The idea is to spin the wheel of metaphors and images until sparks of associations begin to fly for the reader.
About my work
As a staff reporter, I have written my share of travel and tourism stories – such as profiling a boutique hotel owner or using a film director’s work to play up the best sightseeing spots in his hometown.
As a broadcast journalist/TV presenter, travel programmes scripting and presenting was more of showing what a place offers – the nooks and crannies to discover. I was sent on junkets to places such as Taiwan and Korea, and like a travel guide, introduce the arts, culture and tourism aspects of the cities in a documentary style to the audience in both English and Chinese.
Many of my print travel stories really started after I went freelance. I was often guided by serendipitous encounters on my travels, assisted by curiosity and whims; and I seek to present this in my stories, apart from showing how a place really is.
About travel and tourism features
Travel writing for different publications require different approaches. For example, writing a guidebook or a piece for the tourism office, requires more of presenting facts and drawing up an easy-to-read guide to a place, giving practical information that’s clear, vivid and succinct.
Travel feature writing for magazines or a paper’s travel page gives me the opportunity to craft realistic tales about places which have only existed in my imagination before. It also allows me to conjure up on paper – through interviews, metaphors and imagery – this place that has stolen or broken my heart.
What I can do for you
I could put together a clear and detailed city guide or write up travel features – weaving in personal anecdotes that engage and draw the reader into the allure and mystique of the place I’m visiting – allowing them to smell, hear, see and feel the place without even setting foot on it.
Places I’ve been published in include:
Lianhe Zaobao (Chinese), SilverKris (English), Zbbz (English and Chinese), Be Magazine (English), Prestige Singapore (Chinese)
Check out some of my published stories here
Please contact me if you’d like to see my magazine writing samples.
Lianhe Zaobao, 柏林老建筑重生, June 30, 2013
Lianhe Zaobao, 寻找孕育童话的大自然, Jan 13, 2013
Silver Kris, Embracing the Light in Skagen
My Paper, A Taipei Love Affair
Silver Kris, Harbour Cities of North Germany, Oct 1, 2012
My Paper, Rewarding Fun with Old Buildings, Feb 22, 2011 (PDF · 1MB)