Fyllis Hockman is an award-winning travel journalist who has been traveling and writing for over 25 years — and is still as eager for the next trip as she was for the first. Her articles appear in newspapers across the country and websites across the internet. She has won multiple first and second place awards from both NATJA and the Society of American Travel Writers.
1. What got you into travel writing?
Every job I’ve ever had involved writing. Once I met my travel-writing husband (Victor Block) over 40 years ago, it was easy to turn me into a travel writer, as well.
2. What’s the most challenging part of being a travel journalist for you?
Not being able to go everywhere I want to!
3. What is one thing [equipment or personal item] you can’t go without on the road?
My husband and my notepad.
4. What’s your most unusual and/or memorable travel experience?
Two very different answers and hard to narrow down. First, probably gorilla-trekking in Uganda; the second, spending a month in Tuscany where every day was an adventure.
5. How did you learn about NATJA and why did you join?
I think it was East-West Network at one time though I may have that wrong. And I was probably solicited.
6. What is the best piece of advice you could give to a rookie travel journalist?
Hmmm. Well possibly, start off local — write about what you know for local papers. Maybe become an expert in a particularly marketable area. But being old-school (old being the operative word), I have nothing useful to say about social media which I suspect is where all the rookie travel journalists will find themselves.
