Dear Reader,

Some weeks I could really use a Saturday on a Monday.

And apparently, I’m not alone. According to the Facebook happiness scale, which analyzes the words people write in their status messages, Americans are happiest on the weekends and (surprise, surprise) crankiest on Monday.

Based on my own analysis of the readers and workshop attendees that I talk to, lots of people just feel stuck. The weekend is their window of freedom. Then they head back to work -- not because they want to, but because they feel like they have to.

But the good news is, you don’t have to be stuck doing something you don’t like. If you want to get paid to write about your travels, then go write travel stories. If you want to get paid to take photos, then take and sell photos.

The hardest part is just getting started. So here’s an idea you can start thinking about today, and turn into an article (with photos) this weekend...

I sketched out some of the walks we’ll be taking for our upcoming photography expedition in Paris next month and it reminded me -- walking tours make for great travel articles.

You can tailor your walking tour to different markets, depending on your audience. If you’ve ever been to Bermuda, you know that it’s full of colorful churches. A religious publication might be interested in a walking tour article about them, but a photography magazine might also be interested with just a slightly different slant.

Closer to home, a military magazine might be interested in a walking tour that takes in some of the lesser-known or new memorials here in D.C. You could come up with a walking tour of the best antique shops or best places to get a photograph? It might be that there’s a tour already in place that a reader can sign up for. But if not, create your own in your article.

After a short paragraph or two of introduction, you can simply structure your piece as stop 1, stop 2, stop 3, and so on. Write up a quick description of what the reader will find at each stop, include a photo of each, and you’re done.

In other news today (and speaking of walking tours): If you’ve been on the fence about joining us in Puerto Rico, perhaps our newly posted schedule will sway you. Details here.

History buffs, ice cream lovers, and foodies will not want to miss this event.

What’s more, we’re hosting it at the Casablanca Hotel, a gorgeous boutique property located in the historic South Fortaleza (SOFO) district of San Juan, just steps from El Morro and San Cristobal Castles, Casa Blanca (the governor’s mansion), and Old San Juan’s main plaza,  the Plaza de Armas. You’ll be right at the doorsteps of Old San Juan’s many world-class restaurants and shops, museums, historic churches, and the bustling port.

The Casablanca hotel is the ideal jumping-off point for exploring the old city. And because Old San Juan, like most other Spanish colonial cities, was designed on a grid, it’s easy to explore its many attractions on your own should you arrive early or stay late.

From the hotel it’s a short walk to Paseo de la Princesa, a promenade below the city’s historic defensive walls, a popular strolling spot for visitors and locals alike. And if you’re feeling energetic at the end of the day, about a block from the hotel is the Nuyorican Café, where you can sip a piña colada and perhaps try a little salsa dancing... or sit and watch the experienced salseras and salseros mix it up to a spicy Latin beat.

Click here for more details about the Puerto Rico Photo Expedition.

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. If you have a Facebook account, you can “friend” me by searching for: Lori Appling-Allen. I’d love to hear what you’re up to.

In addition, Bonnie Caton, who you hear from regularly in this newsletter, has started a stock photography Facebook account where several of our readers have already been posting their experiences and encouraging each other to sell photos to online stock photo agencies. You can find her and “friend” the stock photography page by searching for “Breakfast StockClub.” (More about that tomorrow.)

P.P.S. Click here to see Facebook’s happiness graph. 

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