Authors in the Media with Kimberley Lovato 

Kimberley Lovato and I have reunited for this Authors in the Media Q&A in which we discuss how she got started as a travel journalist, advice on getting into the field, and the role journalism plays on her fiction writing path.

Q: Kimberley, what drew you into journalism writing and why did you choose travel, specifically? Did you go to college for journalism, or did you apply for a job right out of high school? I love asking this question because authors who are or used to be journalists always have unique journeys! 

A: I took many journalism classes, even as far back as Jr. High, but it was not my major in college. I was an International Relations and French major. My first journalism job came after working (miserably) for almost five years in corporate business development and marketing. One day, I saw an ad for an entry-level reporter at a small community newspaper. I had no clips but told the editor about my desire and what I wanted to do. He took a chance on me, gave me a couple “dummy” assignments to make sure I could write, and then hired me. I am forever grateful. Would that happen today? I’d like to think there are still kind-hearted editors out there willing to give a new writer a leg up. I worked there for nearly three years, but then we moved, and moved, and moved again, so freelancing was the only way to keep at it. I kind of fell into travel writing when I lived in Belgium and an editor for an American magazine, I had written for asked if I could write about Antwerp. That’s when I realized I could pitch my own backyard (I lived in Belgium for six years) and publications would buy stories. 

Q: In our Q&A your advice for anyone wanting to go into freelance journalism 1. Be a writer first. There are many travel writing classes, conferences, and books out there on what it means to be a travel writer and what a good travel story is. 2. Look at your own backyard. As much as we love to take far flung trips, the places we live are likely full of quirky characters, history, food traditions, etc., and you don’t have to spend a lot to find a great story.  3. Read the work of writers you admire and ask yourself what you like about it, why it resonates, and how you can do the same with your words. Has this helped in your journalism career & what more wisdom do you have that you’ve learned in your career that you would want everyone to know whether they go into the journalism field or not?

A: Absolutely I have taken all this advice, and it helped get me started and get me where I am today, which is why I confidently pass it on. If I could offer a 4^th pearl on this list, it would be something an editor told me: make my job easier. That means turn in clean copy, write to the word count assigned, and turn in your work on time. It seems logical but you’d be surprised how many writers miss deadlines or turn in work with dozens of typos. When I say be a writer first, it’s because I have received dozens of emails over the years that have said, “I love to travel, how can I write about it and get paid to travel?” The premise of that question is ALL wrong. You have to be a writer first and then learn to tailor these skills to meet the needs of travel editors (or whatever topic interests you). Yes, I’ve attended many conferences, read books, talked to fellow writers and editors, taken classes, and then I did the work. Writing is just like anything else you want to learn———practice makes it better. You wouldn’t show up at Carnegie Hall and ask to give a piano concert without ever having learned to play the piano, would you? 

Q: I know in general travel inspired your children’s book Pisa Loves Bella. Would you say that your journalism writing helped you write this book? And the upcoming middle grade book that you are working on now?

A: This is a great question. Writing is a discipline and meeting deadlines as a journalist is a discipline. So, when I sat down to write this book (keep in mind I had already taken many classes on children’s book writing, read books, talked to other authors, etc.), I worked at it every single day for more than a year until I felt it was right. Just because a children’s picture book is short doesn’t mean it’s easy. Most of my articles average 600-800 words with some as short as 200, which means the words (specifically the verbs) do a lot of heavy lifting. I’ve become a master at cramming a lot of info into a small word count space! Regarding my novel, I am also disciplined, and I work on it every day because I want to see the process through. Whether it gets published is not my goal right now. Soaking in the creative process is the goal.

Q: Do you prefer fiction writing more or journalism writing more, and why?

A: I used to think I could never write fiction, but now I am in this dreamy honeymoon phase with my novel, where it feels new and exciting, and like everything is possible. What I love about travel writing is that it satisfies my innate wanderlust and curiosity about people, cultures, places, etc. Every assignment means new research, new people to talk to, new information to gather and synthesize, and new opportunities to share it with an audience. There’s something exciting about that too, so I can’t really say I prefer one over the other. To be honest, it’s the process of learning and creating that keeps the fire lit. 

Q: What are your favorite shows, movies & books (fiction and nonfiction) where the main characters are journalists? One of my favorites, which sadly MAX (formerly HBO MAX) cancelled this year, was Tokyo Vice that is based off Jake Adelstein’s memoir of the same name about a crime reporter in Japan. If you haven’t seen it, you should. The second season isn’t the best, but the first season was great. 

A: I have not heard of that show. Thanks for the recommendation! The first book that comes to mind (I’m really dating myself now) is All the President’s Men by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two of the journalists who investigated the break in at the Watergate Office Building that led to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. It was probably the most influential piece of journalism detective work of our time, and it was riveting to learn and read about. I am sure there are shows and movies to mention, but none that I can recall off hand.  I’m open to recommendations!

Read some of Kimberley’s articles here