I am writing a travel article for an agent association, and looking for inspiration. The article is on what to see in Paris when it is your third or fourth trip? The initial article is on the top 10 places to see on your FIRST visit to Paris...but I wanted to follow-up that article with "what do you see then you've seen those top ten things/places?"

I would enjoy your inspiration and suggestions!

Hi dm,

I'm assuming that your agents are travel agents.

Shouldn't they be able to help you?

What are your qualifications for writing this article? I'm sorry, it just seems odd that you are writing an article and you don't seem to know anything about Paris yourself, but are just copying others' ideas. How do you know if they are even any good?

This is about what I expect out of trade publications, though. It's also what I expect that most travel agents read to consider themselves experts when they don't know anything.

Obviously, you should know how to write this from personal experience and a lot of familiarity with Paris, or you have no business writing it. If you just want filler puff pieces for this trade journal, some guidebooks have things in their itineraries that would be fine (like Fodors or Frommers or someone has what to do if you only have 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, etc.).

As an occasional travel writer, my thoughts echo Christina's exactly. If you don't instinctively know the material, you should leave the writing to someone who does.

I guess that's why so few savvy travelers rely much upon travel articles when planning their trips.

Inspiration?

You're a writer? Wow.

How much will you pay us to do your work?

How are you enjoying the inspiration so far? As a writer, I suspect you have to pay the rent and may be unable to control your assignments...so I am going to cut you some slack.

You will find many threads here on this topic. But just to help a little, I think the "black" museum (police) is fascinating. The French were forensic pioneers and any CSI fan would love this. Details are in many other threads on "secret" Paris, Top Ten Paris et al.

A good travel writer is one who researches first about what he / she is writing about.

About 20 years ago, I was staying at the Vier Jahreszeiten in Munich and met (William) Danforth Prince, a Frommer writer, then covering the Europe scene; in the hotel sauna.

He proceeded to tell me about new restaurants that were very good and were going to be in the next Frommer guide book. One, in particular, we went to, was excellent. We went several times. Six months later I went back with an associate; the restaurant was packed, but the host remembered me, and we were taken in ahead of people with reservations.

Never underestimate the writings of a good travel writer who has done his / her homework.

You might try the approach of finding these things out for yourself.