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How to be a travel writer

The British Guild of Travel Writers is only open to people already earning the majority of their income from travel writing. To start you on your way to that, here are some suggestions.

BOOKS

Three books on travel writing have been published in Britain in recent years – all written by Guild members.

Travel Writing and Photography by Guy Marks
Published by Traveller's Press at £9.95 (tel: 01728 685894)

How to Write and Sell Travel Articles by Cathy Smith
Published by Allison and Busby at £6.99.

Writing About Travel by Morag Campbell
Published by A&C Black at £7.99

These last two are both available through libraries.

All are worth reading and contain a lot of valuable information about getting into print, from people who have done it themselves.

COURSES

Traveller's Press, who publish Travel Writing and Photography, also organise occasional travel writing courses tutored by the book's author, Guy Marks. For details phone 01728 685894, email: travellers.press@virgin.net

BGTW member Hugh Taylor also organises courses. Phone 01848 200474, email: enquiries@travelwritingcourses.co.uk

Susan Grossman was a Guild member for about 15 years (former contributor to The Times, BBC Radio 4, Travel Ed. Telegraph Magazine, author etc) and now teaches travel journalism. She runs travel writing and freelance journalism courses at: Westminster University (she teaches on the MA in Journalism); Harrow College (NCTJ Journalism Training course). She also tutors at: The City Lit, The Mary Ward Centre and Morley College, London College of Communication (University of the Arts),and runs a travel writing and travel photography course jointly with another tutor at The City Lit. She also can offer one to one sessions to individuals planning trips, and hoping to sell their photos or writing, on developing ideas and approaching editors. Phone: 07905 888835, email: writewords@homechoice.co.uk

The Arvon Foundation normally includes one or two travel writing courses in its programme each year. For details contact their centres in West Yorkshire (tel: 01422 843714), Devon (tel: 01409 231338) or Inverness-shire (tel: 01463 741675).

The BGTW does not recommend pursuing correspondence courses. Only pursue courses which you know are being taught by successful travel professionals.