Can a magazine that focuses on literary travel writing even survive?
I think it could survive but not thrive. The kind of great story-telling that Salon majored in is not a core part of any magazine out there now, probably because most of the editors-in-chief look at the bottom line. Tales of unforgettable encounters and soul-stretching adventures don’t sell ads as well as tales of glitzy hotels and high-priced restaurants. That’s disappointing. Yeah, it is disappointing. It doesn’t mean that the editors’ hearts aren’t in the right places, but they have to be quite practical about what their jobs are, and that’s to keep the magazines profitable. That said, there is great writing out there. Some of the adventure-oriented magazines like Outside and National Geographic Adventure publish in each issue at least one great read. It’s not that the well is dry, it’s just that the well is low. That’s so strange, because never before have there been so many travel narrative books being published. Books by Paul Theroux and Bill Bryson. Anthologies. There’s a market
