Do you love exploring new places? This masterclass will teach you how to turn your travel experiences into truly compelling prose. Whether you want to write about a city, a country, or a round-the-world trip, you’ll learn how to transform your observations and research into first-rate travelogue pieces.
Suitable for writers of all levels, the course is led by award-winning travel writer Mike Carter, whose work has appeared in the Financial Times, the Guardian and the Observer. Using his vast reserves of experience and enthusiasm, Mike will teach you how to structure a piece, write a compelling introduction, and make a place come alive through writing. In addition, you’ll receive invaluable advice from former Observer Travel editor Joanne O’Connor on becoming a professional travel journalist. Plus, you’ll even have the opportunity to get feedback on your work both during and after the course.
Course content
- Finding your style as a travel writer
- How to take effective and useful notes during your travels
- Writing the most important part of any travel story: a compelling introduction that will have the reader gripped
- How to use the “building blocks” of travel experiences to create the main body of a piece
- Writing great dialogue
- Common pitfalls – and how to avoid them
- Practical writing exercises
- Post-course exercise: participants have the opportunity to submit a 500-word piece to Mike for personalised feedback
- Q&A and discussion
Tutor profile
Mike Carter has been travel writing for 10 years. He writes regularly for the Financial Times, and has written for the Guardian, the Observer, The Sunday Times, Harper’s Bazaar and Daily Express. He is the author of two travel books – Uneasy Rider, which won the 2008 Oldie Travel Book of the Year, and One Man and his Bike, published in 2011, which documented his 5,000 mile cycle ride around the entire coastline of Britain.
Guest speaker profile
Joanne O’Connor has been a travel writer and editor for 20 years. She was Travel editor of the Observer from 2005 to 2010 and has spent the last few years working as a freelance journalist. She writes for most of the broadsheet travel sections and magazines such as Marie Claire, Tatler and BA Highlife, and has a travel column in the Observer magazine.
Testimonials
I loved every minute of this course. The content was really interesting and the activities encouraged us to step outside of our comfort zone but with really good results.
The atmosphere was brilliant!
Both were engaging and inspiring experts in the field of travel writing. Their knowledge and warmth shone through all the sessions.
Details
This course has now passed – but we update our programme all the time. For information on our full range of masterclasses, sign up to our newsletter, follow us on Twitter, or keep an eye on our calendar.
To contact us, click here. Terms and conditions can be found here.
Returns policy
Tickets may be refunded if you contact us at least 14 days before the course start date. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
