Travel Writing In the Digital Age

Travel writing, one of the oldest genres of literature, has evolved from Richard Hakluyt's 16th-Century compendium of items for a whaling expedition to 280 character tweets by @twobadtourists. In the age of 'Instagram points' and commercialisation of traditional hospitality seen in the rise of Airbnb, what can a travel writer now write about?

The workshop will equip participants with an understanding of the following:

- Essential skills for good travel writing.
- Basics of photography and video for travel writing.
- Making the most of social media.
- Publishing in print and digital.
- Paying the bills and more in travel writing.
- Ethics of travel writing.
- Creating, sustaining and extending your brand as a travel writer.

Course Outline:

Essential skills for good travel writing:
- Dialogues, structure, research, interviewing skills

Using multi-media content:
- Basics of photography and videography

Making the most of social media:
- Using social media for research
- Social media for author promotion

Tips to get published:
- Avenues for publication for print and online
- Writing a pitch
- Self-publishing basics