IML Alison Rowsell has recently written a guide book for Cicerone Press about the Jura Crest Trail, Switzerland. We asked Alison about the process of writing a guidebook.
Why did you decide to write travel literature & guidebooks?
Following a move to Switzerland to teach at an international school at the foot of the Jura, I began writing in my spare time, when not on the mountains. I published an article on snowshoeing in the Jura for Cicerone in January 2015, which led to being offered the opportunity to write a guidebook.
The Jura Crest Trail is one of seven national walking trails in Switzerland, traversing some of the oldest mountainous areas of the Alps, running parallel with the Swiss-French border.
It has been a long-road, taking three years to complete the book during my spare time, but the most rewarding opportunity I have ever had. To get into writing guidebooks you need to prove your ability to write.
During my years of international teaching, I blogged about another passion of mine; craft ales from around the world! This was used to demonstrate, alongside the snowshoe article, my ability to research, plan, organise and write efficiently.
I fully admit that I am not by any means a good writer, as for my GCSE English grade, the less said about that, the better! Although, I am passionate, hardworking and resilient, all of which is needed to get your foot on the ladder. There were edits and re-drafts, and further edits and further re-drafts throughout the process. Cicerone were incredibly supportive and gave a lot of advice to help me along the way.
Seeing your very own officially published guidebook for the first time is one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had. Being addressed as an ‘Author’ has led to numerous opportunities, especially through Cicerone. It has resulted in writing shorter articles for Cicerone, alongside a variety of opportunities with other high quality, associated magazines and companies, in particular Meindl footwear.
Do you have any tips for those who want to get in to travel writing and guide books?
• Get yourself a platform in order to present your written work. A blog is the best and most efficient way to do this, although social media also helps
• Find yourself a niche area to work with. Mine was the Jura mountains – barely anything had been written or published about the area. The Jura has so many extensive opportunities throughout all four seasons therefore increased the interest
• Make use of publisher’s guidelines and practice writing in their style. Cicerone has very good and informative guidelines to assist and support authors. It took me some time and many edits and re-drafts to ensure I was writing in the correct style
• Persevere, work hard and be resilient. It took a long time, thousands upon thousands of words and lots of re-writes, but the end result is by far the most rewarding opportunity I have ever had
Where can you purchase Switzerland’s Jura Crest Trail from?
Switzerland’s Jura Crest Trail (945) is published by Cicerone (January 2019), and can be purchased online through Cicerone, or from leading bookshops, both online and on the high street.
ISBN: 9781852849450
https://www.cicerone.co.uk/switzerland-s-jura-crest-trail
For further information on the Trail and writing travel guides and literature, feel free to contact me.
Alirowsell@gmail.com You can read Ali’s somewhat shorter guide to the Jura Crest Trail here
