Bring a world of destinations to life
Travel Writing is ideal for anyone who wants to combine a love of travel and exploring new places with a love of writing – and get paid for it!
You will:
Explore how the travel writing industry works
Discover how to write travel stories readers will love
Get tips on planning, photography and getting free stuff
Learn how to create story opportunities from anywhere
Start earning an income as a travel writer!
“This course exceeded my expectations! It was really helpful to have practical and hands on insights from Katrina and Valerie – a great way to learn. There was a lot of information but as it was broken down into manageable bites that made it less daunting and very practical when working full time.”
– Jodie Matheson, Travel Writing graduate
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Duration 1
This is an online self-paced course
Duration:
Your 12 months' access begins straight away $395 | |||||
You could be an exotic beach, waves gently lapping at your toes. You could be clip-clopping on a horse and carriage through New York’s Central Park in autumn, a 360 degree cityscape surrounding you. Or you could simply be exploring a town just down the road from where you live – after all, everywhere is a tourist destination for someone.
That’s the variety and appeal of travel writing – a “dream job” that allows you to generate an income from sharing your experiences near or far. And as a freelance writer, you don’t even need to give up your day job.
The life of a travel writer is one that's filled with adventure, culture, art, food, people and so much more! And the best part is that you can do this part-time during your holidays – or you can make it your full-time gig. This is the life of Katrina Lobley who is one of Australia's best and most successful travel writers. You'll see her byline in publications like The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, MindFOOD, TIME, Explore and more.
Katrina has co-created this course Travel Writing with Valerie Khoo. And we're so lucky to be able to tap into her expertise and insider knowledge about the new world of travel writing.
Lessons include:
- The current state of the travel writing industry. There are now more opportunities than ever before to be a travel writer. The key is to understand the market so that you can navigate it with confidence. You'll discover a blueprint on exactly what you need to know to get started.
- Understanding different types of travel articles. This module covers five main categories of travel articles. You'll learn how to identify and craft each type, tailoring your writing to different publication needs.
- Crafting compelling destination-focused articles. Learn to create engaging pieces about specific places or activities, from broad overviews to detailed focus articles. You'll discover techniques for providing rich context, incorporating local voices, and creating vivid descriptions that transport readers.
- Mastering the art of travel listicles. Explore the popular format of listicles, understanding why they appeal to readers and how to create engaging ones. You'll learn techniques for smooth flow, balancing information with entertainment, and tailoring content to your audience.
- Writing effective travel reviews. Discover how to craft informative and engaging reviews of accommodations, restaurants, attractions, and travel experiences. You'll learn what elements to include, how to structure your review, and receive essential checklists so that you are writing a comprehensive review.
- Exploring travel trends and related topics. Learn to identify and write about current trends in the travel industry, creating timely and relevant content. You'll discover how to research trends, incorporate expert opinions, and craft articles that appeal to both readers and editors.
- Understanding publication lead times. This module covers the crucial aspect of lead times for various types of publications in the travel writing industry. You'll learn how to plan your pitches and submissions effectively, improving your chances of getting published in a timely manner.
- Developing strong angles and conducting research. Learn the art of creating compelling hooks for your travel articles and conducting thorough research. You'll discover techniques for brainstorming ideas, using various research sources, and gathering information before and during your trips.
- Mastering the art of interviews and quotes. This module teaches you how to conduct effective interviews and use quotes to enhance your travel writing. You'll learn who to interview, how to capture quotes, and how to incorporate them into your articles for added depth and authenticity.
- Navigating the stages of a travel writing career. Explore the progression from self-funded trips to fully hosted experiences in travel writing. You'll learn how to maximise each stage, from DIY adventures to industry media trips, and how to maintain professionalism throughout your career.
- Writing about your hometown. Discover how to find fresh angles and interesting stories in familiar surroundings. You'll learn techniques for seeing your local area through a traveller's eyes and creating engaging content that appeals to both locals and visitors.
- Refining your travel writing techniques. This module covers essential writing skills including transitions, essential writing techniques, and choosing the right point of view. You'll learn how to polish your writing style to create more engaging and professional travel articles.
- Mastering the art of pitching to editors. Learn how to craft effective pitches that catch an editor's attention and increase your chances of getting commissioned. You'll discover what to include in your pitch, how to follow up, and how to handle various editor responses.
- Submitting and managing your travel articles. This module covers the process of filing your copy, formatting your submissions, and understanding your rights as an author. You'll learn professional submission practices and how to navigate the business side of travel writing.
- Integrating photography with your travel writing. Learn about the importance of visual elements in travel articles and how to source and supply appropriate images. You'll discover tips for taking your own travel photos and how to effectively share them with editors.
- Managing the financial aspects of travel writing. This module covers invoicing, payment expectations, and how to handle tax-related questions as a freelance travel writer. You'll learn practical strategies for managing the business side of your writing career.
- Behind the scenes. You’ll gain access to behind the scenes footage of travel writing trips.
- Developing your travel writing career. Learn strategies for building and advancing your career in travel writing, from networking to continuous skill development. You'll discover the importance of persistence, portfolio building, and enjoying the journey as you establish yourself in the industry.
“I don’t have a degree in creative writing or journalism – I wouldn't be working as a writer without taking courses at AWC”.
– Jo Jukes
Freelance writer, graduate of Travel Writing and Freelance Writing Masterclass Program
“Having the thrill of going to a newsagent when you know your article is coming out is fantastic.”
– Rob Grant
Graduate of Australian Writers' Centre, travel writer and marketing consultant
“The Australian Writers’ Centre is hands on, it’s practical, it’s relevant, it’s just amazing to be a part of a collaborative group that supports each other.”
– Jennifer Johnston
Graduate of Australian Writers' Centre and travel writer
“Is this course for me?”
Travel Writing is suited to anyone looking at how to start writing travel content for magazines or websites. People like these:
How our “self-paced courses” work
This is one of AWC’s 35+ “self-paced” online courses. But what does that mean? Allow us to explain:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: I’m a complete beginner. Is this the right course?
A: Travel Writing is perfect for all levels – from beginners to more experienced writers wanting to hone this particular skill set. The thing everyone should have is a curiosity to discover new places.
Q: What's the difference between Freelance Writing Stage 1 and Travel Writing?
A: They’re actually quite different – many students do both. Freelance Writing Stage 1 will give you the fundamentals of writing for print and online publications across a wide range of topics (many choose to do that course first). But if you want to earn money writing about your travels, Travel Writing is essential as it goes a layer deeper into opportunities and tips around travel stories in particular.
Q: But is there a lot of overlap?
A: No. There is hardly any overlap. That’s because this course teaches very specific information and insider knowledge about the travel writing industry – including unspoken etiquette, how to approach tourism bodies for familiarisation tours and media junkets. Travel articles also follow certain formulas that are not typical in regular (non-travel) feature articles. If you’ve done Freelance Writing Stage 1, you’ll find that the only overlap is on the topic of “how to analyse a publication”, which is only a very small part of this very comprehensive travel writing course.
Q: I’m short on time (always travelling!). Can I fit this course into my life?
A: Most of our students are busy people just like you! They might be parents, students, working full-time or currently travelling. The beauty of this online self-paced course is its flexibility – you have 12 months to work through the materials so you can go at your own pace. It’s totally doable.
Q: I'm not sure if I want to freelance but I enjoy writing blogs about my travels. I might even like to write a travel book. Will this course help me?
A: Yes! Because the course teaches you how to structure compelling travel stories, the end product can be anything you want it to be. Even pitching to editors replicates the process that you’d need to go through with a publisher if you were writing a travel book. (Typically each chapter of a travel book will read like a magazine article anyway.) In this respect, the Travel Writing course can be useful in applying the principles you learn to your own blog or book. Even through book promotion, knowing how to create a publicity article is invaluable – many students have found success this way.
By the end of this course, you will have:
| KNOWLEDGE: | Everything you need to know about travel writing all packed and zipped into one highly practical five-week course. |
| CONFIDENCE: | Understanding these essentials of travel writing will not only help you sell stories to travel editors, but connect better with people you meet in your travels. |
| INSPIRATION: | To come up with stories and angles for any location – in your neighbourhood or across the globe. |
| MOTIVATION: | There are hundreds of publications and websites that require travel content – and this course will give you the confidence to succeed. |
This is the most comprehensive and results-driven course in the industry. With over 11 hours of practical instruction, you will complete the course with everything you need to know to succeed.
Graduates have gone on to work full-time as travel writers, including winning top industry awards in just their first few years! Your journey of a thousand miles (probably a lot more) starts here.
But don’t just take our word for it…
“It's a great overview of all the basics you need to know to become a professional travel writer including preparing for a trip and picking the right publications for your story. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the wonderful course, the plethora of information, and all the support. Absolutely loved it.”
Jessica Gately
“This course exceeded my expectations. The course was brilliant. It covered everything I needed to know and some things I didn't realise I needed to know. It was so practical, focusing on the end goal and giving me the knowledge I need to get there. It was so helpful with the insider tips and examples of article types, pitches, checklists and write-ups.”
Alison Burdon
“The huge amount of practical info given is just invaluable. I'm so impressed. I also loved all the real articles we were given to read. The courses are hugely practical with a real focus on getting you started in the industry, giving you invaluable insider info and concrete steps you can take to start your career.”
Andrea Watts
“I was gripped from the first lesson and really enjoyed hearing of the presenter’s stories and experience in the industry. The course content is exceptional and covers all aspects of travel writing.”
Krystal Davidson
Your course creators:
Valerie Khoo is an award-winning feature writer and editor who has commissioned countless travel articles and mentored many travel writers to publication. She has also written travel articles for both Virgin Airlines and Singapore Airlines inflight magazines, as well as glossy magazines in Australia and Asia. As a writing mentor, her students have had many travel articles published here and all over the world.
BRING DESTINATIONS TO LIFE FOR MAGAZINES, WEBSITES & TRAVEL BLOGS
The world is waiting…
This course will change the way you see the world – and give you the confidence to succeed as a travel writer.
There’s a big world out there just waiting to explore… so what are you waiting for? Enrol today!
“I didn’t realise I would actually come away with everything I needed to know about the industry and getting started. Most courses help you get an idea, but I came away from this one with exact steps of how to succeed.”
Catherine Warboys, Travel Writing graduate
| Key information | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Key information: | |||||
Duration 1
This is an online self-paced course
Duration:
Your 12 months' access begins straight away $395 | |||||
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