10 Strategies for Writing Exotic Articles About Where You Live

Think concerning this: Each year people all around you spend hundreds of thousands of dollars traveling to "exotic" destinations. Why is these destinations "exotic"? The fact that they're different from the normal home environment. Which means wherever you live can be an "exotic" locale for folks in most of all of those other world. So, reveal it.

"Here? There is nothing worth authoring around here," you might say about your hometown. With the proper focus on where to look, virtually any locale can yield multiple gems ideal for articles and stories. Research is the key. Listed below are offbeat and practical sources for generating new ideas regardless of how small or dull you are feeling your hometown is. My colonial hometown of York, Pennsylvania includes a population of significantly less than 60,000. Still, I've found numerous gems just waiting to be dug up, polished and marketed. Here are a few topics and resources to excite your thinking in even the tiniest, plainest, most remote towns.

Starting off: One indispensable resource may be the telephone book. These pages contain enough starting information that you produce reams of articles, if you know where to look. Leading pages often contain maps, contact data for government agencies, museums, libraries, other reference sites and key organizations. Listings under clubs, fraternities, and organizations yield special interest groups just clamoring for promotional or human interest pieces. Thumb during your directory, you'll start generating ideas immediately.

Buy every postcard you will find related to your area. Key names, dates and facts on local sites will be printed on the back. Be sure to check out any available antique postcards of the area as well. Assemble them into a future reference scrapbook. Enter your town name and local sites key words from the postcards into several search on the internet engines. By following through to the outcomes, points you'd never imagined can generate article ideas or new slants on "old" stories.

You'll doubtless be spending eons of time at the library anyway, so become familiar with the reference department staff if you don't already. They are invaluable allies in your search for all types of knowledge. For the price of a sit down elsewhere rich rewards can be reaped as you chat with staff members informally. Ask for ideas for article ideas. Don't have a library card? Get one - and use it. Readers might not be writers, but writers are always readers. If you are not scanning the daily papers and historical archives at the neighborhood library you're missing out on a treasure trove of idea-starting news pieces.

The TV/radio news and commentary: Local events are often mirrored at broader levels. Never assume that a seemingly "local" problem is only of interest locally. When houseflies became a significant problem in a little Latin American town, I queried European and Asian magazines about possible fascination with an article on which the townsfolk did never to only solve the problem, but earn money from it too. An international magazine expressed its interest almost immediately. Tune in AM band talk radio broadcasts. Note Additional info and contact information. Scrutinize them from different viewpoints. Talk to the station, friends, and family. Research radio or TV program featured sites, locations or businesses.

Crime: What was probably the most publicized, infamous crime committed around? A robbery? Kidnapping? Arson? Murder? Today's re-telling of the events or a follow-up on the aftermath might be of interest to varied crime magazines, police gazettes, law enforcement and insurance industry trade publications. Ghost tales could be both fascinating and profitable. Is really a local site reputedly haunted? Cemeteries certainly are a veritable cache of interesting ideas. Look for the unique, researching facts by Internet or newspaper archives. Speak to caretakers too.

Food: Almost every place includes a hometown recipe or concoction they're proud of. What's its origin and special significance? Just how long has it been passed on? Are ingredients only available locally? Can people make it elsewhere? Can unavailable ingredients be substituted? Hotel, restaurant and bed & breakfast reviews may also be marketable. In my own hometown, eighteenth century Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like shoo-fly pie, apple butter, three bean salad, and chicken corn soup grace our tourist- attracting menus. An informative or historical piece, or even a recipe collection may be just the ticket.

Celebrity appearances: Maybe Elvis didn't sleep there (or possibly he did), but if ANYONE of note passed through, stopped or stayed, you can find those who'd like to hear about it. The celebrity can be historic or modern, represent any walk of life from Art to Zen, or be their spouses, family and descendents. Having an advance schedule of events, it is possible to profile upcoming concert performers and try for interviews. Public relations and publicity offices carry stock bios on celebrities, used as a start.

Music is of worldwide interest; a unique type performed in your area could spiral into specialized pieces on local artists, artisans or exotic instruments like the accordion, harmonica, dulcimer, harp or zither. Where and how are they crafted? Are lessons available? How come the instrument mounted on the neighborhood area? If it exists elsewhere, compare your area with any others.

Nature: Is there seasonal invasions of bees, butterflies, bats, or other critters? Is your area home to an unusual species? A haven for hummingbirds? A wildlife sanctuary? Wildlife and environmental publications might like the story. Zoos, insect museums, pet shops and university departments are good starting sources. I came across a family-run business that cultures butterflies then releases them at weddings, parties and other special occasions in addition to giving presentations at schools, industry events and environmental conventions. Perhaps you have noticed a bizarre or curiously-shaped tree? Talk with neighbors and the city planning commission. See if there is a tale mounted on that trunk or another natural wonders in your community.

Sports or Fairs: Cover city, county or state events having an eye to unique angles and multiple marketing. Look for interesting viewpoints. Talk to category winners. Are they elderly, ethnic, or handicapped? Family secret sharers? View the events in various ways. Take photos. Surely your area proudly hosts some tournament, race, rally or marathon? How contestants prepare, interviews with sponsors, family and fans are possible article generating material. When a backyard row of huge collard greens drew attention to my late grandmother's fertilizing methods winning her a

mention at the county fair, I wrote it up. (She'd used free elephant dung from a visiting circus as fertilizer.)

Whatever your writing genre, diamonds-in-the-rough ideas for articles abound throughout you. Continually note ideas, brainstorm, observe, listen, converse and question everyone it is possible to. Keep a calendar of local and regional events. Stay up to date with happenings. You'll never again say, "Here? There's nothing worth writing about around here."

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and obtain paid while travelling free of charge.

For more info on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, SOME TIPS ABOUT WHAT You have to know", immediate delivery details and no-obligation information can be found online now at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com/

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