didn't start reading it regularly right away, though.
As for other sites, here's the rundown: I used to be a LonelyPlanet.com junkie, weaned myself off recreational ThornTree use after I moved to the UK though (I still use it occasionally for trip-planning purposes). Then I was given Lonely Planet's Travel Writing guide (by Don George - it's a good one especially for starting out) for Christmas and it recommended World Hum and Written Road. I've been following World Hum since maybe June '06, added Written Road and Vagablogging in January '07 (or thereabouts), and Gadling, Jaunted, BNT and Matador all this summer. More recently Where Am I Wearing?, Vagabondish and Reid On Travel have joined the club. I also stalk a few writer-crushes via their personal blogs, and read the weekly travel sections for the San Francisco Chronicle, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen and (sometimes) the Toronto Star.
Wow... no wonder I never get any actual writing done!
I got tipped off through superblogger Deva, who is a dynamite connection to have when you're wading into the writing world.
Now I'm living abroad and trying to tip off other expats to get them on the site too.
nice discussion, novarte!
Anne-
Thanks for sharing! It's great to see new people joining through existing members who are on the road. Did you happen to read the blog by the guy in Uruguay who owns a hostel where Tim (Rucksackwanderer) is working? Those kinds of organic connections are great.
Am I too late?! :)
I just have to add that I came across Matador via Craigslist. The same way I came across my:
dog
bed
bed frame (funny/creepy story)
previous job
current job
a plethora of contract gigs
dryer
previous apartment
current home
wife (well, not really...)
Wait...which website were we talking about again?
I think I came across matador when I was doing research on traveling while I was at work. I might have discovered the link through couchsurfing.com randomly enough.
I use matador for the travel blogs and the forums I love reading them and seeing everybody openly communicate with one another. whenever I get streesed at work I come to this site to relax with a little reading.
After having an essay published in Brave New Traveler magazine, I noticed that they are partnered with Matador so I thought I'd check it out, and when I did I found it really neat.
My internship sent me on a press trip and one of the writers there told me about Matador. He said it was right in my demographic and had the Bounty Board, so I joined up and have really enjoyed the outcome.
Like some of the other respondees, I found Matador through Craigslist and was instantly hooked. It's been a killer networking resource for me as a writer and a traveler, and I'm having a great time sharing my passion for world travel and global awareness with so many like-minded individuals.
Joined: 09-14-06
Share your story... how did you stumble on to Matador?