“No offence, but I want to be THERE, not here.” This was the response from Amber, a participant in one of my recent ‘Introduction to Travel Writing’ Workshops. The group had been given a table covered in travel magazines and I was asking them what had made them choose the one they had selected. She was pointing to cover photo showing someone sunbathing on the deck of a luxury yacht floating above a vibrant blue sea. That’s the effect every travel photographer or writer wants to evoke. In this workshop I help wannabe travel writers to understand what makes great travel writing, how to craft a magnetic opening sentence and why it’s so important to write in an original and engaging manner.
Really good travel writing takes us from the desk, sofa, bus or bed to another place where we can relax and experience a different aspect of life. Here are my suggestions to help YOU improve your style and create compelling content.
Top 10 Travel Writing Tips
-
Find an original angle, whether it’s for a well-known place or lesser-known sight
-
Share your own experiences, be real – be YOU
-
Become a specialist and have a niche that gives readers a reason to seek you out
-
Write simply, don’t try to impress and focus on taking your reader on the journey with you
-
Tell a story that you would like to read
-
Make sure your opening paragraph hooks your reader’s attention straight away
-
Create a mental picture using all the senses so they can see, hear, feel and experience with you
-
Check your facts – and check again
-
Be original – avoid clichés and overused phrases such as ‘breathtaking view’, ‘vibrant culture‘, ‘life’s a beach’
-
Be patient – it takes time & energy to develop your writing style but it really is worth it 😊
I run a variety of Travel Writing and Blogging Workshops for individuals as well as tourism boards, tourist attractions, other DMOs and specialists in the tourism, leisure and hospitality sector. For more information and to discuss your specific requirements, contact Zoe Dawes here.
One tip not on that list is to get feedback. Whether it is via family and friends, colleagues, fellow travel writers, bloggers or journalists or from your blog, it can be an invaluable way of improving your writing and getting reassurance when you are on the right track.
Awesome travel writing tips! Oops, too cliché. I think I need the course!
Ha! Don’t think you do Cindy 🙂 You have a lovely writing style on your blog.
Good writing tips! Thanks for sharing this post and glad to visit this blog.
This was an excellent workshop – highly recommended.
Great tips! Being original is the most important one. I guess you need to be honest in order to be a good and long-lasting writer.
Good point Renuka – honesty is very important to a good travel writer. I must admit I OCCASIONALLY embroider the story for the sake of a little more entertainment but NEVER lie about the facts.
Thanks Catherine. It was a pleasure to have you in the group and look forward to seeing you at other ones in future. Good luck with your travel writing and let me know if I can help in any way.
Thanks Johan – glad you found it useful 🙂
Only a couple of weeks after this course, and before the blogging one, I have been sufficiently inspired to create my own blog and write my first post. Thanks Zoe – https://longishhaul.com/2018/03/11/sit-down-next-to-me/
Oh well done Catherine = you are a star pupil 😉 Love the article – you’ve got a real talent for travel writing!
What a great workshop! It was great to get not only the feel of what great travel writing looks like, but the framework and language with which to unpick that and ultimately apply it to my own writing. Thanks Zoe.
It was a pleasure to work with you Jackie and so glad you found the workshop helpful. Looking forward to seeing how you combine travel writing into your story-telling 🙂