Travel Writer...hopeful author

I have secured a position as a freelance travel writer.  I am also working on a book.  

To establish myself I have to travel to create content for my travel writing and I am using locations for my book.

This is my first year doing this.  Can I write off my travel expenses if they are in a published article and if I use them as locales in my book...which has not yet been published?

 

Thank you!

 

Sandra