Travel writing: a taster
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
This course has now started
Course Code: HJ112
Duration: 3 sessions (over 3 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
A taster course to help you turn your travel experiences into a saleable travel article.
Students like: "the course was better than I could have imagined"; "very informative, practical and enjoyable"; "excellent insight into how to get into travel writing and get articles published.".
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- What makes a good travel piece.
- What to include and leave out.
- Eye catching openings.
- How to get published.
- How to deal with PRs and Tourist Boards.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Identify good/bad pieces of writing.
- Learn the basic structure of a travel piece.
- Identify where and how to sell.
- Approach editors with confidence.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
You should have been writing regularly, either creative writing or keeping a journal during travel.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Group discussion, tutor-led instruction, opportunities to practice writing travel copy with feedback from the tutor and class.
All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.
For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.
City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Please bring with you a travel supplement from a newspaper and any travel features you have enjoyed.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offer a wide range of journalism courses on differing subjects and at different levels. To find the perfect course for you, browse the writing section of our website.
All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.
Susan Grossman has had a long career as a travel, food and health writer. She has broadcast for BBC Radio 4, presented the Food and Drink programme for BBC2, been travel editor on the Telegraph Magazine, and published five travel guidebooks. She lectures on the Journalism MA at Westminster University and teaches journalism at City University. She is a ILM-certified career coach and mentor and works remotely with freelancers and media professionals.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
