An Inspired Chat with Sharael Kolberg

Sharael Kolberg shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Sharael, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
As a travel writer, I am most proud of building relationships with others in the industry, especially those at Destination Management Organizations. They keep me up to date with what’s new and exciting in the destinations, and I find the appropriate outlet to pitch that fits their audience. We work closely together to create intriguing travel content. These relationships take time, effort, and patience to build, but it’s a worthy investment.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am an internationally published travel writer, author, speaker, and podcaster with more than 20 years of experience. My travel writing focuses on adventure, wellness, and luxury. My articles have appeared in Travel + Leisure, National Geographic Travel, U.S. News & World Report, Fodor’s, Lonely Planet, AAA Westways, and many other outlets. You can see some of my work at Sharael.com. My brand is “Sharael Travels.” I have a bachelor’s degree in journalism and I am a mentor and the 1st Vice Chair for the Freelance Council of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), on the board of the OC Press Club, a media delegate for the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), a media herald for the Transformational Travel Council (TTC), and a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA).

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I can clearly remember a writing assignment I was tasked with in second grade. Our teacher put hand-drawn pictures of “monsters” on a bulletin board and we had to choose one and tell its story. Bringing that two-dimensional character to life was thrilling. I gave it a name, characteristics, personality, a past and future. That is when I realized that being a writer is powerful. It allows us to share others’ stories with the world, in the hopes of bringing us closer together.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
When I decided to pursue a career as a journalist, many people told me that writers don’t make any money. Like any career, that can be true. But I know writers that have gone from freelancing to being an editor at a top publication, and making more than $100,000 a year. Working as a freelance travel writer can be lucrative, but it takes more than being a good writer. You also have to be a great editor, interviewer, networker, and have a curious mindset and passion for the subject you’re writing about.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes! I feel that my personality shines through in my writing, on my podcast, and on social media. I love adventure—to explore the world and experience new things. As a breast cancer survivor, I take health and wellness to heart. I’m always striving for interesting and ground-breaking ways to improve my well-being, even when I’m traveling. And, I do love a bit of luxury, which doesn’t have to mean thread-count or Michelin meals. It can be going to a hard-to-reach destination to learn about a remote culture, or pushing yourself physically and mentally while on vacation—something you might not have time for in everyday life. The thing people don’t see with my public persona is the day-to-day life behind the scenes of a travel writer. It’s not all glamorous. There are tight deadlines that require staying up past midnight, serious jet lag from constantly crisscrossing time zones, and missing friends and family, or social gatherings or important events at home, when on assignment.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
As a breast cancer survivor, I learned not to sweat the small stuff (traffic is not a big deal!) and to live life to the fullest, even when it might not be not the easiest path to take. I have an appreciation for life that many people will never experience. After going through 15 months of treatment, I now see the bright side of things, even on the worst of days. I have a thirst to see the world and share my experiences with others. You won’t find me sitting on the couch…life is to short!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.sharael.com
• Instagram: @SharaelTravels
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/sharael
• Twitter: @SharaelTravels
• Facebook: @SharaelTravels
• Other: Podcast: https://kxfmradio.org/shows/sharael-travels/

Image Credits
Images provided by Sharael Kolberg