Travel Writing

Overview

You will learn how to structure, write and sell travel features whether for in-house publication, magazines, clients or for a wider audience. The course will offer and insight into how newspapers and magazine editors decide what to print. You will be encouraged to identify an "angle" to write about and be offered valuable techniques to access creativity. Interview skills and reviewing hotels and restaurants will also be covered.

Who should attend

The course is designed for anyone who travels either professionally or privately. Those who work in the travel or hospitality industry, travel PRs, those involved in incentive travel, corporate "awaydays", or who would like to improve their creative writing skills in general may find the course useful.

Course objectives

By the end of this practical course, you will:

> Understand how travel journalists get features published in newspapers and magazines

> Recognise a good story angle and put it across

> Approach editors with confidence

> Identify outlets for your ideas from customer magazines to broadsheets

> Be able to liaise effectively with the travel industry

> Recognise a good hotel

Course content

Writing a good travel article

> Discover how to structure a sellable travel feature

> Writing exercises to access creativity and observational skills

> Group discussion with feedback from the tutor

> Successful interview skills

> Evoke a "sense of place"

Researching and planning your article

> Developing ideas and future travel plans

> Analysis of published features

> Reviewing hotels and restaurants

> An in-depth understanding of key players in the travel industry

Selling the final product

> How publishers and editors source freelance material

> Different media types and how to approach them

> The pitfalls to avoid

> Making progress:

 winning commissions for future articles