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Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a productive week! I look forward to seeing any work you’ve done. I’m getting close to finishing my olive oil piece — got some good feedback from my friend and plan to send it by Tuesday of next week.
I’m posting a pitch here for your general impressions — nothing too detailed, just a general idea about whether it seems like a good idea, anything you’d cut, anything you’d want to know more about. I’m a bit late for the anniversary angle, but it has been a complicated year for me. Beyond the anniversary, I have noticed a renewed interest in the city’s Andalusi heritage in general –more effort to preserve and showcase it.
I’m not sure CN Traveler is the best fit for the piece, but I have a past connection with one of the editors that I’m hoping to lean on (would love your thoughts on that). Any thoughts on other outlets for more history-forward (and less luxury) pieces would be greatly appreciated! After your thoughts, I’m planning on sending it to Amanda for line edits ;).
Thank you!
Hi Matt,
I hope you’re doing well! I attended a Catapult personal essay class with you several years back (I wrote about getting my driver’s license in Spain). I miss Catapult’s online presence, but was happy to see you’d found a place to continue nurturing good writing!
I’m reaching out with a story idea from Murcia, my adopted home of over 16 years. This lesser-known Spanish city, once a jewel of Islamic Spain, or al-Andalus, is celebrating 1,200 years of history in 2025, and tourists are still welcome. This story is particularly timely given the booming Muslim tourism market and the importance of recognizing Western Europe’s diverse roots in these divisive times. I believe this falls outside your beats, but if you think it’s a good fit for CN Traveler, I’d greatly appreciate it if you could send it along to the appropriate editor. Thanks for reading!
This Spanish City’s Historical Gems Shine with New Splendor
“Murcia is among the richest lands in aromatic plants and fruit trees,” enthused one 13th-century traveler to the city. Founded on the Segura River in 825 CE, Murcia became a jewel of al-Andalus, famed for its still-legendary market gardens. Culture blossomed, too, nourishing philosophers and poets like revered Sufi mystic Ibn ‘Arabî.
There is still much to marvel at in modern-day Murcia, which is embracing its Andalusí heritage like never before. In this potential Destination Guide, I’ll cover where to visit, eat, drink, and stay to experience the city’s rich history and its contemporary manifestations. Places like the Museo de Santa Clara—a convent built over a luxurious Islamic palace, a predecessor to the Alhambra—and the Local de Ensayo, offering modern interpretations of Murcia’s traditional larder. I’ll speak with Professor Pilar Garrido, creator of the interactive app Escape Andalusí, and Belén Cuenca, who runs a boutique tour company specializing in Islamic Spain.
As a longtime local, I can offer a respectful, nuanced perspective. I translate for the Louis Vuitton City Guides and have translated over a dozen cookbooks.
Some writing samples:
The Alcohol Professor: What You Should Know About Licor 43
Blog: Coca: Spanish Flatbread
Translation for Arles magazine (link to PDF): Salt and Sky (a profile of French designer Jacquemus)I look forward to hearing whether this story interests CN Traveler!
Many thanks,
Ansley
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Hey Ashley,
Bravissima for moving the olive oil piece along. And I hope your alpha reader helps you own how ready that story is for prime time! (I always find it equally exhilarating and alarming when editors don’t edit much. I have to remind myself that they *would* intervene if the piece were lacking. That helps my perfectionist-paralysis mellow out.)About editor connections: If they’re a pal, absolutely lean on their insider knowledge. That can be as simple as “would you look this over and give me a sense whether it’s in CNT’s lane? And if so, would you suggest I approach any staffer in particular?” (This gives your friend room to volunteer help or an intro without presuming too much. Which is a thing I worry about… because Seattle. But other approaches would work too like politely asking for what you need, as you’ve done!)
And if the connection is more casual—which it seems to be?—I’d just pitch! Good editors usually redirect good pitches that are outside their departments. (From the site, it looks like he might commission.)
https://www.cntraveler.com/contributor/matt-ortile
Smithsonian magazine immediately sprang to mind as it now covers international travel! I didn’t spot any destination guides there per se. But your overall theme sounds like a fit for a feature, trend piece or roundup!
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/category/europe
Personally, I wouldn’t sweat that you’re seven months into the 2025 timeframe. Most editors aren’t hung up about only running anniversary stories in Q1, though the tighter timeline may nix print options. Still, you never know what’s happening behind the scenes. Smithsonian, for example, hasn’t covered Andalusia in a travel capacity since 2023. Maybe it’s been looking for a fresh angle and then another story tanks and BOOM! Suddenly you’ve got a print commission. You just never know until you try!
(You’d mentioned “Andalusí heritage,” hence my search terms. Then I read Andalusia is an autonomous community next to Murcia. And I couldn’t see *any* travel stories about Murcia, just talk about archaeology, flamenco and that poor sperm whale with 64 pounds of trash in its stomach. So you might be able to fill in a gap there, sharing an up-and-coming destination, which could merit a mention!)
This touches on a point I feel strongly about: as writers, our job is to generate ideas, then report and craft a spellbinding story. Editors shape the pieces and magazines, responding to a gajillion goals and pressures we can’t see. So, when in doubt, let them sort it out. That’s always preferable to self-censoring a pitch!
I could also see this idea at National Geographic, BBC History, BBC Travel, History Today, The Saturday Evening Post (pay sucks for digital, but I hear the editors are awesome), possibly Popular Mechanics (I know, I know, sounds weird but the mag does a surprising amount of archeology and history coverage. Science too. I actually bought a subscription!).
I’d also encourage you to be open to in-flights that service Murcia—Europe still has some kicking, including Virgin’s Vera—and European newspapers like The Guardian.
Finally, it might be helpful to dig up inbound tourism intel on Murcia, then pitch publications in areas where a lot of visitors come from. Checking for new airline routes helps with this too!
Cheers,
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Thank you so much for all your thoughts here, Amanda! I’ll submit a few pitches for critique by early next week. I’d love to publish with Smithsonian, although they ask for three clips, and I’m not quite there yet. Almost! And you’re right, the fact that she didn’t edit last time is paralyzing…
I look forward to seeing everyone later today!
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