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What to read: the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2023 winner and shortlist

​This year’s winner of the annual Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards is Silvia Vasquez-Lavado for her courageous travel memoir In The Shadow of the Mountain, one of many inspirational journeys on the shortlist.

This year’s winner of the annual Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards is Silvia Vasquez-Lavado for her courageous travel memoir In The Shadow of the Mountain . The accolade was revealed on Thursday 16 March, 2023, at Stanfords book store in central London. This year's shortlist included some seriously inspirational journeys taking in such diverse destinations as Iran, the Himalayas, Bolivia and the High Atlas. Undertaken in all manner of ways — on foot, by boat, vintage Land Rover and led by camels —several titles incorporate a personal journey, delving back into complex family histories that prove challenging and life-changing.  

Celebrating the world’s best travel writing, the awards take their name from Edward Stanford, founder of the travel books and map shop established in London in 1853, and they were judged this year by authors Colin Thubron, Sunny Singh, Julia Wheeler, Lois Pryce, Caroline Eden and journalists Ash Bhardwaj and Jeremy Bassetti.  

THE WINNER: In the Shadow of the Mountain Peruvian Silvia Vasquez-Lavado returns home to face her demons, and discovers a passion for climbing that takes her across the Seven Summits. Taking on Everest with a group of troubled young women, this is a travelogue that’s about more than conquering tough terrain. Octopus Publishing Group, £16.99 .

The shortlist

1. Walking with Nomads Adventurer and TV presenter Alice Morrison carries readers on three epic journeys across Morocco, taking in the Sahara and Atlas Mountains accompanied by three Amazigh Muslim men and their camels. Alice’s tale reveals the transformative nature of travel in some of the world’s harshest terrains. Simon & Schuster, £20.00

2. High: A Journey Across the Himalayas through Pakistan, India, Bhutan, Nepal and China This high-altitude odyssey takes in the peaks and people who live and work in the world’s tallest mountain range. Erika Fatland takes a journey that enables the region’s landscapes, histories and hidden communities to step into the spotlight. Quercus, £30 .

3. My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland Journalist Mary Novakovich journeys into the hinterland of Croatia to explore both her ongoing relationship with the region of Lika in central Croatia, where her parents were born and she summered as a child, and the complex history and rich culture of this little-explored Balkan region. Bradt, £9.99 .

4. The Po: An Elegy for Italy’s Longest River Italy-based British author and journalist Tobias Jones travels along the 405-mile length of the Po — Virgil’s ‘king of rivers’. Along the waterway, he gathers stories of battles, cuisines, religions and music lost to time and paints a picture of the quirks and oddities of contemporary Italy. Head of Zeus, £25.00 .

5. The Last Overland: Singapore to London: The Return Journey of the Iconic Land Rover Expedition This travelogue is inspired by Tim Slessor’s 1955 expedition from London to Singapore. Alex Bescoby recreated that journey in reverse, travelling some 19,000 miles in the same Oxford Land Rover. Michael O’Mara Books, £20 .

6. Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia Combining travel writing, history and reportage, Shafik Meghji explores how a country often overlooked by the world has impacted cultures worldwide, noting its unexpected influence, say, on the Industrial Revolution in Europe and the dynastic collapse in China. Latin American Bureau, £14.95 .

7. The Slow Road to Tehran: A Revelatory Bike Ride through Europe and the Middle East A journey of discovery for one woman and her bike took Rebecca Lowe through Iran in 2015 as the Syrian war and refugee crisis raged. The book aims to shift perceptions of an often misunderstood part of the world. September Publishing, £18.99 .

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The best travel writing of 2024, recommended by shafik meghji.

WINNER Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year

A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

Every spring, the judges of the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards draw up a shortlist for the title of the 'travel book of the year.' The 2024 shortlist highlights six fascinating recent travelogues that wrestle with political and environmental issues, and explore the contrast between the outsider and the insider gaze.

Interview by Cal Flyn , Deputy Editor

The Britannias: An Archipelago’s Tale by Alice Albinia

The Gathering Place: A Winter Pilgrimage Through Changing Times by Mary Colwell

The Granite Kingdom: A Cornish Journey

Wounded Tigris: A River Journey Through the Cradle of Civilisation by Leon McCarron

High Caucasus: A Mountain Quest in Russia’s Haunted Hinterland by Tom Parfitt

1 A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East's Long War by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad

2 the britannias: an archipelago’s tale by alice albinia, 3 the gathering place: a winter pilgrimage through changing times by mary colwell, 4 the granite kingdom: a cornish journey, 5 wounded tigris: a river journey through the cradle of civilisation by leon mccarron, 6 high caucasus: a mountain quest in russia’s haunted hinterland by tom parfitt.

A s a judge for the 2024 Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards you’re in an excellent position to advise us on whether it has been a good year for travel books.

What does it mean to an author, to be shortlisted for an award like this?

Obviously, it’s very gratifying. While awards aren’t everything, of course, it was a real joy for me last year to be shortlisted. My book, Crossed Off the Map , came from a tiny independent publisher, Latin America Bureau, so it was a big achievement from that point of view, too.

And on a personal level, I’ve been going to Stanfords bookshop all my life. Before I became a travel writer, my backpacking trips around India, Southeast Asia and South America started by looking through the guidebooks, travel literature and maps in Stanfords. When my first book came out, it was such a joy to see it on the shelves there.

“Travel writing is…a capacious genre. There are lots of different elements you can bring in”

Well, let’s have a look at them. We can start with A Stranger in Your Own City: Travels in the Middle East’s Long War by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad. He’s an award-winning Iraqi reporter; that makes for an unusual spin on ‘travel writing.’

Ghaith Abdul-Ahad reported extensively for The Guardian and The Washington Post after the US invasion of Iraq and I remember reading his dispatches at the time and in the years since. Published on the 20th anniversary of the invasion, his book combines journalism, memoir and travel writing to tell the stories of the people caught up in the maelstrom as, to quote the author, ‘their world fragmented.’

One of the things about this book that really stood out to me was how it gives, vitally, an Iraqi-centred account. I felt that I was getting a 360º perspective of the situation, rather than stereotypes. It’s a powerful book.

Travel writing tends to be written from an outsider’s gaze, but as this book’s title suggests, his home place has changed so much it now feels foreign.

I think it reflects his sense of seeing his country change so dramatically over such a short period of time to the extent that he can feel lost in places that were once familiar. In many ways, he was perfectly placed to navigate what is obviously an incredibly difficult and dangerous situation, somethinng that he has experienced first hand.

Our next book brings us a little closer to home—well, perhaps not for all of our readers. This is Alice Albinia’s The Britannias: An Archipelago’s Tale, which focuses on Britain’s islands.

The Britannias journeys from Neolithic ruins in Orkney, across the Isle of Wight, Iona, the Channel Islands and even Bermuda to present-day Thanet and Westminster, exploring the topography, stories, legends, ancient sites and forgotten characters of the British Isles. One of the things that stood out is that Alice Albinia goes beyond the well-worn, male-focused view of the past and highlights female histories that have been overlooked or shut down.

I’d enjoyed her previous book, Empires of the Indus , so was particularly keen to read this one. From a writer’s point of view, she does an incredible amount of research and uses a huge array of sources: myths, poetry, Roman literature, newspapers, plus first-hand interviews and her own travels.

Right. And it too gestures towards this idea that travel might be within a nation one knows well.

Shall we look at Mary Colwell’s new book The Gathering Place: A Winter Pilgrimage Through Changing Times next? Why did it make the 2024 shortlist of the best travel books?

Several of the books on the shortlist are centred around walks or hikes, including The Gathering Place , which traces Mary Colwell’s 500-mile solo pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. The author notes that this pilgrimage in particular, and pilgrimages in general, have always drawn people during times of strife and upheaval. Fittingly, she walked the Camino during the autumn/winter of 2020, still at the height of the pandemic.

I’ve read travel books written about the same period that either ignore or underplay the pandemic. In The Gathering Place , it’s present throughout and Colwell does a great job of finding parallels with plagues and epidemics from the past. This adds a rich texture to her journey, as she delves into the history, stories and characters associated with the Camino. She also blends in diary entries from her previous travels, while painting perceptive portraits of her fellow pilgrims.

She has a poetic touch and her enthusiasm for the subject really shines through.

I’ve noticed a trend in hiking memoirs in recent years. But I suppose journeys on foot have always served as a useful narrative thread for travel writing.

Let’s move on to The Granite Kingdom: A Cornish Journey by Tim Hannigan. Another British travel narrative.

Yes, and another walk. In this book, author Tim Hannigan hikes across Cornwall—where he was born and brought up—while examining its history, landscape and people. I really enjoyed his exploration of Cornish identity and, by extension, English and British identities, too. Another stand-out element is that he subverts cliches and tropes, which is always important for travel writers to do. There’s a particularly enlightening section on the subject of ‘Cornish wreckers’, for example.

Right. I’ve been interested in that subject since I read Bella Bathurst’s The Wreckers a few years back.

Hannigan is an experienced travel writer, and I really enjoyed how he turned the traveller’s gaze on his own homeland. His book feels like a very modern, self-aware piece of travel literature.

Perhaps we could look at Wounded Tigris next? Why did this travel book by Leon McCarron make the 2024 shortlist?

It was fascinating to read this book alongside A Stranger in Your Own City— they make excellent companion pieces. Wounded Tigris is a river journey along the length of the Tigris, from its source in the Turkish mountains, across northern Syria and through Iraq.

The author, Leon McCarron, is a writer and filmmaker who was based in Iraq at the time of the research. In many ways, it’s a classic-style travelogue: it has a well-paced narrative and McCarron is an empathetic writer who paints vivid and sympathetic portraits of the people he meets, as well as the river’s historical, cultural, political and economic significance. He also emphasised the immense environmental challenges it faces—it’s good to see a piece of travel writing fully engaging with the climate emergency. This is another book that will stay with you.

One theme that seems to be arising from this list is that travel writing seems to be increasingly politically engaged. Is that something you would agree with? 

Yes. I think the idea of the travel writer as some kind of impartial ‘observer’ who is completely objective about the places he or she sees is thankfully being consigned to the past. Travel writers are on the frontlines of many of the touchstone issues of the 21st century. I’ve certainly found that in my own experience of writing about Latin America. In terms of the climate crisis, you have to wilfully ignore it for it not to be foregrounded in your work.

In Wounded Tigris , it’s very much at the forefront and McCarron clearly outlines the human impact. He shows that this is not something to think about in the future: this is happening to people now, and has been happening to them for many years.

Perhaps that might lead us nicely into a discussion of Tom Parfitt’s High Caucasus: A Mountain Quest in Russia’s Haunted Hinterland.

So this is another hike, and I think the longest one on the shortlist—a dramatic 1000-mile hike through the mountainous north Caucasus, passing through seven Russian republics from the Black Sea to the Caspian. One of the key elements of this book is that Tom Parfitt, a longtime newspaper correspondent in Moscow, deftly weaves in his own experiences, including the trauma of covering the 2004 Beslan school siege in which more than 300 hostages died.

On the hike he also explores the region’s landscapes, peoples, cultures and extremely turbulent history. It was a journey he did some years ago, but the book feels very topical as there are obviously some striking parallels with the current situation in Ukraine.

As an author, he also has a crisp, engaging writing style, which I really enjoyed.

I find my appetite for and understanding of books is always amplified by my presence in the place where they are set.

Whenever I travel for work or pleasure, I always like to read local literature and travel writing about that place. It gives a different insight into the culture and history of the places you are experiencing.

I was lucky enough to read High Caucasus while I was travelling through the Georgian side of the Caucasus and I had a much richer experience as a result.

Right, it helps me understand what I’m looking at or experiencing. Perhaps I could close our conversation by asking whether, having read so many travel books recently, you are feeling optimistic about the state of travel writing in 2024?

Absolutely. The ‘death’ of travel writing has become its own trope, wheeled out every few years. But it’s one of the oldest forms of writing and there is always going to be a need for it. The books on this shortlist, and many others that have been released in recent years, show that travel writing is in a good state of health. And there are plenty of books coming out soon that I’m excited about too.

In recent years, we have started to see a diversification of travel writing. There are more authors from a broader range of backgrounds, and they are helping to reinvigorate the genre by bringing fresh perspectives and covering places, cultures and histories that have been overlooked or even actively suppressed.

One thing I love about travel writing is that it is a capacious genre. There are lots of different elements you can bring into it, whatever topic you want to cover or style you want to use. This year’s shortlists—not just for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year, but also the Viking Award for Fiction with a Sense of Place and the Children’s Travel Book of the Year—really illustrate that. So, yes, I’m very positive about the future of travel writing.

March 20, 2024

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Shafik Meghji

Shafik  Meghji is an award-winning travel writer, journalist, and author of  Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia , which was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year 2023. Based in London, he has co-authored more than 45 guidebooks and writes for BBC Travel, National Geographic Traveller and Wanderlust , among others.

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Win Cash and Publication Many Categories for True Stories Submit Your Story for the Solas Awards Here

Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards Winners Announced

The Travelers’ Tales editors and this year’s returning judge Scott Dominic Carpenter announced the winners of the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards for Best Travel Story of the Year on March 1, 2024. Grand Prize winner Sue Parman collected $1000 and the gold award for “ Y ou Can’t Get There from Here ,” her wondrous tale about connecting with others in the Outer Hebrides. Lance Mason won the silver award and $750 for “ The Lessons of Drnc ,” his story about cultural conflict in the Balkans. Pier Nirandara took the bronze award and $500 for “ To the Thai Woman Who Touched Me ,” her reflective essay about class and ethnicity in mixed cultures.

Scores of entries in 21 categories kept the judges busy. As usual, not every story that deserved an award received one. Here’s the complete list of winners. Winning stories will be posted as Editors’ Choice stories on TravelersTales.com , and may appear in future Travelers’ Tales books.

Nineteenth Annual Solas Awards Open for Entries

Deadline for the Nineteenth Annual Solas Awards is September 21, 2024. The competition is year-round, however, so submit your stories any time. Winners of the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards were announced on March 1, 2024.

See the complete list of winners in the Eighteenth Annual Solas Awards.

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Travelers’ Tales Sponsors Solas Awards

Award-winning publisher Travelers’ Tales is the sponsor of The Solas Awards, an annual competition to honor excellence in travel writing.

Dates: You can enter year-round. The current competition closes on September 21, 2024.

Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year:

$1,000 Gold $750 Silver $500 Bronze

Awards in Categories:

Bragging rights for Gold, Silver, and Bronze (no cash awards in categories).

Enter one or more categories and you’re automatically entered for the Grand Prize.

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Great Travel Writing Examples from World Renowned Travel Writers

Are you ready to be a better travel writer? One of the best ways to do this is to read great travel writing examples from great travel writers.

Writing about travel in a way that keeps your reader reading is not always easy. Knowing how to write an irresistible first paragraph to entice the reader to keep reading is key. Writing a lede paragraph that convinces the reader to finish the article, story or book is great travel writing.  This article features travel writing examples from award-winning travel writers, top-selling books, New York Times travel writers, and award-winning travel blogs.

Ads are how we pay our bills and keep our blog free for you to enjoy. We also use affiliate links; if you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

The writers featured in this article are some of my personal favorite travel writers. I am lucky to have met most of them in person and even luckier to consider many friends. Many I have interviewed on my podcast and have learned writing tips from their years of travel writing, editing and wisdom.

11 Great Travel Writing Examples

Writing with feeling, tone, and point of view creates a compelling story. Below are examples of travel writing that include; first paragraphs, middle paragraphs, and final paragraphs for both travel articles as well as travel books.

I hope the below examples of travel writing inspire you to write more, study great travel writing and take your writing to a higher level.

Writing Example of a Travel Book Closing Paragraphs

Don George is the author of the award-winning anthology The Way of Wanderlust: The Best Travel Writing of Don George , and the best-selling travel writing guide in the world: How to Be a Travel Writer .

He is currently Editor at Large for National Geographic Travel, and has been Travel Editor at the San Francisco Examiner-Chronicle, Salon, and Lonely Planet.

I had the wonderful opportunity to see Don speak at Tbex and read from one of his books as well as interview him on the Break Into Travel Writing podcast. You can listen to the full podcast here .

Below is the closing of Don’s ebook: Wanderlust in the Time of Coronavirus: Dispatches from a Year of Traveling Close to Home

I continued hiking up to Lost Trail and then along Canopy View Trail. Around noon I serendipitously came upon a bench by the side of the trail, parked my backpack, and unpacked my lunch. Along with my sandwiches and carrot sticks, I feasted on the tranquility and serenity, the sequoia-swabbed purity of the air, the bird and brook sounds and sun-baked earth and pine needle smells, the sunlight slanting through the branches, the bright patch of blue sky beyond.

At one point I thought of shinrin-yoku, forest bathing, the Japanese practice that has become widely popular in the U.S. This was a perfect example of shinrin-yoku, I thought: Here I am, alone in this forest, immersed in the sense and spirit of these old-growth redwoods, taking in their tranquility and timelessness, losing myself to their sheer size and age and their wild wisdom that fills the air.

I sat there for an hour, and let all the trials, tremors, and tribulations of the world I had left in the parking lot drift away. I felt grounded, calm, quiet—earth-bound, forest-embraced.

In another hour, or two, I would walk back to the main paved trail, where other pilgrims would be exclaiming in awe at the sacred sequoias, just as I had earlier that day.

But for now, I was content to root right here, on this blessed bench in the middle of nowhere, or rather, in the middle of everywhere, the wind whooshing through me, bird-chirps strung from my boughs, toes spreading under scratchy pine needles into hard-packed earth, sun-warmed canopy reaching for the sky, aging trunk textured by time, deep-pulsing, in the heart of Muir Woods.

• You can read the whole story here: Old Growth: Hiking into the Heart of Muir Woods
• Please also download Don’s free ebook here:  Wanderlust in the Time of Coronavirus
• In addition to writing and editing, Don speaks at conferences, lectures on tours around the world, and teaches travel writing workshops through www.bookpassage.com .

Writing Example of a Travel Book Intro Paragraphs

Francis tapon.

Francis Tapon , author of Hike Your Own Hike and The Hidden Europe , also created a TV series and book called The Unseen Africa, which is based on his five-year journey across all 54 African countries.

He is a three-time TEDx speaker. His social media username is always FTapon. I interviewed Francis on the Break Into Travel Writing podcast about “How to Find An Original Point of View as a Travel Writer “. You can listen to the full podcast here .

Below is the opening of Francis’ book, The Hidden Europe:

“This would be a pretty lousy way to die,” I thought.

I was locked in an outhouse with no way out. Outhouses sometimes have two latches—one on the outside and one on the inside. The outside latch keeps the door shut to prevent rodents and other creatures who like hanging out in crap from coming in. Somehow, that outer latch accidentally closed, thereby locking me in this smelly toilet. I was wearing a thin rain jacket. The temperature was rapidly dropping.

“This stinks,” I mumbled. It was midnight, I was above the Arctic Circle, and the temperatures at night would be just above freezing. There was no one around for kilometers. If I didn’t get out, I could freeze to death in this tiny, smelly, fly-infested shithole.

My mom would kill me if I died so disgracefully. She would observe that when Elvis died next to a toilet, he was in Graceland. I, on the other hand, was in Finland, not far from Santa Claus. This Nordic country was a jump board for visiting all 25 nations in Eastern Europe.

You can find his book on Amazon: The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us

For $2 a month, you can get Francis’ book as he writes it: Patreon.com/ftapon

Intro (Lede) Paragraph Examples of Great Travel Writing Articles

Michele peterson.

Former banking executive Michele Peterson is a multi-award-winning travel and food writer who divides her time between Canada, Guatemala, and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach).

Former banking executive Michele Peterson is a multi-award-winning travel and food writer who divides her time between Canada, Guatemala, and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach). Her writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s Mexico from the Source cookbook, National Geographic Traveler, Conde Nast’s Gold List, the Globe and Mail, Fifty-five Plus and more than 100 other online and print publications.

She blogs about world cuisine and sun destinations at A Taste for Travel website. I met Michele on my first media trip that took place in Nova Scotia, Canada. I also had the pleasure of interviewing about “ Why the Odds are in Your Favor if you Want to Become a Travel Writer” . You can listen to the full podcast here .

Michele’s Lede Paragraph Travel Writing Example

I’m hiking through a forest of oak trees following a farmer who is bleating like a pied piper. Emerging from a gully is a herd of black Iberian pigs, snuffling in response. If they weren’t so focused on following the swineherd, I would run for the hills. These pigs look nothing like the pink-cheeked Babe of Hollywood fame.

These are the world’s original swine, with lineage dating back to the Paleolithic Stone Age period where the earliest humans decorated Spain’s caves with images of wild boars. Their powerful hoofs stab the earth as they devour their prized food, the Spanish bellota acorn, as fast as the farmer can shake them from the tree with his long wooden staff. My experience is part of a culinary journey exploring the secrets of producingjamón ibérico de Bellota, one of the world’s finest hams.

You can read the full article here: Hunting for Jamón in Spain

Perry Garfinkel

Perry Garfinkel has been a journalist and author for an unbelievable 40 years, except for some years of defection into media/PR communications and consulting.

He is a contributor to The New York Times since the late ’80s, writing for many sections and departments. He has been an editor for, among others, the Boston Globe, the Middlesex News, and the Martha’s Vineyard Times.

He’s the author of the national bestseller “ Buddha or Bust: In Search of the Truth, Meaning, Happiness and the Man Who Found Them All ” and “ Travel Writing for Profit and Pleasure “.

Perry has been a guest on my podcast twice. He gave a “ Master Class in Travel Writing ” you can listen to the full podcast here . He also shared “ How to Find Your Point Of View as a Travel Writer ” you can listen to the full episode here .

Perry’s Lede Travel Article Example from the New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO — A block off Grant Avenue in San Francisco’s Chinatown – beyond the well-worn path tourists take past souvenir shops, restaurants and a dive saloon called the Buddha Bar – begins a historical tour of a more spiritual nature. Duck into a nondescript doorway at 125 Waverly Place, ascend five narrow flights and step into the first and oldest Buddhist temple in the United States.

At the Tien Hau Temple, before an intricately carved gilded wooden shrine and ornate Buddha statues, under dozens of paper lanterns, Buddhists in the Chinese tradition still burn pungent incense and leave offerings to the goddess Tien Hau in return for the promise of happiness and a long life.

You can read the full article here: Taking a Buddhist pilgrimage in San Francisco

Elaine Masters

Elaine Masters apologizes for pissing off fellow travelers while tracking story ideas, cultural clues, and inspiring images but can’t resist ducking in doorways or talking with strangers.

She’s recently been spotted driving her hybrid around the North American West Coast and diving cenotes in the Yucatan. Founder of Tripwellgal.com, Elaine covers mindful travel, local food, overlooked destinations and experiences. Elaine was a guest on my podcast where we spoke about “ How to Master the CVB Relationship “. You can listen to the full podcast here .

Elaine’s Lede Example

I jiggered my luggage onto the escalator crawling up to the street. As it rose into the afternoon light, an immense shadow rose over my shoulder. Stepping onto the sidewalk, I burst into giggles, looking like a madwoman, laughing alone on the busy Barcelona boulevard.  The shadow looming overhead was the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. It had mesmerized me forty years earlier and it was the reason I’d finally returned to Spain.

You can read the full article here: Don’t Miss Going Inside Sagrada Familia, Barcelona’s Beloved Cathedral

Along with his wife, photographer Mary Gabbett, Bret Love is the Co-Founder/Editor In Chief of Green Global Travel and the Blue Ridge Mountains Travel Guide.

He’s also an award-winning writer whose work has been featured by more than 100 publications around the world, including National Geographic, Rolling Stone, American Way, the Washington Post, and the New York Times.

Bret’s Lede Example

Congo Square is quiet now. Traffic forms a dull drone in the distance. A lone percussionist taps out ancient tribal rhythms on a two-headed drum. An air compressor from Rampart Street road construction provides perfectly syncopated whooshes of accompaniment.

Shaded park benches are surrounded by blooming azaleas, magnolias, and massive live oaks that stretch to provide relief from the blazing midday sun. It’s an oasis of solitude directly across the street from the French Quarter.

Congo Square is quiet now. But it’s here that the seeds of American culture as we know it were sown more than 200 years ago. And the scents, sounds, and sights that originated here have never been more vital to New Orleans than they are now, more than a decade after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city.

You can read the full article here: Treme, New Orleans (How Congo Square Was The Birthplace Of American Culture)

Middle Paragraph Examples of Great Travel Writing Articles

Mariellen ward.

Canadian travel writer and blogger Mariellen Ward runs the award-winning travel site Breathedreamgo.com , inspired by her extensive travels in India.

She has been published in leading media outlets worldwide and offers custom tours to India through her company India for Beginners. Though Canadian by birth, Mariellen considers India to be her “soul culture” and she is passionate about encouraging mindful travel.

Mariellen’s Middle Paragraph Example

While the festival atmosphere swirled around me, I imbued my  diya with hope for personal transformation. I had come to India because a river of loss had run through my life, and I had struggled with grief, despair and depression for eight years. I felt I was clinging to the bank, but the effort was wearing me out. Deciding to leave my life and go to India was like letting go of the bank and going with the flow of the river. I had no idea where it would lead me, what I would learn or how I would change. I only knew that it was going to be big.

You can read the full article here: The River: A tale of grief and healing in India

Joe Baur is an author and filmmaker from Cleveland currently based in Berlin. His work has appeared in a variety of international publications, including BBC Travel, National Geographic, and Deutsche Welle.

He regularly reports for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and is the author of Talking Tico detailing his year of living in Costa Rica and traveling around Central America. I interviewed Joe about “ How to Find Unique Travel Stories “. You can listen to the full podcast here .

Joe Baur’s Middle Paragraph Example

I first became aware of the Harz mountains and the Brocken when reading the works of some of Germany’s great writers, like Goethe and Heinrich Heine. Legends of witches congregating with the devil being the main theme of the mountain’s mythology. I, however, was more interested in a refreshing time spent in nature rather than reveling with the devil.

The first stage from Osterode to Buntenbock was a warm-up to the more rigorous stages ahead. It began on sidewalks before sliding into the forest sporting a healthy shade of green — a gentle jaunt that made my hiking boots feel a bit like overkill given the dry, pleasant weather.

You can read the full article here: Follow the witch through the forest: 5 days hiking Germany’s Harz

Samantha Shea

Samantha is a freelance travel writer with bylines in Matador Network, GoNomad and more. She also runs the travel blog Intentional Detours which provides thorough guides and tales related to offbeat adventure travel in South Asia and beyond.

When she’s not writing she enjoys cycling, hiking, the beach, as well as language learning.

Samantha Shea’s Middle Paragraph Example

Suddenly, the spark of a match pulsed through the early-fall afternoon and my head snapped towards the men. Amir touched the flame to an unidentifiable object that seconds later made itself known by the deep earthy scent of Pakistani hashish.

Amir’s ice blue eyes focused intently on his creation: a combination of tobacco and nuggets of greenish-brown charas. He forced the mixture back into the cigarette, before bringing it to his pursed lips, flicking the match, and setting flame to his high.

I reached out from the cot to take my turn and took a deep inhale, acutely pleased. I savored the familiar burn of the drag, the rows and rows of corn and apple plants in front of me, the stuttered cacophony of animal exclamations behind me, and the generosity of the men to my left, some of whom we had just met an hour before.

You can read the full article here: Thall Tales: A Hazy Afternoon in Thall, Pakistan

Final Paragraph Example of Great Travel Writing Articles

Cassie bailey.

Cassie is a travel writer who has solo backpacked around Asia and the Balkans, and is currently based in Auckland. Alongside in-depth destination guides, her blog has a particular focus on storytelling, mental health, and neurodiversity.

Cassie’s Final Paragraphs Example

So my goal is to feel, I guess. And I don’t mean that in a dirty way (although obvz I do mean that in a dirty way too). This is why we travel, right? To taste crazy new foods and to feel the sea breeze against our skin or the burn on the back of our legs on the way down a mountain. We want to feel like shite getting off night buses at 4am and the sting of mosquito bites. We know we’re going to feel lost or frustrated or overwhelmed but we do it anyway. Because we know it’s worth it for the ecstasy of seeing a perfect view or making a new connection or finding shitty wine after a bad day.

My goal is never to become numb to all of this. To never kid myself into settling for less than everything our bodies allow us to perceive. I’m after the full human experience; every bit, every feeling.

You can read the full article here: Goals inspired by life as a solo backpacker

Lydia Carey

Lydia Carey is a freelance writer and translator based out of Mexico City who spends her time mangling the Spanish language, scouring the country for true stories and “researching” every taco stand in her neighborhood.

She is the author of “ Mexico City Streets: La Roma ,” a guide to one of Mexico City’s most eclectic neighborhoods and she chronicles her life in the city on her blog MexicoCityStreets.com .

Lydia’s Final Paragraphs Example

Guys from the barrio huddle around their motorcycles smoking weed and drinking forties. Entire families, each dressed as St. Jude, eat tacos al pastor and grilled corn on a stick. Police stand at a distance, keeping an eye on the crowd but trying not to get too involved.

After this celebration, many of the pilgrims will travel on to Puebla where they will visit some of the religious relics on display in the San Judas church there. But many more will simply go back to their trades—legal and illegal—hoping that their attendance will mean that San Judas protects them for another year, and that he has their back in this monster of a city.

You can read the full article here: San Judas de Tadeo: Mexico’s Defender of Lost Causes

I hope you enjoyed these examples of travel writing and they have inspired you to want to write more and write better! The next article that will be published is a follow-up to this and will include travel writing examples from my first travel writing teacher, Amanda Castleman. This article will include travel writing tips from Amanda and travel writing examples from her students as well as one from her own writing.

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Alexa Meisler is the editorial director of 52 Perfect Days. Born in Paris, France she has since lived in Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. She currently resides in San Diego with her husband and son where they enjoy exploring California and Mexico.

Travel has always been a part of her life; traveling to such places as Morocco, Tangiers and Spain as a young child as well as taking many road trips to Mexico with her grandparents as a young girl. Since then, she has traveled abroad to locations such as Russia, Taiwan and throughout Europe.

Prior to working at 52 Perfect Days she was a freelance travel writer; focusing on family and women’s adventure experiences.

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10 of the best travel books

We may not be able to venture far right now, but these travel books, from classics to comic travelogues, take us on journeys around the world Share your favourites in the comments below

Venice by Jan Morris

Recent reports suggest the now-quiet canals of Venice are at their clearest for 60 years, with swans spotted in recent days. The city, of course, has always had a touch of fantasy about it. “Venice is a cheek-by-jowl, back-of-the-hand, under-the-counter, higgledy-piggledy, anecdotal city,” writes Jan Morris in this 1960 masterpiece . “She is rich in piquant wrinkled things, like an assortment of bric-a-brac in the house of a wayward connoisseur, or parasites on an oyster-shell.” The book pens a portrait of a city thick with atmosphere and stuffed with history, conjuring an intoxicating sense of place with Morris’s trademark wit and wisdom. Faber

Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City by Guy de Lisle

Canadian cartoonist Guy de Lisle is no standard travel writer – and his books are far from standard travelogues. Using simple, unfussy, comic-strip illustrations, he recounts his first-hand experiences of living in some of the world’s knottiest destinations, from Myanmar to North Korea. The result is a series of graphic memoirs that brilliantly juggle the subtleties and oddities of being a stranger in a strange town. Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City is the product of a year-long stay in the region and, over the course of more than 300 pages, tries to make sense of somewhere rarely less than complex. Jonathan Cape

Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle by Dervla Murphy

Few travel writers of any era compare to Dervla Murphy. Now in her late 80s, she’s been responsible for dozens of travel books , dwelling on destinations as varied as Cuba, Laos, Romania and Cameroon. Her 1965 debut remains her best known work, and tells the account of an astonishing solo bicycle expedition to Delhi. “Within a few weeks my journey had degenerated from a happy-go-lucky cycle trek to a grim struggle for progress by any means,” she writes, before encountering wolves, broken ribs and heat exhaustion. She also packs a .25 pistol, and has more than one cause to use it. Eland

The Crossway by Guy Stagg

This searingly honest account of an on-foot, 10-month journey from Canterbury to Jerusalem found its way onto more than one awards shortlist following its publication in 2018, and for good reason. Guy Stagg, a self-proclaimed non-believer and non-hiker, undertakes the trek as a form of self-healing, following years of coping with depressive thoughts that “stung and reeled”. If the pretext is downbeat, the journey itself is an odyssey, encountering memorable characters and a rippled patchwork of different cultures and beliefs. Almost unbelievably, he sets off from Kent in the dead of winter, requiring a crossing of the Alps in snow. And he writes like a dream. Picador

Stranger on a Train: Daydreaming and Smoking around America with Interruptions by Jenny Diski

After spending three weeks crossing the Atlantic on a cargo ship (“at night, the rabble of stars demanded to be watched”), Jenny Diski travels around the perimeter of the USA by rail . The joy of the book lies as much in her portrayal of characters she encounters en route as the immersive detail of the country she’s passing through. Or, as she writes, “it is much more as if America is passing through you, what you are, what you’ve known”. Part-memoir, and written around 20 years ago, Stranger On A Train captures an America that still feels familiar – albeit with cigarettes in place of smartphones. Virag

French Revolutions: Cycling the Tour de France by Tim Moore

Few writers since Bill Bryson have nailed the comic travelogue as well as Tim Moore. Dogged in pursuit of an adventure, he’s pedalled the former Iron Curtain on an East German shopping bike, walked the Camino de Santiago with a donkey and, most recently, crossed the USA in a breakdown-prone Model T Ford. He’s also properly, consistently funny, as evidenced in 2001’s French Revolutions , which sees him attempt to cycle the entire course of the Tour de France. The acknowledgement in the title pages (“The Tour de France press office, without whom none of this would have been difficult”) sets the tone for a hugely entertaining read. Yellow Jersey

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia by Rebecca West

Readers get evangelical about this vast book, originally published in two volumes, which ostensibly describes Rebecca West’s travels through what was then Yugoslavia in 1937 . It is, however, far more than just a keen-eyed journal. Gathering up centuries of history and blending them with her own often piercing observations, West uses the book to paint a deep and intricate picture of a region on the brink of the second world war. The New York Times has called it a “masterpiece of history and travel”, while Time magazine would later describe West as “indisputably the world’s number one woman writer”. Canongate

Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Cape Town by Paul Theroux

“All news out of Africa is bad. It made me want to go there…” So run the opening words of Paul Theroux’s 2002 classic, Dark Star Safari . Written more than two decades after his first long-distance travelogues, and some four decades after living in Africa as a young teacher, the book follows Theroux on a compelling, north-to-south journey down the continent. The narrative doesn’t shy away from harsh judgements – in Kenya “tourists yawned at the animals and the animals yawned back”, while aid workers also come in for some barbed criticism – but the people and landscapes he encounters are portrayed so vividly you can almost feel the equatorial heat from the pages. Penguin

Around the World in 80 Trains: A 45,000-mile Adventure by Monisha Rajesh

Monisha Rajesh has form when it comes to rail travel. This globe-straddling journey is the follow-up to 2010’s well received Around India In 80 Trains , and sees her undertake a 45,000-mile (72,000km) journey through Europe, Asia and North America. Her gift for detail means characters, as well as places, are brought to life. And from a high-altitude ride into Tibet to a trans-Canadian epic – not to mention a homecoming trip on the Venice Simplon Orient Express – the book does a fine job of affirming the things, large and small, that make rail travel such an absorbing way of seeing the world. Bloomsbury

A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush Eric Newby

“CAN YOU TRAVEL NURISTAN JUNE?” With this 1956 telegram – sent by disillusioned London fashion executive Eric Newby to a diplomat friend – begins an engrossing, at times comical, mountaineering journey into Afghanistan. The pair lack anything like the requisite climbing experience, but undergo a brief training period in Wales before travelling to the unforgiving peaks of Asia, with the aim of conquering the 5,800-metre Mir Samir. Newby’s prose is sharp and lively throughout , drawing the reader into remote villages and the “spiky and barren-looking” Hindu Kush, where hardships (and a chance hillside encounter with steely adventurer Wilfred Thesiger, who sneers at their air-beds) await. HarperCollins

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The best places on earth, according to award-winning travel writers

From a Mexican lagoon to an Irish island, globetrotting travel writers told us their favourite places on the planet

What are the best destinations on earth? Who better to ask than a set of award-winning travel writers. We spoke to all the winners of this year’s Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards, as well as some winners from the previous three years, to get their top travel recommendation: their favourite place on the planet. From a famous Inca citadel to the gorges and canyons of an overlooked African country, these are the global destinations that left the biggest impression.

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The best places to visit on earth, chosen by travel writers

Chosen by Tony Wheeler

‘There’s a lot to be said about a destination that takes you completely by surprise, somewhere which has simply not registered despite all the guidebooks and all the Instagram pictures. Like Chad. Of course, it’s not exactly in popular travel territory – Libya to the north, Sudan to the east, Niger to the west and Central African Republic to the south. But when you get there, wow! Who knew the Sahara had mountain ranges? Or extinct volcanoes? Gorges, canyons, camel trains and oases sound familiar, but ancient (and beautiful) rock art? Or a stretch of desert sands littered with dead Soviet-era tanks, the result of a spectacularly unsuccessful Libyan Gaddafi invasion?’

Tony Wheeler is the co-founder of Lonely Planet and won the Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing Award.

Inishbofin, Ireland

Chosen by Emma Willsteed

‘I fell for Inishbofin, a small island off Connemara, western Ireland, the moment I stepped from the ferry. Folklore and tales of enchanted beginnings weave through its heritage, found in Bronze and Iron Age ruins and its medieval harbour, and embodied in the pirate queen Gráinne Ní Mháille . Circular walking routes, emphasising sustainable tourism, lead you through an unfolding landscape of hills and valleys, down to the booming bass notes of the Atlantic Ocean. Here you will find my favourite beach – a scramble down the cliff to reach velveteen sands with views across the narrow channel to the Inishark ruins.’ Emma Willsteed won the Bradt New Travel Writer of the Year for ‘ What Was Left Behind ’.

San Ignacio Lagoon, Mexico

Chosen by Hannah Gold

  ‘Early in 2020, I was lucky enough to go whale watching in San Ignacio lagoon in Baja California. In these marine protected waters, one particular encounter would form the inspiration behind my children's book,  The Lost Whale.  Here was a grey whale, 15 meters in length, just a hair’s breadth away from our tiny boat. As she gazed up at me from under the water it felt like the most incredible honour of my life. Moments like these are not just part of a holiday. They are experiences to treasure forever.’

‘ The Lost Whale ’ by Hannah Gold won the Children’s Travel Book of the Year.

Machu Picchu, Peru

Chosen by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado

‘A mountain – the Mother of The World (Everest) – changed my life, yet Machu Picchu, known as the Old Mountain in the Inca Empire, is my favorite place on earth. Re-discovered in 1911 as a random stroke of luck, Machu Picchu survived the Spaniards destruction due to its remote location. It holds a powerful enigma; no one knows what it truly means. Get carried away by the energetic pull of granite and quartz structures in the citadel, or stand in its main temple to see how each surrounding mountain aligns perfectly with the four cardinal points. Most temples in Machu Picchu were built to honor all the natural elements. This perfect harmony with nature and its unlimited supply of awe will create an unforgettable journey. If you want to maximize an already out-of-this-world experience, the train ride from Cusco to Puno will take your breath away!’

‘ In the Shadow of the Mountain ’ by Silvia Vasquez-Lavado won Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year.

Umayyad Mosque, Syria

Chosen by Colin Thubron

‘There is no best place on earth, of course: only a traveller’s cherished memory. My favourite, alas, is all but inaccessible now. The great Umayyad mosque of Damascus – an early Islamic masterpiece – bewitched me when I entered it sixty years ago, and sparked my fascination for a world still mysterious to me. Raised in the rectangle of a Roman temple to Jupiter, its arcades are sheathed in a mosaic panorama of the gardens of paradise, and when I last saw it, five years ago, they still glowed intact around a gaping mortar hole.’  ‘ The Amur River: Between Russia and China ’ by Colin Thubron won the 2022 Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year.

Stockholm, Sweden

Chosen by Travis Elborough

‘I grew up on the coast, in an English seaside town to be exact, and have a love of coastal and estuarine places and ports from   Liverpool   to Odessa, and beyond to   Santa Monica   and the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. But a place I keep going back to is Stockholm. I first visited it over 25 years ago now, staying then on   Af Chapman , the nineteenth-century hulk turned floating youth hostel. This archipelago city is blessed by the antique beauty of Gamla Stan, the old town, and the contemporary hangouts of Södermalm. But I’ve always found   Skansen , its quirky open air museum – which boasts five centuries of buildings from across Sweden and a habitat for wild Nordic animals such as moose and wolverines – especially endearing.’

’ Atlas of Vanishing Places ’ by Travis Elborough won the award for DK Eyewitness Travel Guides Illustrated Travel Book of the Year in 2020.

Chosen by Paul Theroux

‘So I tell you my favorite place on earth – a town, a village, a beach, a coastline, a mountain – and then it appears in print; and the next time I go to this amazing place it is overcrowded and not so amazing anymore. Consider: I used to tout Hawaii – and decided to live in   Hawaii . Now Hawaii has more than 10 million visitors a year and is at times unbearable, with traffic, pollution, litter and gawkers. Consequently, I will offer you my   third   favorite place: Mexico. It’s the subject of my most recent book, ‘ On the Plain of Snakes ’, which describes all the country’s splendours and miseries.’

Paul Theroux, author of many books including ‘ The Great Railway Bazaar ’, won the Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing in 2020.

Chosen by Eleanor Ford

‘From a childhood spent in Indonesia, this archipelago nation  feels like a second home. There is something for everyone: the shimmer of gamelan music in ancient temples, the impossibly beautiful rice terraces, silver-sanded beaches, coral atolls or perfect surf breaks. You’ll probably find me at a night market seeking out the best street food. There is fragrance and fire paired with comforting coconut-milk curries and addictive salty-sweet peanut sauces.’

‘ Fire Islands: Recipes from Indonesia ’ by Eleanor Ford won the award for  Kerb Food and Drink Travel Book of the Year in 2020.

‘Iran is far and away the richest, most glamorous and most surprising place I've ever visited, as layered and varied and unexpected as eight other destinations put together. Seven years ago, I spent 16 days travelling around the country, from Mashhad in the north-east via Kerman, Yazd, Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Qom to Tehran. I’ve never met a subtler culture with a more nuanced sense of language or a more beautifully sustained history. In many a centre of civilisation, from   Greece   to China, one can make pilgrimages to some of the great spots of antiquity, but they seem to bear little relation to the societies of right now. In Iran, the sophistication, beauty and intelligence of the ancient capital Persepolis (or even older sites) is visible in every other parking lot in Shiraz. Even though I published a 350-page novel on the country and its culture before I ever set foot there, one day in Iran was enough to dispel a thousand stereotypes.’

‘ A Beginner’s Guide to Japan: Observations and Provocations ’ by Pico Iyer won the award for APA Publications Travel Memoir of the Year in 2020.

Lunga, Scotland

Chosen by Kirstin Zhang

‘ I’m drawn again and again to Lunga, which is part of the archipelago of small islands and skerries which make up the Treshnish Isles in the Inner Hebrides, on the west coast of  Scotland . A designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, it is home to huge colonies of puffins (best seen from mid-April), razorbills, fulmars and shags, and is an important breeding area for grey seal. From the mossy plateau, which is reached after a steep climb, you can see minke whales, porpoise, basking shark and sea eagles. Reaching it is also part of the appeal: even the shortest boat journey gives me the sense of having travelled far. There isn’t even a beach – to go ashore you need to jump across the divide onto black volcanic rocks washed smooth by the Atlantic Ocean.’

‘ Closer to Home ’ by Kirstin Zhang won the award for Bradt Travel Guides New Travel Writer of the Year in 2020.

Time Out’s guide to the best places to travel

The best places to travel in 2020

On our travel bucket lists for the coming year you’ll find gorgeous landscapes, up-and-coming cities and quirky events among tried-and-true favourites. The only problem is deciding which trip to take us up on.

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Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2022 Shortlists & Winners

The Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2022 shortlist was announced on February 1.

Last year’s awards were abbreviated, with the following categories being awarded: Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year, the Bradt Travel Guides New Travel Writer of the Year, and the Edward Stanford Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing.

The awards are getting back to normal this year with the following awards being reintroduced alongside the aforementioned ones: Fiction with a Sense of Place, Children’s Travel Book of the Year, Food and Drink Travel Book of the Year, Photographic Travel Book of the Year, and Illustrated Travel Book of the Year.

The winners were announced at an event at Stanfords in Covent Garden on March 3. They are in bold below.

Edward Stanford Award for Outstanding Contribution to Travel Writing

Hilary Bradt

Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year

Titles have been selected in this category for their innovative and/or literary merit with content which is relevant, useful or inspiring to travelers:

• Fifty Sounds by Polly Barton
• Minarets in the Mountains by Tharik Hussain
• Small Bodies of Water by Nina Mingya Powles 
• The Amur River by Colin Thubron
• Wars of the Interior by Joseph Zárate

Bradt Travel Guides New Travel Writer of the Year

• “Waiting for Wilma” by Jane Adams
• “Ghar Ghosts” by Ruth Cox
• “The Quiet of Switzerland” by Neasa Murphy

Fiction with a Sense of Place

A novel from any genre within fiction (populist or literary) with a highly developed and integral sense of a real location interwoven within the plot or narrative.

• Barcelona Dreaming by Rupert Thomson
• Elena Knows by Claudia Piñeiro
• The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
• The Country of Others by Leïla Slimani
• The High House by Jessie Greengrass
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

Children’s Travel Book of the Year

Fiction or non-fiction title for pre-teens which inspires a love of travel, exploration and adventure.

• Bandoola by William Grill
• Journey to the Last River by Teddy Keen
• Lionheart Girl by Yada Badoe
• Spin to Survive Frozen Mountain by Emily Hawkins
• Wild Child by Dara McAnulty
• The Shark Caller by Zillah Bethell

Food and Drink Travel Book of the Year

Cookbook or non-fiction food writing focussed on a particular national cuisine or telling of food related exploration/travel. Must capture a sense of the place’s identity and culture.

• Eating to Extinction: The World’s Rarest Foods and Why We Need to Save Them by Dan Saladino
• From Gujarat with Love: 100 Authentic Indian Vegetarian and Vegan Recipes by Vina Patel
• How Wild Things Are: Cooking, Fishing and Hunting at the Bottom of the World by Analiese Gregory
• Ripe Figs: Recipes and Stories from the Eastern MEditerranean by Yasmin Khan
• Sumac: Recipes and Stories from Syria by Anas Atassi

Photographic Travel Book of the Year

A book of photography relating to travel, adventure or world cultures with limited accompanying text. The overall design and quality of publication of the book will also be considered by the judges.

• Epic Train Journeys by Monisha Rajesh
• Let’s Get Lost by Finn Beales
• Only Us by Stuart Dunn
• Southern Light by Dave Brosha
• The Travel Photographer’s Way by Nori Jemil

Illustrated Travel Book of the Year

A book of illustrations, maps or infographics relating to travel, adventure or world cultures aimed at the adult market and with their focus on either one place or the entire World. The overall design and quality of publication of the book will also be considered by the judges.

• The Atlas of Unusual Languages by Zoran Niikolic
• Antarctic Atlas by Peter Fretwell
• Atlas of Imagined Places by Matt Brown, Rhys Davies, and Mike Hall
• Black Girls Take World by Georgina Lawton
• India: The Passenger
• Wild Waters by Susanne Masters

Purchase Copies of the Edward Stanford Travel Writing Awards 2022 Nominees

If you live in the UK, please purchase your books from Stanfords, who put on the awards ceremonies. By supporting them directly, you help support the celebration of travel literature.

If you live in the United States or the United Kingdom and wish to order online,  we urge you to  purchase your travel books from Bookshop , an online store that supports independent bookstores (and choose Stanfords as your shop). Whether you use Bookshop or you decide to   purchase your travel books from Amazon , please use our links. If you use our links to make a purchase, we will receive a few cents commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support and maintain the site.

Last Updated on 9 March 2022 by Travel Writing World

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Travel Writing World

With an emphasis on travel books and long-form travel literature, host Jeremy Bassetti talks with the world’s most inspiring travel writers about their work and about the business and craft of travel writing in this award-winning podcast and website. In addition to the podcast, the site also features travel writer profiles, book reviews, and articles.

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Thanks for your advice, Jeremy!

I would like to submit my travel memoir for consideration for the Edward Stanford Awards. Is there is page where I can find the details regarding submission? Published in Australia, would I be eligible?

They used to have a dedicated website, but it appears down ( https://www.edwardstanfordawards.com/ ). The website had submission instructions and deadlines. Awards are typically announced in March. Their instructions were to send a copy of the book in consideration to the bookstore with a note by early January. And the book must have been been published between the two previous Novembers to be eligible. The best bet is to contact them directly using the contact links on their bookstore website. Good luck. If you have any news, please circle back and let us know.

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JESSICA VINCENT

Award-Winning Travel Journalist

Jessica Vincent is a multi-award-winning travel journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel, CNN Travel, The Independent, The Telegraph, AFAR, Atlas Obscura and many more.

Since graduating with a literature degree in London, Jessica has been living out of a backpack and reporting from countries across Europe, Africa and Central and South America. Her passion for off-beat adventure and learning about lesser-known cultures has led Jessica to dedicate her life and career to travel storytelling. From completing a rare trek through indigenous land in southern Mexico to meeting Belize’s first female drum maker, her stories aim to inform, inspire and challenge misconceptions about people and places that are often misunderstood. 

Jessica is the current Global Travel Writer of the Year, and has been nominated for three more travel journalism awards, including Specialist Writer of the Year and Best Wider World Feature, in 2021. She is also a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and the host of Inside Travel Media, a weekly IGTV series that interviews some of the world’s best travel journalists, photographers and filmmakers.

– Deep dives into little-known traditions and off-beat adventure tales –

From sampling Mexico's ancient "caviar" to meeting the women behind the first modern Tzotzil Maya book, Jessica's travel writing aims to educate, inspire and build a better understanding between cultures and people around the world. Her work has appeared in UK and US media, including glossy magazines, national newspapers and online publications.

MAKING WAVES

B Inspired  (Brussels Airlines)

Meet the Spanish artisan reigniting interest in the historic art of Valencian fan painting.

AWARDS 

GTMA GLOBAL TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR

HONORABLE MENTION AT THE 89TH WRITER’S DIGEST WRITING COMPETITION

August 2020

SPECIALIST TRAVEL WRITER OF THE YEAR FINALIST

January 2021

TRAVEL FEATURE OF THE YEAR (UK & WIDER WORLD)

November 2020

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER?

Jessica is a storyteller first and foremost, but she also speaks at travel events, helps brands build their editorial strategy and mentors emerging travel journalists.

EDITORIAL CONSULTANCY

Are you a travel brand looking to ramp up your blog or social media? Perhaps you want your business to be featured in top travel publications? Jessica guides emerging travel brands on how to build an impactful content strategy, including building relationships with journalists and getting featured in top travel media.

BRAND PARTNERSHIPS

Jessica's Instagram account, @nomada.travel, has a highly engaged audience of almost 20k travellers. She also runs a weekly IGTV travel media interview series, which attracts thousands of views every month from all over the world. If you'd like to collaborate on a social project, please get in touch via email for a media kit.

Are you an event organiser looking for an award-winning travel journalist to share their travel experiences and storytelling tips with your audience? Jessica has spoken at global events on the craft of travel writing, travel industry insights, content marketing and digital nomadism. Get in touch via email for more information.

Are you an aspiring travel writer, but don’t know where to start? Maybe you’ve written a few articles, but you’re not sure how to progress to the bigger publications? Jessica offers group and one-on-one coaching to kickstart your dream travel writing career. Please get in touch via email to find out more.

Want to work together? Have something nice to say? I'd love to hear from you.

[email protected]

Writing Your Story Is Important…So Is Editing It

Escaping to vlieland, cancelled — coming to terms with the chaos of the british train..., unintended baggage, what it means to be a writer in a world with ai, protecting the mediterranean’s ecosystem onboard grimaldi lines, welcome to travel writing with heart.

Since 2014, Intrepid Times has been the online home for narrative, non-fiction travel writing. Our hundreds of contributors come from around the world. Some are award-winning journalists, while others are novice writers putting pen to paper for the first time. What they share is a passion for discovering the world and the relentless drive to share travel experiences for those with inquiring minds and a sense of wanderlust. We publish a new story every week and also run courses to help writers find their footing and get their stories published.

Submit Your Travel Story

Living the digital nomad life in an uncertain world

Meet Top Travel Writers

Listen to the Intrepid Times podcast to hear from the people behind today's most compelling travel stories.

Enter Our Competitions

We host regular travel writing competitions with monetary prizes—find out what's open and discover past winners.

On The Edges of Europe

Updated every Wednesday around 12PM Eastern time, Intrepid Times travel stories are true adventures you can get lost in.

Chasing the Northern Lights in Kiruna, Sweden

Lake bled to vrba, slovenia: a literary pilgrimage, discovering the chronicle of tbilisi, georgia, the rise, fall, and rise of buildings in pula, croatia, cancelled — coming to terms with the chaos of the..., terms/policies.

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Contact Info

[email protected] 

• Partner With Us
• Central America
• North America
• South America
• The Middle East
• They Told Me Not to Go
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• Travel Writing Competition
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Travel + Lifestyle Journalist Writer | Emmy-Winning TV Host

Oneika is an Emmy Award-winning TV Host, correspondent, and on-camera personality for networks such as CNN , NBC , Travel Channel , HGTV , and CTV .

Watch her two series on Travel Channel : “Big City, Little Budget” and “One Bag and You’re Out.”

Oneika is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer whose work has appeared in publications such as Condé Nast Traveler , Lonely Planet , and Oprah Magazine . Her website, OneikaTheTraveller.com , was named Best Travel Blog by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2018.

In a sea of travel blogs that mostly sound the same and showcase similar people,Oneika the Traveller stands out for its approach, voice and vitality.

— Society of American Travel Writers

Oneika is an engaging orator who leads discussions with sensitivity and clarity. She’s available to speak on topics such as travel , storytelling in the digital age , influencer marketing , and entrepreneurship .

WORLD TRAVELER

Oneika is a bona fide travel junkie whose adventures have taken her to 119 countries on 6 continents (50 of them solo). A true thrill-seeker, s he’s bungee-jumped over the Zambezi River, fished for piranhas in the Amazon, gone gorilla trekking in Uganda, camped in a snowstorm at 13,000 feet above sea level in Bhutan, and climbed active volcanoes in Guatemala, Indonesia, and Ecuador.  Oneika’s goal is to live life outside of her comfort (and time) zone, all while inspiring other women and people of color to do the same.

Travel More, Spend Less

Sign up now and get a FREE copy of Oneika’s Top Tips for Saving Money on Accommodation!

COPYRIGHT 2020 ONEIKA RAYMOND. WEBSITE DESIGN BY BLUE AGATE CREATIVE .

EMMA GREGG Travel Journalist

Writer • editor • author • photographer, about emma gregg.

Recent awards Inspire Global Media Awards Positive Impact Storytelling: Outstanding Contribution (2024) Inspire Global Media Awards Positive Impact Storyteller of the Year (2023) Other accolades AITO Travel Writer of the Year Awards Winner (2015, 2019), Silver (2016, 2021), Finalist (2023) • ATTA Media Awards Finalist (2017, 2019) • BGTW Awards Winner (2015, 2017), Highly Commended (2017, 2018), Finalist (2019, 2020, 2022) • Inspire Global Media Awards Winner (2023, 2024) • LATA Travel Writer of the Year Winner (2014) • National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards Shortlisted (2021) • Travel Media Awards Finalist (2016, 2021, 2023) • TravMedia Awards Finalist (2023, 2024) More details Latest books The flightless traveller: 50 modern adventures by land, river and sea First edition, October 2020 Greenfinch (Quercus Books) Brighton, Sussex & the South Downs First edition, October 2021 Rough Guides (APA) Recent features DESTINATIONS & ADVENTURES

AFRICA: Affordable safaris (National Geographic Traveller, July 2023) WALES: Unlock the secrets of our native woodlands (Wales.com, May 2023) WALES: Feel close to nature on a Celtic Rainforest walk (Visit Wales, April 2023) AFRICA: Dawn and dusk on safari (Travel Africa, February 2023) AFRICA: Everything you need to know before booking your first African safari (NGT, November 2023) NAMIBIA: The low-impact desert safari (Travel Africa, October 2022) CYPRUS : Feel-good trips (Woman, September 2022) NAMIBIA: Windhoek (Travel Africa, July 2022) SOUTH AFRICA: Cool Cape Town (Woman’s Own, July 2022) AFRICA:  The new African safari (NGT, July 2022) SENEGAL:   Drumbeats, heartstrings (NGT, May 2022) MOROCCO:  Sand, song & stars (NGT, April 2022) UGANDA: Go wild (Wanderlust, February 2022) SOUTH AFRICA: Authentic experiences (Wanderlust, November 2021) SPAIN: Green adventures in the Canary Islands (World Nomads, October 2021) SPAIN: Finding tranquility in the Balearic Islands (World Nomads, August 2021) ZIMBABWE:  Victoria Falls (Travel Africa, July 2021) TRAVEL: Ultimate adventures (NGT, July 2021) ANTARCTICA & SOUTH GEORGIA: Leave no trace (NGT, April 2021) AFRICA: Safari is set to bounce back (NGT Africa Collection, March 2021) AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN: 25 trips of a lifetime (i, February 2021) NAMIBIA: Indigenous traditions & Living Museums (NGT, February 2021) NAMIBIA: Ultimate adventures (NGT, February 2021)

GREENER & ETHICAL TRAVEL: NEWS & IDEAS

FLIGHT-FREE: Europe By Train (Dorling Kindersley, May 2023) FLIGHT-FREE: Unforgettable Journeys Europe: Discover the joys of slow travel (Dorling Kindersley, Mar 2023) AFRICA: Farm-to-fork safaris (Travel Africa, February 2023) CONSERVATION: Is reintroducing wildlife species always wise? (National Geographic Traveller, January 2023) AFRICA: Booking a safari (NGT Luxury Collection, November 2022) AFRICA: The green cuisine revolution (Adventure.com, October 2022) ANTARCTICA: Expeditions and adventures (NGT, September 2022) FLIGHT-FREE: Flight-free adventures you'll never forget (Hush, August 2022) AFRICA: Best new eco safaris (NGT, July 2022) CONSERVATION: Rewilding the Zambezi (Travel Africa, July 2022) ECO: Green escapes (NGT, January 2022) ECO: What’s the carbon footprint of my safari? (Travel Africa, January 2022) ETHICAL TRAVEL: Community-friendly trips (Vacations, Fall 2021) ECO: Wildlife-watching expeditions (Extraordinary Experiences, Summer 2021) ECO: Responsible whale-watching (NGT, April 2021) ETHICAL TRAVEL: Sustainable trips to iconic destinations (NGT, April 2021) CONSERVATION: Meet South Africa’s Black Mambas (NGT, April 2021) FLIGHT-FREE: 52 flight-free weekend escapes (NGT, April 2021)

Projects | Clients | Testimonials | Reviews About the artwork The image at the top of this page is a detail of a work by Original T-Bag Designs , a carbon-conscious craft collective of previously disadvantaged people from Hout Bay, near Cape Town, South Africa. They create original art and gifts from used tea bags, that they carefully recycle and decorate by hand. They also host training sessions to upskill and empower unemployed members of their community, and offer workshop tours for visitors, complete with a refreshing cup of tea.

Dave Stamboulis

Author, travel writer & photographer.

Dave Stamboulis is a travel writer and photographer.  He is the author of the award-winning travel memoir Odysseus’ Last Stand, detailing his seven year and 45,000 kilometre bicycle ride around the world.

PHOTOGRAPHY

From the high reaches of the Himalayas to Ethiopia’s vanishing tribes, Stamboulis’ photos preserve memories and moments, taking in captivating cultures and pristine places of beauty.

Stamboulis is the author of an award-winning travel memoir as well as the writer and updater of several popular travel guidebooks.

Stamboulis contributes to both print and digital publications. Clients include the BBC, Travel and Leisure, Remote Lands, and South China Morning Post.

AUTHOR, TRAVEL WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Dave specializes in remote travel, with an interest in vanishing cultures, festivals, and wild natural environments, as well as covering luxury properties, dining, and drinking. When not at home chasing down the latest craft beers, Stamboulis can be found travelling around the globe, where his quest for off the beaten path stories, photographs, and adventures have taken him to spots such as Ethiopia, Patagonia, Zanskar, Kashmir, Iceland, Madagascar, and other far-flung locations often reached on foot or via bicycle. 

For collaboration, contact me!

Contact me.

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Best Travel Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 8 contests that match your search.

Irene Adler Prize

Lucas Ackroyd

Genres: Essay, Non-fiction, and Travel

I’ve traveled the world from Sweden to South Africa, from the Golden Globes to the Olympic women’s hockey finals. I’ve photographed a mother polar bear and her cubs and profiled stars like ABBA, Jennifer Garner and Katarina Witt. And I couldn’t have done it without women. I’ve been very fortunate, and it’s time for me to give back. With the Irene Adler Prize, I’m awarding a $1,000 scholarship to a woman pursuing a degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution.

Additional prizes:

2x honorable mentions: $250

📅 Deadline: May 30, 2024

Travel Writing Award

Ottawa Tourism

Genres: Travel

Ottawa Tourism offers an annual $500 CAD prize for outstanding travel writing featuring Canada’s Capital Region. Eligible entries include items in English or in French that have appeared in magazines, newspapers, or online media in 2023 that highlight Ottawa as a travel destination.

📅 Deadline: February 02, 2024 (Expired)

Crossings Travel Writing Competition

Intrepid Times

Genres: Non-fiction, Short Story, and Travel

Write an original, factual, first-person travel story that centers on a crossing of some kind. Your travel story should, as always, grow around the context of a place or experience; we want to see the theme being used in a way that enhances both. Editors will be looking for originality, voice, and a satisfying story arc that captures attention and makes use of imagery to pull the reader along at every step.

Publication in Intrepid Times

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024

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Solas Awards

Best Travel Writing

Extraordinary stories about travel and the human spirit have been the cornerstones of our books since 1993. With the Solas Awards we honor writers whose work inspires others to explore. We’re looking for the best stories about travel and the world. Funny, illuminating, adventurous, uplifting, scary, inspiring, poignant stories that reflect the unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. We hope these awards will be a catalyst for those who love to leave home and tell others about it.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: September 21, 2024

Global Experience Travel Writing Contest

Have you been marked by travel? If so, tell us how. Engaging with the genre of creative nonfiction, seize upon memorable incidents from your travel history — study abroad, domestic travels, even your discovery of Northfield. Entertain us. Make us laugh. Move us. Help us travel with you.

📅 Deadline: April 07, 2024 (Expired)

100 Word Writing Contest

Tadpole Press

Genres: Essay, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Science Writing, Thriller, Young Adult, Children's, Poetry, Romance, Short Story, Suspense, and Travel

Can you write a story using 100 words or less? Pieces will be judged on creativity, uniqueness, and how the story captures a new angle, breaks through stereotypes, and expands our beliefs about what's possible or unexpectedly delights us. In addition, we are looking for writing that is clever or unique, inspires us, and crafts a compelling and complete story. The first-place prize has doubled to $2,000 USD.

2nd: writing coach package

💰 Entry fee: $15

Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024

Anthology Magazine

The Anthology Travel Writing Competition is open to original and previously unpublished travel articles in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. We are looking for an engaging article that will capture the reader’s attention, conveying a strong sense of the destination and the local culture. Max 1000 words.

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

New Deal Writing Competition

New Deal Museum

Genres: Christian, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Travel

GVCA is excited to announce the ninth annual New Deal Writing Competition! This competition challenges writers to use a painting chosen by the staff at GVCA as inspiration for a short story. This year’s painting is “Playtime” by Fred Ross.

Publication in newsletter

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: March 15, 2024 (Expired)

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course: How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

How to Craft a Killer Short Story

The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction

How to Write a Novel

Understanding Point of View

Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love

Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character

Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine

On Editing:

Story Editing for Authors

How to Self-Edit Like a Pro

Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites

How to Write a Short Story in 7 Steps

Reedsy's guide to novel writing

Literary Devices and Terms — 35+ Definitions With Examples

10 Essential Fiction Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft

How to Write Dialogue: 8 Simple Rules and Exercises

8 Character Development Exercises to Help You Nail Your Character

Bonus resources

200+ Short Story Ideas

600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You

100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors

Story Title Generator

Pen Name Generator

Character Name Generator

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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Inside the Travel Lab is a multi-award winning travel blog founded by doctor turned writer Abigail King. Founded in 2008, it goes behind the scenes to bring stories from around the world to curious, responsible travellers. 

Table of Contents

What to expect

Welcome to Inside the Travel Lab, where we’ll help you travel the world while holding down a professional career. We’ll take you behind the scenes, share the stories we find, and give you tips on where you can find the best places to stay, eat and get to know the different traditions across the globe.

And we’re here for you whatever stage of life you’re in: juggling young kids, dealing with an empty nest, rebuilding after divorce, travelling solo or heading into retirement.

It’s what matters that matters, not what your life currently looks like. So if you care about the people, places and cultures you visit then you’ve come to the right place.

Who is behind Inside the Travel Lab?

Abigail King is an award-winning author, journalist and broadcaster. She is the founder of Inside the Travel Lab, described by National Geographic Traveler as “essential reading” and Lonely Planet as “one of the best in the world. 

She first studied Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge before completing her medical degree and working as an Intensive Care & ER doctor for the best part of a decade before swapping the wards for a life on the road.

She’s travelled to over 60 countries, spoken at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on the subject of sustainable tourism and for the EU & NASA in Helsinki on the topic of digital integrity and counter terrorism. 

She’s travelled to over 60 countries and likes hot tea, fresh strawberries and marmite toast, buttered just right.

RECENT AWARDS

AITO Travel Blogger of the Year 2023

Vuelio Top Independent UK Luxury Travel Blog – 2023

TravMedia Awards Finalist Blogger of the Year – 2022

Travel Media Awards Blogger of the Year Finalist – 2022

More awards and media mentions here.

What makes this blog different?

We honestly (and slightly embarrassingly) want to make the world a better place.

Taking You Behind the Scenes 

Whether that’s talking to survivors from the Nagasaki bomb attack or interviewing people who saw the Iron Curtain fall, we believe that it’s people who make a place.

Authentic Social Interaction

Other sites use robots to make it look as though someone is replying to you. We don’t. Every response you get comes from a real person. Usually me ;-) We don’t get involved in buying likes, gaming algorithms or any other soul-sapping venture born of desperation. If you like what we do, great! If not, well, there’s no point in faking it, right?

Travelling how people travel

Marketers enjoy pigeon-holing everyone into a niche. Solo travel, family travel, adventure travel and business travel.

Well, guess what? That’s not how people live!

Here, we cover a mix of solo travel, couples travel, family travel, business travel and travel with a baby and toddler because that’s life as most of us know it: a work in progress.

Our Philosophy is Responsible Travel

Here on Inside the Travel Lab, responsible travel has been our default position since we began.

But it’s not always easy and the information we have about the world and how we affect it shifts all the time. So, without being preachy, and without taking the joy out of things, here’s the section for responsible travel .

Hi, I’m Abi and I love hearing people’s stories.

I help busy professionals learn about the world and plan experiences that combine passion and purpose with having a good time.

So, why did you leave medicine?

If there’s one question that people always ask when they first meet me and hear about my life, it’s this one: why did I leave medicine?

But let’s back up a bit, shall we? And start at the beginning.

The Beginning: Brighton-ish

I grew up, mainly, in southern England near the forward-thinking and cosmopolitan city of Brighton. Not that it seemed that way at the time. Like many a teenager, I couldn’t wait to get out, to escape and to see the world. 

My parents had met in Nigeria and then split when we lived in Saudi. We came back to the UK, my Dad moved to Oman and then to New York, so different perspectives on the world seemed ready-stitched into my life. 

On the peak of Kilimanjaro during a Medical School Placement in a Hospital in Tanzania

The Medical Years

Yep. I didn’t just go to Medical School, I went all the way through, qualified and then worked in hospitals for the best part of a decade. My specialty was Accident and Emergeny & Intensive Care. That’s often ER to George Clooney fans and ITU and ventilators for the rest. I was three years from becoming a consultant when I made the decision to switch. 

I actually didn’t think that much of it at the time, but it’s something I get asked time and time again. 

The other big question is whether or not I regret it.

The truth is, I couldn’t imagine spending the whole of my life doing only one thing. I had felt torn when applying for University places because there was just so much I wanted to do and so many places I wanted to see. 

I felt great love and passion towards making a difference, and was luckily pretty good at science and passing exams. Medicine seemed like a good fit and like more of a responsible choice. Perhaps I could write and travel in my spare time; I’d never be able to be a doctor in my spare time. 

The change I didn’t see coming…

What I hadn’t fully appreciated, because the system was about to change, was that the type of doctor I wanted to be didn’t have any spare time. Nearly ten years in and I had one weekend off every six or more weeks, into which had to fit all weddings and family occasions and moving house every six months as part of the job. Instead of 9-5, I was 2pm to 4am. I never saw anyone outside the hospital, but I did have a great off-peak gym subscription, no queues at the supermarket and a coterie of urban foxes skulking around in the twilight like me. 

With an apology to the foxes, I felt as though my life was slipping away. If I stayed like this, I would be doing the same thing day after day after day until I had run out of days.

So I took a deep breath and made a choice. Was this how I wanted my one and only life to be? And if not, what would I do to change? 

Our first visit to India, over 15 years ago. The Taj Mahal hasn’t aged a bit.

Becoming a Writer/How I Left Medicine

I did what I’d always done. I read a book.

Armed with “The Freelancer’s Handbook” by Andrew Crofts, I saved my money and hatched my plan. 

For years, I’d held my husband’s job back because mine kept us fixed in the UK. What if we tried a move with his work and I tried out this writing idea?

If it turned out to be a fantasy and I tried to return, I would at least have a less embarrassing story to tell at interview as I begged to get my job back. 

So, we moved to France. And then Spain. And I never looked back.

My first blog header for Inside the Travel Lab – stepping into an oasis in Oman

Starting Inside the Travel Lab

The blog stood out for the quality of writing. The writer captures the imagination, transports your mind and makes you really want to experience and sense the beauty of Nantucket Island in Massachusetts. – Visit USA Media Awards.

Except, poetic as it sounds, it didn’t quite work out like that.

I had no experience, no contacts and no idea what I was doing. 

According to The Handbook, I should start pitching editors but rejection followed rejection because I didn’t have things called clips and cuttings. 

And it was the classic job search Catch-22. No work without experience, no experience without work. 

So, I started a blog. It wouldn’t count as “clips and cuttings” but it would, hopefully, show that I could write. 

And so, on one late night in the hot summer of pink city Toulouse, the Travel Lab was born. Someone had already taken that name, so after some scurrying about, I found a variation. 

Inside. I liked it. Inside access. Inside tips. Inside ideas. 

Forty minutes and 9.99 later and www.insidethetravellab.com was mine. 

The Next Ten Years

And then, the rollercoaster began.

“Influencers” weren’t really a thing back in 2008, with no instagram and no brand partnerships. 

I spent my time travelling, writing and desperately, so desperately trying to start a family.

Inside the Travel Lab was my place for all the stories that the mainstream media would reject and it grew to find people who cared about the world and wanted to know more, to see more.

Surgery and loss tumbled one after the other, over and again, and then, in late 2016, we welcomed the miraculous arrival of our daughter, Rosa. Followed, almost immediately, by more family illness. 

While my twenties glided by, my thirties tested me to the max. 

What’s Next?

So, here we are in 2023, emerging from the Covid pandemic. Older, wiser and less likely to throw myself out of an aeroplane or scramble across a floating wire in the mountains or sleep in a tent on the border of Guatemala with a local gift of a machete. 

But full of joy and passion for the world at large, hope in the future and excitement at the thought of what could wait around the corner.

That includes a new role as the Head of Digital Content & Strategy at Bradt Travel Guides.

But Inside the Travel Lab goes on. I could never wave goodbye to this place.

Here are some of our new projects, aimed at bringing the world closer and sharing even more stories:

• The Road Trip Planner & Toolkit ©  
• The Travel Toolkit ©
• A look at the benefits of sustainable tourism

Let’s Work Together

 We love connecting people with places and products they’ll love. If sponsorship was good enough for Shakespeare and Michelangelo, it’s good enough for us!

Have a brand that values integrity, responsibility, beauty and luxury?  Please contact us: [email protected]

As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.   See the small print for details.

Writer, Author, Editor and Publisher

Award-winning travel writer Tim Leffel is author of The World’s Cheapest Destinations , Travel Writing 2.0 , and the living abroad book A Better Life for Half the Price . All have been published in multiple editions.

He is also editor of the narrative web publication perceptive travel , named “best online travel magazine” by the north american travel journalists association and “best travel blog” by satw. he has contributed to more than 50 publications as a freelancer and runs 5 online travel magazines and blogs as an editor/publisher. he’s the chair of the advisory board of natja, served as north american conference director for tbex for six years, and is a media member of satw and the adventure travel trade association..

• Travel Books
• In the Media

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Official SAT Practice Test 4 Review

Course: official sat practice test 4 review   >   unit 1.

• Reviewing your SAT practice test

Reading and Writing - Part 1

• Reading and Writing - Part 2
• Math - Part 1
• Math - Part 2

Question 1 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   enhance A enhance
• (Choice B)   hinder B hinder
• (Choice C)   misrepresent C misrepresent
• (Choice D)   aggravate D aggravate

Question 2 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   experiment with A experiment with
• (Choice B)   adhere to B adhere to
• (Choice C)   improve on C improve on
• (Choice D)   grapple with D grapple with

Question 3 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   haphazard A haphazard
• (Choice B)   premeditated B premeditated
• (Choice C)   inspirational C inspirational
• (Choice D)   fruitless D fruitless

Question 4 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   aggressive A aggressive
• (Choice B)   rudimentary B rudimentary
• (Choice C)   evolving C evolving
• (Choice D)   advantageous D advantageous

Question 5 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   surmised A surmised
• (Choice B)   contrived B contrived
• (Choice C)   questioned C questioned
• (Choice D)   regretted D regretted

Question 6 | Words in context

• (Choice A)   Explains A Explains
• (Choice B)   Rebuts B Rebuts
• (Choice C)   Defends C Defends
• (Choice D)   Fulfills D Fulfills

Question 7 | Central ideas and details

• (Choice A)   Because Mars and Earth have different atmospheric conditions A Because Mars and Earth have different atmospheric conditions
• (Choice B)   Because the blades of helicopters built for Earth are too large to work on Mars B Because the blades of helicopters built for Earth are too large to work on Mars
• (Choice C)   Because the gravity of Mars is much weaker than the gravity of Earth C Because the gravity of Mars is much weaker than the gravity of Earth
• (Choice D)   Because helicopters built for Earth are too small to handle the conditions on Mars D Because helicopters built for Earth are too small to handle the conditions on Mars

Question 8 | Central ideas and details

• (Choice A)   Even though there have been some changes in their role, jalis continue to preserve their communities’ histories. A Even though there have been some changes in their role, jalis continue to preserve their communities’ histories.
• (Choice B)   Although jalis have many roles, many of them like teaching best. B Although jalis have many roles, many of them like teaching best.
• (Choice C)   Jalis have been entertaining the people within their communities for centuries. C Jalis have been entertaining the people within their communities for centuries.
• (Choice D)   Technology can now do some of the things jalis used to be responsible for. D Technology can now do some of the things jalis used to be responsible for.

Question 9 | Central ideas and details

• (Choice A)   Buck has become less social since he began living with Thornton. A Buck has become less social since he began living with Thornton.
• (Choice B)   Buck mistrusts humans and does his best to avoid them. B Buck mistrusts humans and does his best to avoid them.
• (Choice C)   Buck has been especially well liked by most of Thornton’s friends. C Buck has been especially well liked by most of Thornton’s friends.
• (Choice D)   Buck holds Thornton in higher regard than any other person. D Buck holds Thornton in higher regard than any other person.

Question 10 | Command of textual evidence

• (Choice A)   “[Black folk music] still remains as the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the Negro people.” A “[Black folk music] still remains as the singular spiritual heritage of the nation and the greatest gift of the Negro people.”
• (Choice B)   “Ever since I was a child these songs have stirred me strangely. They came out of the South unknown to me, one by one, and yet at once I knew them as of me and of mine.” B “Ever since I was a child these songs have stirred me strangely. They came out of the South unknown to me, one by one, and yet at once I knew them as of me and of mine.”
• (Choice C)   “Caricature has sought again to spoil the quaint beauty of the music, and has filled the air with many debased melodies which vulgar ears scarce know from the real. But the true Negro folk-song still lives in the hearts of those who have heard them truly sung and in the hearts of the Negro people.” C “Caricature has sought again to spoil the quaint beauty of the music, and has filled the air with many debased melodies which vulgar ears scarce know from the real. But the true Negro folk-song still lives in the hearts of those who have heard them truly sung and in the hearts of the Negro people.”
• (Choice D)   “The songs are indeed the siftings of centuries; the music is far more ancient than the words, and in it we can trace here and there signs of development.” D “The songs are indeed the siftings of centuries; the music is far more ancient than the words, and in it we can trace here and there signs of development.”

Question 11 | Command of quantitative evidence

• non–root vegetables
• cereals: 30.4%
• root crops: 16.73%
• non–root vegetables: 58.69%
• cereals: 36.9%
• root crops: 19.93%
• non–root vegetables: 45.1%
• cereals: 35.9%
• root crops: 18.78%
• non–root vegetables: 53.27%
• (Choice A)   most of the farmers who mainly cultivated cereals and most of the farmers who mainly cultivated non–root vegetables in south Ondo were women. A most of the farmers who mainly cultivated cereals and most of the farmers who mainly cultivated non–root vegetables in south Ondo were women.
• (Choice B)   more women in central Ondo mainly cultivated root crops than mainly cultivated cereals. B more women in central Ondo mainly cultivated root crops than mainly cultivated cereals.
• (Choice C)   most of the farmers who mainly cultivated non–root vegetables in north and south Ondo were women. C most of the farmers who mainly cultivated non–root vegetables in north and south Ondo were women.
• (Choice D)   a relatively equal proportion of women across the three regions of Ondo mainly cultivated cereals. D a relatively equal proportion of women across the three regions of Ondo mainly cultivated cereals.

Question 12 | Inferences

• (Choice A)   overlook the many other factors that motivated F. Scott to write. A overlook the many other factors that motivated F. Scott to write.
• (Choice B)   risk misrepresenting the full range of Zelda’s contributions to literature. B risk misrepresenting the full range of Zelda’s contributions to literature.
• (Choice C)   may draw inaccurate conclusions about how F. Scott and Zelda viewed each other’s works. C may draw inaccurate conclusions about how F. Scott and Zelda viewed each other’s works.
• (Choice D)   tend to read the works of F. Scott and Zelda in an overly autobiographical light. D tend to read the works of F. Scott and Zelda in an overly autobiographical light.

Question 13 | Inferences

• (Choice A)   fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide affected different sauropod lineages differently. A fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide affected different sauropod lineages differently.
• (Choice B)   the evolution of larger body sizes in sauropods did not depend on increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. B the evolution of larger body sizes in sauropods did not depend on increased atmospheric carbon dioxide.
• (Choice C)   atmospheric carbon dioxide was higher when the largest known sauropods lived than it was when the first sauropods appeared. C atmospheric carbon dioxide was higher when the largest known sauropods lived than it was when the first sauropods appeared.
• (Choice D)   sauropods probably would not have evolved to such immense sizes if atmospheric carbon dioxide had been even slightly higher. D sauropods probably would not have evolved to such immense sizes if atmospheric carbon dioxide had been even slightly higher.

Question 14 | Boundaries

• (Choice A)   Rawles— A Rawles—
• (Choice B)   Rawles: B Rawles:
• (Choice C)   Rawles, C Rawles,
• (Choice D)   Rawles D Rawles

Question 15 | Boundaries

• (Choice A)   walls, with A walls, with
• (Choice B)   walls with B walls with
• (Choice C)   walls so with C walls so with
• (Choice D)   walls. With D walls. With

Question 16 | Form, structure, and sense

• (Choice A)   grain’s physical properties’ A grain’s physical properties’
• (Choice B)   grains’ physical properties B grains’ physical properties
• (Choice C)   grains’ physical property’s C grains’ physical property’s
• (Choice D)   grains physical properties D grains physical properties

Question 17 | Boundaries

• (Choice A)   parks and A parks and
• (Choice B)   parks B parks
• (Choice C)   parks; C parks;
• (Choice D)   parks, D parks,

Question 18 | Form, structure, and sense

• (Choice A)   was A was
• (Choice B)   were B were
• (Choice C)   are C are
• (Choice D)   have been D have been

Question 19 | Boundaries

• (Choice A)   cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish A cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish
• (Choice B)   cephalopods—ocean dwellers—that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish, B cephalopods—ocean dwellers—that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish,
• (Choice C)   cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include: the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish, C cephalopods, ocean dwellers that include: the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish,
• (Choice D)   cephalopods—ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish— D cephalopods—ocean dwellers that include the squid, the octopus, and the cuttlefish—

Question 20 | Form, structure, and sense

• (Choice A)   being A being
• (Choice B)   to be B to be
• (Choice C)   to have been C to have been
• (Choice D)   will be D will be

Question 21 | Transitions

• (Choice A)   By contrast, A By contrast,
• (Choice B)   Likewise, B Likewise,
• (Choice C)   Besides, C Besides,
• (Choice D)   In fact, D In fact,

Question 22 | Rhetorical synthesis

• Bharati Mukherjee was an Indian-born author of novels and short stories.
• She published the novel The Holder of the World in 1993.
• A central character in the novel is a woman living in twentieth-century United States.
• Another central character is a woman living in seventeenth-century India.
• (Choice A)   Bharati Mukherjee’s settings include both twentieth-century United States and seventeenth-century India. A Bharati Mukherjee’s settings include both twentieth-century United States and seventeenth-century India.
• (Choice B)   In addition to her novel The Holder of the World , which was published in 1993, Indian-born author Bharati Mukherjee wrote other novels and short stories. B In addition to her novel The Holder of the World , which was published in 1993, Indian-born author Bharati Mukherjee wrote other novels and short stories.
• (Choice C)   Bharati Mukherjee’s novel The Holder of the World centers around two women, one living in twentieth-century United States and the other in seventeenth-century India. C Bharati Mukherjee’s novel The Holder of the World centers around two women, one living in twentieth-century United States and the other in seventeenth-century India.
• (Choice D)   The Holder of the World was not the only novel written by Indian-born author Bharati Mukherjee. D The Holder of the World was not the only novel written by Indian-born author Bharati Mukherjee.

Question 23 | Rhetorical synthesis

• (Choice A)   In 2021, Chinsamy-Turan studied pterosaur jawbones and was initially unsure if the bones belonged to juveniles or adults. A In 2021, Chinsamy-Turan studied pterosaur jawbones and was initially unsure if the bones belonged to juveniles or adults.
• (Choice B)   Pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert were the focus of a 2021 study. B Pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert were the focus of a 2021 study.
• (Choice C)   In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan used advanced microscope techniques to analyze the jawbones of pterosaurs, flying reptiles that existed millions of years ago. C In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan used advanced microscope techniques to analyze the jawbones of pterosaurs, flying reptiles that existed millions of years ago.
• (Choice D)   In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan determined that pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert had few growth lines relative to the bones of fully grown pterosaurs and thus belonged to juveniles. D In a 2021 study, Chinsamy-Turan determined that pterosaur jawbones located in the Sahara Desert had few growth lines relative to the bones of fully grown pterosaurs and thus belonged to juveniles.

Question 24 | Rhetorical synthesis

• Samuel Selvon was a Trinidadian author.
• The Lonely Londoners is one of his most celebrated novels.
• Selvon published the novel in 1956.
• It is about a group of men who emigrate from the Caribbean to Great Britain after World War II.
• Some of The Lonely Londoners ’ characters also appear in Selvon’s later novel Moses Ascending .
• (Choice A)   In 1956, Trinidadian author Samuel Selvon published one of his most celebrated novels, The Lonely Londoners , which is about a group of men who emigrate from the Caribbean to Great Britain after World War II. A In 1956, Trinidadian author Samuel Selvon published one of his most celebrated novels, The Lonely Londoners , which is about a group of men who emigrate from the Caribbean to Great Britain after World War II.
• (Choice B)   Samuel Selvon wrote the novel Moses Ascending after he wrote The Lonely Londoners . B Samuel Selvon wrote the novel Moses Ascending after he wrote The Lonely Londoners .
• (Choice C)   The Lonely Londoners , a celebrated novel that was published in 1956, depicts post–World War II Caribbean migration from the perspective of a Trinidadian author. C The Lonely Londoners , a celebrated novel that was published in 1956, depicts post–World War II Caribbean migration from the perspective of a Trinidadian author.
• (Choice D)   Some of the characters who appear in Samuel Selvon’s Moses Ascending also appear in The Lonely Londoners . D Some of the characters who appear in Samuel Selvon’s Moses Ascending also appear in The Lonely Londoners .

Question 25 | Rhetorical synthesis

• Seven species of sea turtle exist today.
• Five sea turtle species can be found in the Atlantic Ocean.
• One of those species is the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle.
• Its scientific name is Lepidochelys kempii .
• Another of those species is the olive ridley sea turtle.
• Its scientific name is Lepidochelys olivacea .
• (Choice A)   Among the seven species of sea turtle is the olive ridley sea turtle, which can be found in the Atlantic Ocean. A Among the seven species of sea turtle is the olive ridley sea turtle, which can be found in the Atlantic Ocean.
• (Choice B)   The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is referred to as Lepidochelys kempii , while the olive ridley sea turtle is referred to as Lepidochelys olivacea . B The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle is referred to as Lepidochelys kempii , while the olive ridley sea turtle is referred to as Lepidochelys olivacea .
• (Choice C)   Both the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and the olive ridley sea turtle can be found in the Atlantic Ocean. C Both the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and the olive ridley sea turtle can be found in the Atlantic Ocean.
• (Choice D)   The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii ) and the olive ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) are different species. D The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys kempii ) and the olive ridley sea turtle ( Lepidochelys olivacea ) are different species.

Question 26 | Rhetorical synthesis

• In 2019, Emily Shepard and colleagues in the UK and Germany studied the effect of wind on auks’ success in landing at cliffside nesting sites.
• They found as wind conditions intensified, the birds needed more attempts in order to make a successful landing.
• When the wind was still, almost 100% of landing attempts were successful.
• In a strong breeze, approximately 40% of attempts were successful.
• In near-gale conditions, only around 20% of attempts were successful.
• (Choice A)   For a 2019 study, researchers from the UK and Germany collected data on auks’ attempts to land at cliffside nesting sites in different wind conditions. A For a 2019 study, researchers from the UK and Germany collected data on auks’ attempts to land at cliffside nesting sites in different wind conditions.
• (Choice B)   Emily Shepard and her colleagues wanted to know the extent to which wind affected auks’ success in landing at cliffside nesting sites, so they conducted a study. B Emily Shepard and her colleagues wanted to know the extent to which wind affected auks’ success in landing at cliffside nesting sites, so they conducted a study.
• (Choice C)   Knowing that auks often need multiple attempts to land at their cliffside nesting sites, Emily Shepard studied the birds’ success rate, which was only around 20% in some conditions. C Knowing that auks often need multiple attempts to land at their cliffside nesting sites, Emily Shepard studied the birds’ success rate, which was only around 20% in some conditions.
• (Choice D)   Emily Shepard’s 2019 study of auks’ success in landing at cliffside nesting sites showed that as wind conditions intensified, the birds’ success rate decreased. D Emily Shepard’s 2019 study of auks’ success in landing at cliffside nesting sites showed that as wind conditions intensified, the birds’ success rate decreased.

Question 27 | Rhetorical synthesis

• Abdulrazak Gurnah was awarded the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature.
• Gurnah was born in Zanzibar in East Africa and currently lives in the United Kingdom.
• Many readers have singled out Gurnah’s 1994 book Paradise for praise.
• Paradise is a historical novel about events that occurred in colonial East Africa.
• (Choice A)   Abdulrazak Gurnah, who wrote Paradise and later was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, was born in Zanzibar in East Africa and currently lives in the United Kingdom. A Abdulrazak Gurnah, who wrote Paradise and later was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, was born in Zanzibar in East Africa and currently lives in the United Kingdom.
• (Choice B)   Many readers have singled out Abdulrazak Gurnah’s 1994 book Paradise , a historical novel about colonial East Africa, for praise. B Many readers have singled out Abdulrazak Gurnah’s 1994 book Paradise , a historical novel about colonial East Africa, for praise.
• (Choice C)   A much-praised historical novel about colonial East Africa, Paradise (1994) was written by Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature. C A much-praised historical novel about colonial East Africa, Paradise (1994) was written by Abdulrazak Gurnah, winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature.
• (Choice D)   Paradise is a historical novel about events that occurred in colonial East Africa, Abdulrazak Gurnah’s homeland. D Paradise is a historical novel about events that occurred in colonial East Africa, Abdulrazak Gurnah’s homeland.

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Left Coast Writers Book Launch: Unswerving by Barbara Ridley

Left coast writers® please join us at book passage in corte madera  for a celebration, q&a, and reading of barbara ridley’s new novel:  unswerving, saturday, april 13, 2024 2pm book passage-corte madera|| 51 tamal vista dr.  corte madera ||  www.bookpassage.com.

PREPARE TO BE INSPIRED …  A story of courage, resilience, and love,  Unswerving   challenges readers’ preconceived notions of disability, of limitations, and of the inevitability of fate.

In rehab, Tave relearns life skills and comes to recognize that her future will be completely different than she’d imagined. Where will she live? How will she find the help she needs? Can her friends rise to the occasion? Or will she be forced to move back in with her mother, putting up with endless talk of faith healers? Her one beacon of hope is Beth, her physical therapist. But Beth’s relationship problems with her own girlfriend push her toward overinvolvement—and risk damaging both her career and Tave’s recovery. (more…)

Greece: Travel in a Time of Pandemic

An armchair adventure in greece ….

Wandering in Greece

Please join us on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 5PM PST for an online book event featuring the 8th anthology of award winning travel writing from Wanderland Writers: WANDERING IN GREECE: ATHENS, ISLANDS AND ANTIQUITIES with editors Linda Watanabe McFerrin and Joanna Biggar and some of their contributors.

Once again workshop leaders Linda Watanabe McFerrin and Joanna Biggar take Wanderland Writers on another adventure —this time to Greece to wander amid its islands, its rocky shores, and upon those wine-dark seas of legend and lore where they discover how travelers who come to Greece as seekers find not only Greece, but, as Lawrence Durrell once wrote,  themselves —and generally so much more—on the journey.

Stone, marble, mountain, sea and sky framed by endless blue—these are the elemental foundations of Greece, just as Greece is the elemental foundation of Western Civilization. For thousands of years Greece and its culture, philosophy, politics and spirit has inspired and influenced the lives of generations. In Wandering in Greece, this talented and inquisitive group of writers has captured some of the joy, warmth, grace, and wisdom of Greece and its people. These stories, poems and images will remind a whole new group of travelers that a visit is a must, and those who have already ventured in Greece that they have to return. 

—Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis, ret., Lt. Governor of California

Contributors include Daphne Beyers, Joanna Biggar, Sandra Bracken, Connie Burke, Barbara J. Euser, Annelize Goedbloed, Thomas Harrell, Donna Hemmila, Laurie McAndish King, Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Gayle McGill, Mary Jean Pramik, and Anne Sigmon.

For more information go to  www.wanderlandwriters.com

Linda Watanabe McFerrin  and  Joanna Biggar  have floated down the Canal du Midi in France, danced in the sunlight of southern Greece, toasted the best of times in Ireland, devoured the culture and countryside of southern Italy, wandered through landscapes lost and found in Costa Rica, investigated the myths and magic of Cornwall, uncovered the soul of Andalusia, partied in Paris, basked in the magic of Cuba and explored the Indonesian island that is known as an earthly Paradise in their award-winning series. In each destination, they eat and drink, laugh and get lost, explore and expound with their merry band of travel writers. And they always return with a varied collection of tales, some mystical, some inspiring, some funny, some terrifying—each told in a different, highly personal voice.

Making a Scene: In Print and on Screen

Online writing workshop with linda watanabe mcferrin [virtual event], march 27 @ 10:00 am  –  4:00 pm.

From Mendocino Art Center:

Open to all levels, Making a Scene: In Print and On Screen is a fast-moving introduction to that most crucial of elements in the creation of great stories: the scene. Whether you are working on the page, on the stage or on screen, scenes are the means to bring the excitement and the drama to your tales… and they are what modern readers demand.

You’ll spend a morning reviewing the key components of scenes and how to format them for literary works and for film. Then, in the afternoon, you’ll get experience in penning and performing a dynamite scene.

Register here:  https://www.mendocinoartcenter.org/classes/making-a-scene

(more…)

Four Paths to Sanctuary

Join me on february 10th at 4pm for: a panel of on four paths to sanctuary, featuring cindy rasicot, veena rao, judith teitelman, and anniqua rana.

• An immigrant woman who is trapped in a loveless abusive marriage realizes self-love is a powerful force
• A baby abandoned and covered in flies is raised by two mothers 
• A Northern California housewife is ordained in the Thai Buddhist tradition 
• A woman had a glimpse, a taste of her ultimate destination, and was unwavering in her quest

I’ll be introducing these four authors published by She Writes Press for Left Coast Writers on Zoom on February 10th at 4pm.

California Wildfires: An Apocalyptic Scenario

California Wildfires

California Wildfires, September 9, 2020

Lowry and I woke early this a.m. to an apocalyptic dawn and messages from our niece. She and other friends and family have had to evacuate their homes because of the raging California wildfires. We can’t help but feel that current events reflect warnings about changes to our planet that date back decades.

Climate Change

Clearly these wildfires, along with ice shelf melt, are a result of long-predicted climate change . According to the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “s cientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal.”

An Apocalyptic Vision

Even before writing my “zombie” novel Dead Love , I’d studied post-apocalyptic scenarios in non-fiction and science fiction, which often mirrors the newest science. This morning I witnessed a world channeled by my half-zombie heroine, Erin Orison, back in 2010.

Barbeque Sky

In this bloody barbeque of a sunset

gulls sweep over the salt sea

where it has turned pink—

a chemical pink, not like flamingos,

There is a smell in the air like sulfides.

The lake has a head on it, foaming and poisonous,

and the skies brood over us, a simmering cauldron,

red at night,

yellow madder by day.

—Erin Orison

A Darkening Vision

National association of memoir writers teleseminar with linda watanabe mcferrin.

Linda Watanabe McFerrin The Shape of Memoir

Friday, April 24, 2020 11 AM PDT  |  12 PM MDT |   1 PM CDT  |   2 PM EDT

From literary to commercial; from personal to political to historical to celebrity; from journalistic to fictionalized; from essays to articles to poetry to books —your memoir can take many shapes.

Finding the form most suitable to your particular story, style, and voice is essential in assuring that you and your readers will be happy with the results. Clarifying why you are writing, how to keep writing and what final form(s) you’d find satisfying are key to your success in completing and sharing your memoir.

In reviewing your many options, you’ll discover some of the questions you need to be asking yourself about your memoir project—questions that will help you solve for the answers you need to abolish obstacles and take yourself—and your readers—on a unique and exciting journey.

In the session we’ll talk about:

• Determining the shape of your memoir
• Advantages and disadvantages of various forms
• Abolishing obstacles
• Finding the joy in your project
• Knowing when and how to let go

If you are not a NAMW member, you can join in with this link:  https://namw.org/2020/04/april-2020-member-teleseminar-presenter/?fbclid=IwAR1WMWz4WIllx9-NgEYH9SHAuq_77F6ZIfxCYwVApfTJbNjBVs3xzrXw5wA

Popular poet, travel writer, novelist and longtime contributor to newspapers, magazines and anthologies  Linda Watanabe McFerrin  ( www.lwmcferrin.com ) has mentored a long list of award-winning writers and best-selling authors toward publication. Linda has judged the San Francisco Literary Awards, the Josephine Miles Award for Literary Excellence and the Kiriyama Prize, served as a visiting mentor for the Loft Mentor Series and been guest faculty at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. A past NEA Panelist and juror for the Marin Literary Arts Council and the founder of Left Coast Writers, she has led workshops in Greece, France, Italy, England, Ireland, Central America, Indonesia, Spain, Cuba and the United States. Linda has authored two award-winning novels, a short story collection, poetry collections, a northern California guidebook, and her latest book,  Navigating the Divide  (Alan Squire Publishing, 2019).

As Anne Lamott, author of  Bird by Bird  says, “I have loved everything I’ve ever read by Linda Watanabe McFerrin. Her prose and poetry are filled with amazing women, charm, wisdom and light. She is both soulful and precise, eloquent and full of life.”

A Reading at Copperfield’s Books

Navigating the divide at copperfield’s books in novato.

It almost didn’t happen at  Copperfield’s Books Novato  Saturday night, and I’m surprised anyone came, but diehard and daring friends did brave the loss of electricity engendered by fire danger fears. Thankfully no new fires to add to those already raging, but there were blackout conditions in the end, and I am soooo grateful to all who showed up to hear me read from my new book, Navigating the Divide, just out from  A lan Squire Publishing .

The Aftermath

Afterwards we rolled through dark, spookily post-apocalyptic streets, trying to find a place to gather for an after-event drink. At Hil ltop Restaurant where so many Novato residents had hunkered down to weather the eerie scene below, Lowry, Laurie, Marisa, Jim and I settled and gazed down on the bizarre patchwork of lit and unlit parts of town while sipping wine and cocktails, including my very appropriately named Corpse Reviver #2, which included both gin and absinthe, of course.

Grace Cavalieri Reviews Linda Watanabe McFerrin’s “Navigating the Divide”

A really great review.

Every month for the Washington Independent Review of Books, the Maryland Poet Laureate, Grace Cavalieri , author of Other Voices, Other Lives , does a round-up style review of the best recently released independent books of poetry and books about poetry.

June 2019’s review features fourteen books including two of ASP’s upcoming releases, Reuben Jackson’s Scattered Clouds and Linda Watanabe McFerrin’s Navigating the Divide . Featured also are the likes of Tina Chang , Dobby Gibson , and rising star Sri-Lankan poet Indran Amirthanayagam.

Check Out Grace Cavalieri’s Review of Navigating the Divide

McFerrin is author of poetry, travel essays, prose, and stories excerpted for this compendium.

The travel essays got me started. The first that I read, “Strangers,” was the hook. McFerrin has the gift of dialogue and character. She’s also a sexy writer, and a good soul wrapped in a hot body. Her characters are the kind of humans who seem to travel just to meet, and every paragraph is a psychological encounter in visual explorations; also, some social norms get destroyed. This is a compelling edge to the stories. We feel every word she says, because she knows that the details we can taste, smell, and see, are impossible to turn away from. Each essay is a relevant cultural experience with all the intriguing values of a foreign place. I read her as I often watch TV in search of sights I’ll never see otherwise. The added pleasure with McFerrin is she’s “Sex and the City abroad” — fun, chic, with special effects. It’ll take a while reading this book and so it goes on vacation with me — nowhere as fantastic as where McFerrin takes us, however. She’s mastered her art. To be a beautiful hypnotic writer is not a bad thing. She’s a front runner. Check it out.

Alan Squire publishers had a terrific idea here. Why not publish a kind of book no other literary publishing house (more…)

Writing and Publishing II

Join Linda Watanabe McFerrin and agent Andy Ross for a Writing Workshop Intensive in Santa Cruz

Award winning novelist, poet, travel writer, editor, and teacher, Linda Watanabe McFerrin and literary agent, Andy Ross are conducting a 7-day writing workshop for fiction and creative non-fiction. The workshop will focus on craft and, where it’s appropriate, getting your project ready for publication. The workshop will run from August 17 – August 23, 2019.

Past participants have this to say about the experience:

• You guys are the best. I loved the structure and location of the workshop. Your input and the input of other attendees was so valuable. Your recommendations were concrete. I appreciate you offer of ongoing contact. I’ve made some great friends here. —Stephani Franklin
• Linda and Andy are a GREAT team. Each brings a unique perspective to the writing/publishing process. I found this workshop invaluable. —Victoria Lilienthal
• Linda and Andy are more generous with their time than any other workshop leaders I’ve ever experienced. —Cindy Brady
• Andy knows the publishing business inside and out, and Linda is an expert at teaching the craft of writing. Equally important is the opportunity to share your work with other writers in a supportive and collegial environment. This is by far the best writers workshop I have attended. —Harry Deering, Author  The Leonowens Verandah

Registration in now open. See details below. To register or get more information, email Andy at andyrossagency@hotmail.com or Linda at http://lwmcferrin.com/services/ .

The Workshop:

Mornings after breakfast you’ll attend workshops from 9 am to noon devoted to literary craft. Be prepared to bring portions of your writing projects. We will discuss them in group and individually with Linda and Andy. Afternoons will consist of exploring your environment, sampling the local fare, and finding the best spots to linger and write.

Workshops will be directed by Linda and Andy. We will conduct classes and workshops on:

• Finding your literary voice
• Creating irresistible characters and centers of interest
• Creating spellbinding plots and strategies for structure
• First pages
• Best literary bells and whistles
• Taking your craft to the next level: dialogue, point of view, backstory, and scene
• Steps to getting published (final self-edits, effective query letters, book proposals, how agents evaluate submissions, researching the right agent for you, elements of the book contract, self-publishing)

Linda Watanabe McFerrin

Linda Watanabe McFerrin is an award-winning novelist, poet, travel writer and popular workshop leader, and contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines and anthologies. She is the author of two poetry collections, past editor of a popular Northern California guidebook and a winner of the Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction. In addition to authoring book-length fiction and an award-winning short story collection ( The Hand of Buddha ), she has co-edited twelve anthologies, including the  Hot Flashes: sexy little stories & poems  series. Her latest novel,  Dead Love  (Stone Bridge Press, 2009), was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist for Superior Achievement in a Novel.

Linda has judged the San Francisco Literary Awards, the Josephine Miles Award for Literary Excellence and the Kiriyama Prize, served as a visiting mentor for the Loft Mentor Series and been guest faculty at the Oklahoma Arts Institute. A past NEA Panelist and juror for the Marin Literary Arts Council and the founder of Left Coast Writers®, she has led workshops in Greece, France, Italy, England, Ireland, Central America, Indonesia, Spain, Japan and the United States and has mentored a long list of accomplished and celebrated writers and best-selling authors toward publication.

Andy Ross opened his literary agency in  2008.  Prior to that, he was the owner of the legendary Cody’s Books in Berkeley for 30 years. His agency represents books in a wide range of  non-fiction genres including: narrative non-fiction, science, journalism, history, popular culture, memoir,  and  current events. He also represents literary, commercial, historical, upmarket women’s fiction, and YA fiction.

For non-fiction Andy looks for writing with a strong voice, robust story arc, and  books that tell a big story about culture and society  by authors with  the authority to write about their subject.  In fiction, he likes stories about real  people in the real world.

Andy is the author of  The Literary Agent’s Guide to Writing a Non-Fiction Book Proposal . He has participated in writers’ conferences throughout the country and has taught classes about writing book proposals, composing query letters, working with agents, and getting published. His popular blog,  “Ask the Agent: Night Thoughts About Books and Publishing”, has received over 500,000 unique views.

Authors Andy represents include: Daniel Ellsberg, Linda Watanabe McFerrin, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Alisa Valdes, Anjanette Delgado, Elisa Kleven, Tawni Waters, Randall Platt, Mary Jo McConahay, Gerald Nachman,  Michael Parenti, Paul Krassner, Milton Viorst, and Michele Anna Jordan. (more…)

Writers Retreat and Hawaii Book & Music Festival in May 2019

Mokule’ia writers retreat 2019, please join me again in may on oahu for the hawaii book & music festival and the mokule’ia writers retreat.

Hawaii Book & Music Festival May 4 – 5, 2019

Mokule-ia Writers Retreat Nā Wahi Ho‘oulu (Places That Inspire Us) May 5 – 10, 2019

The Mokulē‘ia Writers Retreat is an annual gathering that brings writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, essays, and memoir to the North Shore of O‘ahu for a week of intimate workshops and coaching. The retreat is high-level and professional — but also low-key and tuned in to the beauty of the surroundings.

With the Waianae Mountains behind us and the open ocean in front, we’ll eat, write, and play together. The theme,  nā wahi ho‘oulu , acknowledges that this sacred spot will inspire us to embark on inner and outer exploration.

The retreat is the creation of North Shore native  Constance Hale , the author of five books, the editor of more than three dozen, and a journalist whose stories about Hawai‘i appear on CD liner notes, as well as in publications like  The Los Angeles Times  and  Smithsonian  magazine. (Her most recent book,  The Natives Are Restless , is about the hula.) A mix of talented writers, editors, and agents from both the islands and the mainland to lead various workshops and appear on panels. Lowry McFerrin might actually be giving early morning lessons in Tai Chi!

Camp Mokulē‘ia , is a 40-acre facility stretching along a remote beach in northwestern Oahu. One of the missions of the nonprofit camp is to raise ecological awareness and bridge Native Hawaiian and Western ideas of sustainability. It’s inspiring terrain and writers are encouraged to draw from the environment in their meditations and literary work whilst at the camp.

If you decide to join us , I also encourage you to check out the Hawaii Book and Music Festival , happening in (more…)

More From Forbes

15 remote freelance writing jobs hiring in 2024.

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As a freelance writer, you can choose to only accept projects or promote yourself for gigs that ... [+] resonate with your values and previous expertise, making you more in-demand

When you're searching for a cake recipe on Google for an upcoming celebration, what do you click on? A blog from an avid foodie or pâtissier?

Or how about your regular scroll through social media this morning? In between swipes on your phone, how many times did you notice helpful, informative content for advancing your career, on LinkedIn or Facebook?

Or when planning your vacation for this summer, how often did you use travel blogs and reviews from trusted sites such as TripAdvisor to inform your decisions regarding your accommodation and nearby attractions?

In 2024, the cliched term, "content is king," has perhaps never been more accurate.

The content marketing industry was estimated to be worth 72 billion in 2023, with projections reaching a staggering 107 billion by 2026. Content marketing, predominantly online, infiltrates more aspects of our daily lives than we realize.

And between videos, infographics, reels, shorts, blogs, and other forms of content, a major part of the content we consume is in the form of written content.

We read to be informed so we can develop ourselves personally and professionally, or to be entertained so we can have the "inside scoop." Whatever your reasons, behind the words you read, there is almost always a strategic intent: content marketing.

What Is Content Marketing?

Content marketing is when online materials are created and shared which do not explicitly promote a product or service per se, but generate interest in a product or service from a target audience. Content marketing can take on different forms, such as social media posts, blogs, and articles.

Google Issues ‘Critical’ Chrome Update For All Windows Users

New ios 18 ai security move changes the game for all iphone users, world war i tactics make a comeback as a ukrainian gunner in the back of a propeller plane shoots down a russian drone.

To develop articles, reports, blogs, and similar written content requires the expertise of a content writing professional. For this reason, many companies and businesses choose to either hire their own in-house content marketing team, or, as is more common recently, hire an external professional such as a freelance writer to perform this work on a project-by-project basis.

Just run a quick search of freelance writing jobs on Google, and you'll notice a plethora of writing gigs spanning from SEO copywriting, to social media copywriting, to even writing as a freelance journalist for mainstream and niche publications.

When content is king and the industry is reaching a market worth of $107 billion, there has never ... [+] been a better time to be a freelance writer

Where To Find Freelance Writing Jobs

When looking for work as a freelance writer, it's important to keep your options open and explore various platforms, as opportunities for writing projects can occur from one place or a variety of sources.

Some excellent places to find freelance writing jobs include:

• Digital marketing agencies
• LinkedIn (not only the job board, but through networking and establishing a strong LinkedIn presence and personal brand)
• The Dots (if UK-based)
• Search Google for the term, "looking for writers" or similar, to see what agencies, companies, or individuals are posting adverts for the freelance writing jobs/projects

15 Freelance Writing Jobs Hiring In 2024

Here are 15 freelance writing jobs that you might find of interest. Bear in mind that some may be more niche than others, so you may need to get a little more creative about where you find the remote freelance writing opportunities:

• Informal, conversational blogs
• Articles for journals, magazines, and other forms of journalistic writing
• Copywriting
• Ghostwriting
• Technical writing
• Curriculum design and writing
• White paper writing
• Email copywriting
• Social media copywriting
• Grant writing
• SEO writing
• Business and financial report writing
• Case studies
• Resume writing
• Product description writing

When looking for freelance writing jobs, you should also consider writing on topics that you are already familiar with. This makes it easy for you to establish a portfolio of your work and showcase to clients, and it makes it much easier for you to beat the competition for a freelance writing project, as your prospective client will trust that you have expertise relevant to your topic.

For example, if you have a track record of winning grants for non-profit organizations, you can tap into your skill set and offer your services as a freelance grant writer. You might even decide to narrow your focus even more and only accept projects that resonate with you, in a specific charitable sector.

It's essential to remember that with the introduction of AI (artificial intelligence) much has changed when it comes to creative industries such as freelance writing, and although in some cases, it can be a good thing (as it augments your work and helps improve the quality of your writing output), in some cases, it can cast a negative shadow over your reputation as a freelance writer.

Always ensure that you never copy what a chatbot has produced, word for word. It will have a robotic, unnatural way of speaking and will look too similar to other obvious AI-generated material, not to mention the occasional grammatical error. This is cheating your clients' of their money in hiring you, as they paid you to use your expertise; they could have easily generated AI content themselves.

Using tools such as ChatGPT or other AI-powered writing tools should only be used to augment your work, and never to replace it.

Therefore when writing as a freelance writer, approach AI tools with caution, using them as assistants for your research, structure, and some of the content of the article. But ultimately, it's down to you to humanize and harmonize all elements so that the final piece is top-quality work.

The content marketing industry is wide open and waiting for writers like you.

With widespread AI usage, it's even more critical for freelance writers to stand out and carve their ... [+] personal brand with a quality portfolio of work

Are you ready to be the brains behind the next blog, article, or informative copy someone sees, that could transform their life?

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NEWS ALERT: 2 teens arrested in Maryland 'senior skip day' shooting

WTOP Book Report: Reporter-turned-author Christina Estes unveils debut mystery novel ‘Off the Air’

Terik King | [email protected]

April 28, 2024, 5:36 AM

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This story was written as part of the WTOP Book Report series written by Terik King.  Read more of that coverage .

Award-winning journalist Christina Estes steps into the realm of fiction with her debut mystery novel, “Off the Air” (Minotaur Books) , introducing readers to the tenacious Phoenix, Arizona-based TV reporter Jolene Garcia.

Garcia finds herself at the center of a media frenzy following the suspicious death of Larry Lemmon, a controversial talk show host at a local radio station. Having conducted Lemmon’s final interview, Garcia and her station initially possess a competitive edge.

However, the arrival of an onslaught of national media outlets escalates the stakes, plunging Garcia into a cutthroat investigation that could define her career, or perhaps, threaten her life.

“ It’s been 15 years (since) I said, ‘I’m gonna write a book,’” Estes said in an interview with the WTOP Book Report, providing insight into the book’s genesis.

“ I just wanted to give people a look behind local news and what goes on. There are newsroom politics. There are wonderful newsroom relationships. There’s a bond, sort of a special bond, that you create working in a newsroom. Sometimes it’s great. Sometimes it’s not. And the pressure of all of the social media and the business reality of the constant corporate cutbacks … I put it in Jolene.”  

Estes explained that she chose to ground the feisty, driven Garcia’s character in aspects of her personal experience as well: highlighting her Midwestern roots and her experiences as a former foster parent (making Garcia a former foster youth), creating parallels between Garcia’s journey and her own.

“I made her feel like a fish out of water because I felt like a major fish out of water when I moved to Phoenix,” Estes shared, reflecting on her personal connection to Garcia’s back story.

The character’s disadvantaged upbringing adds an extra dimension to her motivation, Estes said, because “she also is seeking recognition and attention that she didn’t get growing up. And that really leads her to sometimes behave in ways that maybe some people don’t like that can come across as abrasive or a little ‘too much.’ She doesn’t know when to stop, because … she is seeking recognition, often through her reporting, when she’s really looking for it with her family.” 

This drives the character of Jolene to assume extraordinary risks in the name of finding Lemmon’s killer. Would the journalist Estes have acted in the same way? “29-year-old me might have,” Estes said, “Today? No. You mellow with age.”

“Off The Air” reads as a tribute to Phoenix itself, as Jolene’s quest for answers unfolds against a vivid backdrop of the people, places and the essence of what makes Phoenix unique. “I was able to actually put in a couple of my real-life references here in Phoenix,” said Estes, “and made them sort of Jolene’s experiences in the book.” 

One such anecdote: a memorable Emmy nomination for a lighthearted feature about a fish visiting the dentist in Arizona. Estes (and Jolene) lost to another story — about bubble wrap. “I tracked down the guy that won,” Estes said, “I said, ‘I want to give you a belated yet sincere congratulations.’ And I sent him a book.” 

Asked about the challenge of balancing her demanding day job with her literary aspirations. “I would say I did not juggle it very well,” Estes laughed, referring to “Off The Air”’s 15-year gestation.

That said, another Jolene Garcia novel is in the works, and Estes said the next one will arrive much sooner. “It’s been my dream to have a mystery series set in Phoenix. So yes … Jolene is working on yet another suspicious death. She’s convinced it’s suspicious. She’s trying to find out if that’s really the case.”

For those intrigued by the enigmatic world of local news and the relentless pursuit of truth, “Off the Air” beckons as a riveting read, offering a compelling blend of mystery, intrigue and a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of journalism.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here .

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Terik King is an Associate Producer for WTOP. Before joining WTOP in 2022 he held roles producing podcasts, unscripted television and content for MTV, the NFL and independent documentary production companies.

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Fashion / Industry

Creole Jewelry Designer Receives Award From Fashion Trust U.S.

By Karen Dybis | April 29, 2024

MoAnA Luu, founder of  Manluu , says winning the Jewelry Designer Award from Fashion Trust U.S. recognizes her commitment to showcasing her French West Indian heritage and the culture of her native region.

Luu was presented with her award at an April 9 ceremony in Los Angeles by actress and singer Cynthia Erivo, who recently received a Gem Award for her jewelry style .

“The Fashion Trust U.S. jewelry award is the highest recognition of my personal mission at Manluu,” Luu tells JCK . “More than just an award, this is a celebration of Creole culture, of women building businesses. It recognizes the hard work of many generations that started on my island, Martinique.”

Fashion Trust U.S. created the awards to celebrate promising talents in various fashion sectors, including jewelry, ready-to-wear, and accessories. Luu says there were more than 600 applicants for the award she won and she was one of four finalists.

“I wasn’t expecting it,” says Luu. “My goal was to share my Creole culture and tell people about what’s I’m doing now and what I hope to achieve, which is a new vision of Creole jewelry.”

She notes that her mission as a jewelry designer  is to push traditional methods to a new level, use innovative techniques, and work with master craftspeople to add Creole luxury to jewelry boxes worldwide. At Manluu , which she founded in New York City in 2021, Luu designs jewelry with materials and patterns, such as braided rattan, central to her culture.

Luu says she felt frozen when her name was announced at the Fashion Trust Awards and like she was moving through a dream when she accepted the prize. In her acceptance speech, Luu talked about how she learned to trust her intuition, which has guided her through her entrepreneurship journey.

“It was an incredible experience and one that I know will help build a larger community around Manluu,” says Luu. “It’s great to know that I’m not alone in this and I will be in rooms with talented people who want us to succeed in fashion and move us forward.”

She is currently developing her next collection and writing a book about Creole jewelry , digging in deeper through trips to the region to interview people, learn traditional techniques, and collect as well as photograph Creole jewelry. She hopes to finish the manuscript later this year.

“I feel like a detective,” Luu says. “I spent four weeks in Martinique in January, visiting museums, talking to families. The most beautiful pieces are held by families, so that means searching for them and learning about their collections.”

As a Fashion Trust awardee, Luu will receive financial grants and mentorships covering topics such as budget, strategy, digital commerce, merchandising, and general business support.

Another jewelry designer, Ashley Harris of Don’t Let Disco , received Fashion Trust’s Inclusivity Award (sponsored by Shop with Google) this year. Other winners at the April 9 event included Charles Harbison of Harbison Studio, for ready-to-wear, and Esha Soni, in the accessories category. The Graduate of the Year award, which spotlights emerging talent fresh out of fashion school, was given to Tamil Arable, and the Sustainability Award was presented to Batsheva Hay.

Fashion Trust U.S. award applicants must be working as a designer for two to seven years and submit information about how they’d like to further develop their business. Applications for the next cohort will open in June 2024.

Top: MoAnA Luu with her Jewelry Designer Award at the Fashion Trust U.S. Awards in L.A. earlier this month. (Photos courtesy of Fashion Trust U.S.; ceremony images courtesy of Stefanie Keenan for Getty)

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Award-winning author Jeff Chang visits campus

By grace depaull.

Award-winning writer and cultural organizer Jeff Chang returned to Cornell on April 16 to deliver a keynote presentation and workshop for nearly 60 professionals from higher education institutions nationwide during the 2024 IVY Plus EEO/AA Annual Meeting.  

Chang's return to Cornell marked a departure from his previous visit in 2008 when he spoke at the dedication of the Cornell Hip Hop Collection . Chang has written extensively on hip-hop, in addition to culture, politics, the arts and music. His first book, “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation," garnered many honors, including the American Book Award and the Asian American Literary Award. However, this time, Chang's presence on campus carried a different significance.

For the first time in nearly two decades, Cornell hosted the IVY Plus EEO/AA Annual Meeting, inviting individuals in roles that work directly with equal opportunity, affirmative action or diversity, equity and inclusion from the eight Ivy League institutions, in addition to Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and The University of Chicago. Over the three-day conference, attendees were given the opportunity to network, collaborate and share information with others doing similar work.

“In light of the ongoing attacks on DEI efforts across the country and the impact on admissions in higher education, we wanted to invite someone who could speak to these critical issues and, at the same time, bring us together in community. Jeff Chang’s body of work and his ties to Cornell made him an obvious choice,” said Katherine King, associate vice president for the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at Cornell.

Chang’s keynote presentation focused on recentering against resegregation, discussed in his collection of essays, “We Gon’ Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation,” which explores the rise and fall of the idea of “diversity.” Calling attention to the country’s makeup, he explained how the United States has become one of the most diverse nations in history. However, according to Chang, the average white student attends a school that’s over 75% white, college enrollment rates of Black students have declined in the past five years and numbers of the most highly segregated communities have tripled over the last decade – all evidence of resegregation.

“We still need to work towards the world we all know and want to build together. We must learn how to live together, talk about deep values and narratives and create cultures of belonging that reaffirm that the diversity of backgrounds and worldviews leads to success.”

“Nothing has changed about the need to diversify our campuses to create cultures of belonging and equity for our students regardless of the politics of the situation, demographics and culture changes,” Chang said. “We still need to work towards the world we all know and want to build together. We must learn how to live together, talk about deep values and narratives and create cultures of belonging that reaffirm that the diversity of backgrounds and worldviews leads to success.”

Attendees were encouraged to engage in small groups to discuss their personal and professional backgrounds and share anecdotes of how they arrived at their current careers. Chang emphasized how personal narratives often shape and define culture and drive programs and policies – not only in higher education but also in federal law.

“[DEI] programs were advocated by students over a half-century ago, have taken a long time to build and are now under attack because they have worked in making campuses and communities more open to more people,” Chang said. “Our nation and world will only become more culturally diverse. But we’re currently living through a period of polarization, disinformation and fear. More than ever, we need to be able to forge spaces of belonging for everyone.”

For the remainder of the conference, participants had the chance to experience some of the resources and opportunities exclusive to the university, such as the Cornell Interactive Theatre Ensemble (CITE) , the Restorative Record project developed by the ILR School’s Criminal Justice Employment Initiative (CJEI), the Yang-Tan Institute on Employment and Disability and the Cornell Hip Hop Collection.  

“I hope attendees are re-energized in their work and are left feeling appreciated for and appreciative of the work we all do,” King said. “It is always important to connect with our colleagues in higher education, but never more so than during times of stress and uncertainty. It is critical to be able to share our concerns and our successes and know we are not alone. A friendly, knowledgeable colleague is never more than a call or email away.”

Chang is currently working on a cultural biography of Bruce Lee entitled “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America” and is the host of the “Edge of Reason,” a podcast of artists and ideas by Atlantic: Rethink and Hauser & Wirth. For more information, visit jeffchang.net

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