Excavating The Travel Essay

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Four sessions; January 10,17, 24, 31; 12-2pm ET

$295

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This course is for anyone who wants to write travel essays that are as vivid as they are insightful. We'll mine old travel journals, photos, correspondences, and conduct original research to write a rich and layered essay. Perhaps it's a story of transformation abroad, of a place that moved you or a stranger who changed your life, a journey that still haunts you, or simply of a distant meal you'll never forget. Or maybe it's a story of migration and identity in a foreign landscape. Over four sessions we’ll push the boundaries of the genre while remaining committed to the heart of the story.  

 

The course begins by reading a broad range of travel essays to understand how different techniques impact the reader. When would an anecdote be more effective than a statistic? How should a writer portray a culture they know little about? We'll break away from the clichés, tropes, and stereotypes that plague travel writing in order to tell an authentic and dynamic story.

 

Next, we'll dive deep into structure and craft. Whether you're writing a chapter in a memoir, a magazine feature, a letter, or deep captions for a photo essay, we'll cover the pillars of a solid travel story—curiosity, sense of place, a moment in time, local characters, rich context, narrative arc, sensory details—as well as techniques to illustrate it skillfully.

 

During the course, each participant will write an original travel essay of up to 2,000 words. The stories will be shared with the group and we’ll generate feedback together. Each student will meet virtually with the instructor for comments and edits, including a personalized list of recommendations for places to submit it to.

 

Between sessions, participants can join the community forum for daily writing exercises, Q+A, and craft discussions led by the instructor.

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*One full scholarship is available for a promising writer with a background historically misrepresented or underrepresented in the

travel writing genre.

Upcoming Workshops

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 Crafting the Perfect Pitch

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Skills for Writing & Reporting Abroad

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See an unfiltered view of one of the world's best cities—Istanbul!—while sharpening your writing skills in this experiential class. This isn't your typical writing workshop: it's designed to cut through the fluff and explore real issues in travel writing, such as the risks and ethics of writing abroad, and how to craft a truly authentic story that embodies the complexities a place.

 

Most importantly, we won't do it alone: We'll meet local journalists, see the streets through the eyes of documentary photographers, taste the cuisine of Istanbul's best chefs, and break bread with local communities. After Istanbul, we'll head to a private seaside retreat to use as our writing studio. 

 

This course is structured through writing prompts, on-the-ground reporting, panel discussions, and group workshops to produce a publishable travel feature.  

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Detailed health and safety guidelines will be issued in Spring 2021. All group sessions and meals will be outdoors and private accommodations are available. Local health protocols will be followed. 

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