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Personally I’ve never considered myself a travel writer, or even any other sort of writer really, except that I do WRITE ALL THE TIME EVERY DAY. But while I acknowledge that this doesn’t actually make me a Writer, just someone who writes a lot of stuff all the time, over the years a few publications have asked me to write this or that for them – mostly travel articles – and it was exciting (and scary) to be recognised as a Writer and also be paid for it. Even though the pay wasn’t really the point most of the time since usually it didn’t even come close to matching the time, effort and expense it took me to write the article, but what the heck. I still got my name published out there in a newspaper or magazine. And that was a real thrill, and still is to be honest, seeing my name in print.
But suddenly it all feels very different. Lately I’m being asked to pitch ideas, most of which are rejected, and then sometimes I see a VERY SIMILAR article I pitched published using another writer. And well okay, it’s a competitive business (except I’m not remotely competitive) but dammit. Because it’s not only about that. It’s when I see that these other articles are poorly researched and oftentimes just seem like thinly-disguised advertorials that were hastily thrown together. At first it irked because I KNEW I could have – and would have – done a better job, both in terms of accurate research and having a more interesting take on the subject. But then I couldn’t help but wonder… what if that is no longer the point? What if nobody wants me to write an interesting article about a place I love anymore? What if it’s all just about clicks and paid-for promo? Well, if that’s the case, you can count me out. Because if I put my name to something I want to feel proud of it.
NOTE: not having a go at people who do this because they have bills to pay, kids (or pets) to feed, etc. Fair play to them. It’s more about how we’re being manipulated into this new format that almost looks legit except everyone knows it isn’t (probably even the readers), and we’re supposed to act like that’s okay.
A bit like when you see bullheads in a bar, you can always spot an inauthentic travel piece on Sevilla that talks about all the “spit and sawdust” bars here, with napkins strewn all over the floor. I’ve lived here for over 23 years and the very few bars in the centre that used to put down sawdust have long since stopped this practice. But every now and then you find one. This was taken at Taberna Azahar, a bar I’ve been planning to go to for ages (mostly for the name, truth be told). It’s up in the Macarena barrio, not a place I frequent very often. Anyhow, although they still put down sawdust, there are little bins throughout the bar for paper napkins.
casa azahar 