February 2026 Newsletter

I spent all of February in Montevideo, where I moved into a new loft apartment with my girlfriend. We’ve been enjoying the late summer days at our pool and the Caranval celebrations by night. As of now, I’m considering a few press trips in the coming months, but nothing is officially booked.

In February, I finally publicly claimed a project of mine. For over two years, I’ve shared every public call for pitches I’ve seen for travel writing on instagram.com/traveljournocfp. I did so anonymously and am finally taking credit for the work. The account will always be free, as part of my efforts to tear down gatekeeping in the industry.

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly newsletter, which highlights my recently published articles, upcoming calls for sources, and a peek into my travels. If you’d like to support my work, tips via Zelle (lolaannmendez@gmail.com) and PayPal are appreciated. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the paid version of this newsletter for $9.99 a month. If you’d like, buy me a tea here as a token of appreciation.

In addition to traditional journalism, I’m available for paid social media collaborations aligned with my areas of expertise. I have a community of 21,000 followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook who are interested in travel, sustainability, veganism, women’s health, and more.

I’m available for speaking gigs—I’ve given keynote speeches on inclusive LGBTQ+ travel and inclusive terminology for the Latine population. I’m also available to speak with PR teams about media relationships, brand development, and how to spin exclusive angles to help your clients land coverage, etc.

I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring unique skills to the media industry, having worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and as a freelance journalist for eight years. I deeply understand the inner workings of relationships between PR/brands and writers/publications.

Consultations for brands and publicists include insights on best practices for pitching journalists, fostering relationships with journalists, media training, and more. I’m also available for hire to pen marketing materials, including press releases, media alerts, website copywriting, blog and social media content, and more.

For writers, my consultations include workshopping pitches and the opportunity to pick my brain about the industry. Writers who book consultations are added to my exclusive Facebook group, where I share editors’ calls for pitches and provide access to an editorial database of over 3,000 editor contacts. Learn more here: LolaAnnMendez.com/Consultation

In February, I wrote three articles (about 3,000 words). Two were commissioned from pitches, and the other was an assignment. I wrote a $2/word story this month, which will be my debut in a magazine later this year. Two of the stories I wrote this month were as-told-to essays, a format I didn’t realize I’d missed. I wrote many of these types of essays during the pandemic and really enjoyed them. Part of the work was finding the unique sources for each story. I was tasked with finding a queer person from a small Midwestern town who had struggled to find adequate, affirming mental health care, and someone who works on private yachts and is willing to tell all the juicy stories that take place on board. I pride myself on finding sources, no matter how obscure. It’s one of my favorite challenges as a journalist, and I’d love to take on more of this sort of work.

I got my pitching mojo back last month and sent 41 pitches in February — two were commissioned; one is being considered; five were rejected, placed elsewhere, or I opted to move on due to timeliness; and 33 are pending a response. Although I’ve only written five articles so far this year, I’m grateful that they’ve been well paid ($300, $400, $680, $814, and $1500). Yesterday I got an assignment for $2,500 — the most I've ever been paid for an article.

My portfolio can be viewed at LolaAnnMendez.com. In February, I had four articles published, including my debut in Smart Luxury. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications, including Glamour, Prevention Magazine, LA Parent, and Ultimate Encounters.

I’m thrilled to finally unveil my 2026 travel column. It’s in each Porthole Cruise Magazine issue this year and explains how to use your astrocartography chart to decide where to cruise, based on astrocartographer Helena Woods’ insight.

I always post my calls for sources on Twitter.com/LolaAnnaMendez. Newsletter subscribers are privy to the first look at what I’m currently writing about. PR folks (and individuals when relevant) are welcome to send pitches for the stories I’m currently working on:

• What to pack in your carry-on to endure long-haul flights while pregnant

• Looking for BIPOC or immigrant makers in the USA

• Looking for a cruise ship worker/captain for a tell-all article about what it’s really like to work on a cruise

• Looking for a flight attendant for a tell-all article about what it’s really like to work onboard a plane

For editors who receive my newsletter, below are working heads for a few pitches I’m trying to place. Fellow writers, if you have suggestions of where to pitch, I’d be super grateful.

• The Highest Polo Match in the World

• This Outdoor Adventure Influencer Reached Her Goal of Hiking in All 50 States

• There’d be no Scotch without Spanish Sherry

• How to have the perfect day in La Barra, Maldonado, Uruguay

• Dubai’s First Vegan Hotel Makes it Easier Than Ever to Travel Sustainably in The Pearl of the Gulf

• This is the easiest country in Europe for vegan travelers — you’ll be surprised why

• The Ultimate Crete Travel Guide

• Interview With Mexican Home Cook, Author of New Plant-Based Book

• Neighborhood Guide: Santitham — Chiang Mai, Thailand

I’m based in Montevideo, Uruguay, and my 2026 calendar is very open for press trips. I’ll be based here through at least February 2027, and I’m super keen to go on press trips to Bolivia, Argentina, Guyana, Suriname, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Caribbean while I’m in LATAM.

Follow my adventures on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads.

​