A former entertainment reporter, James Wong began travel writing in 2014. From 2016 to 2018 he wrote for Singapore Airlines’ in-flight publication, Silverkris. After that, he freelanced for titles across Asia including The Japan Times, Time Out: Hong Kong, Time Out: Singapore, Esquire Singapore and Esquire Malaysia. Today he is based in New York City and contributes travel guides to international editions of GQ, VOGUE, Esquire and ELLE.
How did you get started traveling?
My mother was a bit of a travel addict and took me on a long haul flight to India when I was just a few months old. That became the norm, and by the time I finished school I’d already covered much of Europe, North America, Asia and Oceania.
How did you get started writing?
I wrote for the entertainment section of my university magazine. I spent most of my time interviewing bands that nobody had ever heard of, but it gave me a taste for what was to come.
What do you consider your first “break” as a writer?
I consider my first travel gig as a breakthrough. A good friend of mine moved to Singapore and became an editor at Silverkris, at the same time I was moving to Tokyo. He needed an English writer on the ground to report on Japan and so I became his go-to for stories in that region.
As a traveler and fact/story gatherer, what is your biggest challenge on the road?
Right now it’s budget. I write for publications where readers want to know about the best luxury hotels, spas and fine dining. The expenses rarely cover everything for a travel guide, so I often have to turn to PRs for help. I have to juggle ensuring that credits are given but also that the pieces are honest to the readers.
What is your biggest challenge in the research and writing process?
Sometimes it’s impossible for me to visit something I am writing about, for example, when VOGUE asked me last minute to submit four fashion capital city guides to coincide with fashion week. Whilst I had been to all the cities, there were a several new attractions I featured which I’d never been to. I did my best to dig as deep as possible with research both online and over the phone, but nothing beats in-person investigation.
What is your biggest challenge from a business standpoint?
Over the years I’ve been so used to the same format of travel assignments; hotel reviews, trendy restaurant lists and photogenic hotspots. COVID-19 has shifted travel projects, and my priority has been uncovering safe ways to travel. A road trip across America on RVshare was incredible, and something I never would have done if it weren’t for what’s going on right now. It was out of both mine and my typical readers’ comfort zones, but how we need to adapt going forward in the realm of safer travel post-pandemic.
Have you ever done other work to make ends meet?
When I started freelancing in Tokyo I taught English part-time which was great because I could build my schedule around writing assignments and even bring my laptop to sessions to work between bookings.
What travel authors or books might you recommend and/or have influenced you?
When I have down-time on the road I prefer to escape from travel writing and read autobiographies or spiritual and mindfulness titles. I of course have read Vagabonding by Rolf Potts and loved it.
What advice and/or warnings would you give to someone who is considering going into travel writing?
What worked for me is to specialize on a few cities and know them inside out. I have lived in London, Tokyo and New York, and editors usually approach me for my expertise in and around those areas. Fortunately, all three are major tourist draws and hot from an SEO perspective.
Also, there are a million other people are trying to write travel for a title like VOGUE or GQ. You need to have the determination to keep going despite constant rejection.
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
I keep a ‘one line a day’ travel journal and in calm moments, I skim over at all the things I have done and it always blows me away with all the opportunities I’ve been given through work. I can’t imagine it be as interesting if I had a regular nine to five.
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