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Hi Rey, I really admire how vulnerable, sharp, and emotionally honest this piece is. Your opening scene had me instantly locked in, the tension is so visceral that I physically felt myself freeze with you.
I loved the details.
“A mosquito buzzing, pants around my ankles”— such a perfect combination of humiliation and fear. “Did he intend to confirm I had a vulva between my legs?”— So unsettling! (in the best way)
The martial arts callback at the end — really added the emotional gut punch.The opening tension is so strong that when we move into the Tahoe setting description, my adrenaline was still spiking and I almost wanted to stay in that breathless, trapped feeling a bit longer before zooming out.
The paragraph about colonial gender norms is really powerful “This man’s gender norms were imposed by settlers” is such a sharp insight. The only reason it bumped me a little is because the emotional tension in the bathroom scene is so high, and zooming out into a fuller history of the Washoe people and settlers momentarily pulled me out of that urgency.
I totally see why you included it, the connection is meaningful. I just wondered if you could transition into it in a way that feels even more grounded in what you’re experiencing in the stall (like how fear sometimes sends your mind spinning to bigger systems, or how this moment crystallized that history for you). That way the context reinforces the scene without slowing the momentum.
What a powerful piece. So excited to see where you take it!
Hi all, sorry I’ve been MIA, got laid off, second time in 3 years, and I was sad and mopey.
Week of Nov 18: Write-up pitches to email CNT. I’m still catching up on emails after Travel Classics, and I just need to get this done.
Why I’m stoked: I keep stressing about it, but also procrastinating, so I’m eager to send it off and stop worrying.
Concerns or challenges: My procrastination is a challenge lol, but now that I’m unemployed I have all the time.
Did the magic happen?
I think it’s so cool that you have 8 new ideas (kinda jealous hahah)! I hope we get to hear some of them!
The NYT article cracked me up, especially the part about her doing yoga after chugging wine 😂 But I agree, real transformation can’t be manufactured, HOWEVER, she has a point that the trip she went on, is a sustainable form of travel… I thought it was interesting she said millennials drive the transformation economy, I’d argue it’s Gen Z. They’re so used to instant everything, they want the same shortcut for transformation too.
It actually made me think of all those TikToks of Gen Z riding on top of the Mauritania iron ore train illegally, enduring brutal conditions just for the story (cos-playing being poor??). It’s wild how this craving for instant “epic” experiences shows up. Feels like chasing transformation without the actual depth.
Thanks for sharing, Ansley! Definitely great inspo on how to frame a similar piece. It reminded me so much of the photo workshop I did in the Dolomites, which was amazing for exactly the reasons the author described. The woman who ran it was from the area and only worked with locally owned hotels, mountain huts, and restaurants. She explored everything herself first, hired local mountain guides for the tougher hikes, and completely avoided the overdone Instagram spots.
Week of 09/22/2025: I was so blank on stories to pitch for Travel Classics, I started reaching out to tourism boards, I made a spreadsheet with things I ideas I got from those calls, if anyone is interested in taking a look/has feedback: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1zTnjOoU1gYMpXJHmPSFzLE9wsTsUjl421BPYM83NUoM/edit?usp=sharing
Why I’m stoked: I’m glad I’m no longer showing up to the conference blank!
Concerns or challenges: You know when you’re stressed and so overwhelmed you end up doing nothing, which then stresses you out more? I was/kinda am still in that phase. I’m stressed about the conference because it feels like this big looming thing and I just want it to be here already, yet I also want more time at the same time….if that makes sense?
Did the magic happen? Didn’t write my goals the past few weeks, but the goal has been to organize my notes/ideas into a spreadsheet so yes I’m glad I did that!
Ansley, I’m sending you a big virtual hug!! Everything you’re juggling sounds incredibly intense, I hope you’re finding at least a little time to move your body, meditate, or do something for yourself!
Also, not sure if you’ve tried it, but magnesium glycinate has helped me with sleep, I’ve read it’s supposed to support stress too, though I can’t vouch for that part as much 😅 Worth looking into if you’re dealing with 2am wakeups!
Excited for you about the journalism fellowship too!! Hope you have a better week, this week!
Week of 08/19/2025: I’m going to follow up on the Photographer pitch I sent, in my follow-up, should I mention there’s already a Vogue article about her? I didn’t think to include that in my ptich. I’ve read in so many places I shouldn’t be pitching multiple magazines at once, but Amanda, you said I can right? I just pitched CNT, but I was thinking I could also pitch T+L, Yolo Journal, Surface Mag, Afar…
Stories I’m thinking about:
1. Where to Travel This Fall Based on Your Favorite Movie (or TV) Rewatch
Gilmore Girls → Washington Depot, Connecticut
Practical Magic → Whidbey Island, Washington
Little Women → Concord, Massachusetts
You’ve Got Mail/ When Harry Met Sally → New York City
Mystic Pizza → Mystic, Connecticut
Twilight → Forks & La Push Beach, Washington
Dead Poets Society → Woodstock, Vermont
Good Will Hunting → Boston & Cambridge, Massachusetts
Hocus Pocus → Salem, MassachusettsAmanda – you mentioned magazines don’t like being pitched round ups, so should I not pitch this?
2. Similar note, it’s the 25th anniversary of Gilmore Girls this year, I would love to visit the Mayflower Inn & Spa (inspired the show after the creator stayed there), but there’s already a ton of articles about this hotel from 2024 and before, BUT it is the 25th anniversary on Oct 5th. Has it been written about too much to pitch again?
3. I’m going to Bhutan next spring with a few friends, we haven’t planned anything yet, but I’m thinking it could lead to a cool story. It’s the world’s only carbon-negative country and the birthplace of Gross National Happiness, which ties in nicely with current interest in ecotourism and measuring well-being beyond GDP (though I’m also aware of the complexities, like the ethnic cleansing of the ’90s).
I’m wondering if I could reach out to the Bhutan Tourism Board for help brainstorming itinerary and story angles. I also found an AFAR article that was part of a Nepal & Bhutan tour through an AFAR x USTOA partnership — how do writers usually get involved with those kinds of trips?
Why I’m stoked: I’m glad I’m starting to have some more ideas for the conference.
Concerns or challenges: I just need to come up with strong angles.
Did the magic happen?: I did send out the pitch to CNT, haven’t heard back. And I did read two of the pitch lectures.
Amanda, I get tight traps all the time and I’ve tried over 15 new pillows, got a new expensive mattress and nothing helped. I went to see someone who told me that because of all my ankle/knee problems it actually might be affecting my traps and back, the rest of my body is trying to compensate and readjust for how weak my base is. No clue what your neck pain means, but maybe it’s some other body issue you’re not think of that’s affecting it? Sorry, vague and unhelpful, but that’s what i found out recently.
Thank you, Ansley! That means so much, and yes, I made sure to include in the pitch that I’ve been in touch with her and that she’s on board. Fingers crossed the editor is into it too!
And thank you for the kind words about the Travel Classics scholarship, I’m still kind of in disbelief!
Week of 08/13/2025: I’m going to send my pitch out on the hotel photographer! I also plan to read up on all the editors and their magazines that are going to be at Travel Classics and read through the pitch lectures Amanda sent.
Why I’m stoked: Like I said I love the photographer’s work! I hope this gets a yes somewhere, so I can interview her!
Concerns or challenges: I feel like I have so much reading to do before the conference and am stressed about coming up with ideas. I spoke to Maren, the founder of Travel Classics and she said I need to have many ideas to run by each editor and they need to all be well researched and thought out, I kind of wish I had 6 months to prep!
Did the magic happen?: YES! I emailed the photographer I want to write an article on and she responded immediately and said she was flattered and to go ahead. Yay!! Thanks, Ansley for the suggestion!!
A shitty first draft is still a draft and it seems huge to me considering we only talked about it a few days ago! The fellowship sounds perfect for you, could you attach your olive oil piece and explain it hasn’t gone live yet, but you felt it relevant?
You’re waaaay more qualified/knowledgable than the Dallas journalist about the Muslim celebration bans, and if he can publish that piece, there’s no reason for you to doubt yourself!
Yay for your progress on your cookbook translation!
I love that Alicia Kennedy reframed rabbit holes as gleaning. That actually makes me feel way better about my tabs-on-tabs situation. Totally agree though… sometimes it’s useful research, and sometimes plain useless!
So turns out Anne Banas left BBC and is at Smart Luxury, maybe I was advised to pitch there? Will ask on Friday’s call (:
Oh true! I will link that!Week of 08/05:
I’ve been working on a pitch about how a photographer is reshaping hospitality photography. Ansley pointed out (very wisely!) that I should make sure I have access to the photographer before pitching, especially since she’s ignored a couple of my DMs in the past 😅Why I’m stoked:
I really admire her work and would love to create photos like hers one day. It would be such a dream to write this piece and get to actually have a conversation with her.Concerns or challenges:
She’s ignored my Instagram DMs, so I’m a little worried she’ll ignore my email too. But I guess better to find out now than after the pitch goes out!Did the magic happen?
I sent my fisherman aesthetic pitch to BBC Travel like you all suggested — yay! Also, I have “Anne Banas – smart luxury” written in my notes, but I can’t remember why… was she someone I could pitch to?
