Description
Have you ever wondered how to transform your adventures into compelling stories? This course
will help you turn those trips into tales. We will discuss the different types of travel writing,
focusing on longform place-based narrative nonfiction (though poets and fiction writers are
welcome).
Topics covered will include keeping a travel journal; research and audience; place-
based specifics and sensory detail in setting; the human landscape and use of effective dialog and
narrative voice; the development of action and arc; the ethical considerations involved in writing
about travel; and revision, editing, and finding markets for your work.
Course Outline:
Week 1: Introductions, Types of Travel Writing, Getting Started. The basics of effective travel
and adventure writing. Why this story? Why now? Why you? Practical tips for writing in the
field. Using inventories.
Week 2: Starting with specifics. Using sensory detail to build excitement. Scene, Summary,
Flashback, and backstory in the adventure tale. Conflict and story arc and the central question.
Week 3: The human landscape. Developing your narrator and characters. Using reflection and
dialogue. Special ethical considerations of travel writing.
Week 4: Research, revision, and editing with an eye toward audience. Possible markets for your
work.
We are able to offer a limited amount of both 50% scholarships for our multi-week classes and 100% scholarships for our single-session classes on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students may receive one scholarship per term. Click here to apply for a scholarship spot.
