✨ Welcome to our series, TravMedia's Travel Writer of the Week! ✨
Each week, we'll be shining a spotlight on one of the incredibly talented, passionate, and inspiring Journalists or Editors from our amazing community.
This week, we'd like to shine the spotlight on freelance travel writer - David Williams.
We hope you enjoy - happy reading !!
Where are you based?
Herne Hill, South London - just close enough to cycle into the centre for meetings (and TravMedia get-togethers) in 20-25 minutes.
What outlets do you write for?
Most of my recent work has been published by the Daily Telegraph and the Evening Standard, although I've also taken commissions from the Mail on Sunday, Daily Express and various magazines, over the years.
Who is your audience?
Anyone who likes a good adventure! Now that our twins are creating their own travel plans, I've shifted away from 'family' travel towards writing for empty-nesters and those with perhaps more time on their hands.
What are your travel specialties?
I particularly love reporting on road trips, whether by car, motorcycle or motorhome but (who isn't?) I'm never averse to a little luxurious lying around for a short while, if there's a good story in it and some nice images. In my latest piece, for the Telegraph, focusing on the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Vancouver Island:
I covered sailing, canoeing, zip-lining, whale-watching, hiking, tourist attractions and restaurants. I also frequently review hotels - as long as there's a newsy angle.
Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?
After years of being a staffer on various national newspapers I'm very much a freelancer.
What are your professional pet peeves?
Very few if any - the travel industry is a great one to be involved with; full of enthusiasm and fun ideas.
In your past professional life you were …
I've always been a journalist, much of it as a transport/motoring correspondent, for various newspapers (and a magazine) including the Sunday Express, Daily Express, Evening Standard and as a regular Telegraph contributor. I've also been a commissioning editor and enjoyed the occasional side-hustle in PR after going freelance.
Where would you like to return to?
Always Canada. Curiously, I was made an 'honorary' Canadian once, in a ceremony at Calgary which involved wearing a big cowboy hat and swearing an oath on a hill! I've written about - and reported from - Canada on about eight different occasions, including with my (then young) family. That said, I did enjoy reporting on a particularly luxurious new Raffles resort in the Maldives...
What's on your bucket list?
I've never been to Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, so far. I dream of riding a motorcycle through parts of India, for a feature. I just need to put it into action!
Where do you travel for fun?
I've been fighting bowel cancer for a few years and am on a winning streak at the moment, so we recently had a great family holiday at a gite on the banks of the Dordogne. We used to visit France frequently but hadn't been for years - I'd forgotten how very beautiful and welcoming it was, particularly the small, historic, towns and villages. I also love long – sometimes guided - walks through historic parts of London.
Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is …
It's got to be the time I paddled way out into the wilderness, up the Yukon, with my wife and twins, then aged 16 (for the London Evening Standard). We wild-camped on the riverbank at strictly pre-arranged co-ordinates (in case urgent/medical air assistance was required), and spotted only two other canoes over five days; we really were miles from civilisation. Just as we reached our destination at dusk on the third night, beaching our canoes on the riverbank, a massive grizzly bear fleetingly appeared in the bushes. There were giant footprints all around the landing spot. Joseph and Anna couldn't believe their luck... but our expedition guide insisted I slept with a large axe next to my sleeping bag. Just in case. Next morning, the kids were wide-eyed with excitement. They'd been lying awake since dead of night after a 'beast' pawed at their tent, snorted and rooted around, before slinking off. We never were sure whether it was that bear, or possibly a cougar...!
What advice would you give your younger professional self?
Have faith - it's all going to work out, and you can adapt to almost anything. Even the cancer's at bay, for now.
What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?
If going freelance taught me one thing, it's to be persistent. For example, I've sometimes pitched the 'same' trip several times to the same outlet but with different angles, before striking lucky. I used to be on the other side of the commissioning 'barrier' and all I ever wanted was a great, new, well-written story at the end of the day. It's the same now. I've been incredibly fortunate to have thoroughly enjoyed a 'career' (if my haphazard trajectory can be so described) in news journalism, the most exciting part having been the access it afforded - access to pick up the phone to almost anyone, and get to see places I'd never otherwise have dreamed of visiting.
How best should people contact you?
Via email: https://travmedia.com/Client/MyProfile/290565
