Want to get into travel writing? Join our two-night retreat | 6-8 Dec 2024
Want to really get into the nuts and bolts of travel writing? Sign up to this!
Last year we hosted our first-ever Talking Travel Writing Retreat, where 16 writers came together in a hotel in the Cotswolds to experience a part-press trip, part-seminar event all about getting into this much sought-after career. Many of our delegates left inspired with pitches ready to go, and one even secured her first travel commission by the end of the week.
This year, we’re returning to the Cotswolds thanks to HF Holidays, which is letting us take over several of their rooms at the fabulous Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water (nearest train station: Moreton-in-Marsh). We've got space for 15 attendees, including two funded places for writers from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds.
The Retreat will involve several seminars and Q&As led by TTW founders Steph Dyson and Lottie Gross, as well as press trip-style experiences with expert guides and Cotswolds craftspeople.
Last year, we sold out within days of announcing, so book your place now!
Who is the Talking Travel Writing Retreat for?
This retreat is designed for new, aspiring or early-career travel writers who want to understand better how this industry works, how to make a reasonable living in it, and how to pitch and write great stories. The retreat will cover everything from the PR-journalist relationship and how that works, to writing pitches that get commissioned, finding editor contacts, networking and matching your ideas to the right publications.
There will also be press trip-style activities so you can put into practice what you’ve learned, plus a Pitching Clinic where we’ll give you personalised feedback on how to strengthen your story angles.
The retreat will also be a great opportunity to meet other travel writers at a similar stage in their careers in person; establishing networks within the industry is a huge part of making this job a success.
The ultimate goal of the retreat is to come away from the Cotswolds with solid pitches ready to be sent out to editors and a clear idea of how you can land commissions within the travel media.
Who is doing the teaching?
Your travel writing mentors will be: Steph Dyson, who’s been published across the UK and US media by Nat Geo Traveller, CNN, Lonely Planet, The Telegraph and more, and has worked on dozens of guidebooks; and Lottie Gross, who has been writing for top brands like Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, The Telegraph, Times and Nat Geo Traveller for over a decade and has been a travel editor at three different publications.
The seminars and workshops will draw on both Steph’s and Lottie’s experiences as travel writers across the past decade. Here’s what last year’s participants had to say about it:
Steph and Lottie's Travel Writing Retreat was awesome! We spent a thoughtfully curated couple of days staying in a grand hotel in a regency town and being incredibly well looked after; the event was worthy of being described as a 'retreat'. Lottie and Steph worked really well together delivering a smorgasbord of practical travel writing content, with their differing travel niches, writing styles, and experiences, providing a wide view of the travel writing industry. Time well spent.
Lottie and Steph were an excellent duo who delivered informative and entertaining presentations very fluently and were extremely generous in sharing their professional skills and contacts. The press trip element of the retreat was really interesting and inspiring and the whole experience left my brain fizzing. It also boosted my confidence as a journalist by reminding me of the skills and knowledge I do already have.
Where and when is it?
The Retreat takes place from 6-8 December 2024 at Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds. The closest train station is Moreton-in-Marsh; there is a bus to the centre of the village that takes around 25 minutes.
How much does it cost?
The charge for the two-night retreat is £450.
What’s included in the Retreat?
The Retreat is full board, meaning you’ll get two nights’ accommodation (Fri 6th and Sat 7th), breakfasts, lunches and three-course dinners, plus some drinks included in the cost. There will also be refreshments throughout the day during our seminars.
Travel to and from the Retreat is at your own cost. We will ask attendees to arrive by 3pm on the Friday to allow for an introductory seminar that afternoon. Departure time on Sunday 8th is TBC, but will be no later than 4pm.
As part of the package, you’ll also get a free 12-month subscription to our newsletter to help you on your way. For existing paid subs, this will extend your subscription by 12 months.
How do I book it?
To secure your place, you need to put down a £100 deposit here. We’ll then need the remaining £350 by October 1 2024 and we will send a payment link to settle your balance once the deposit is paid.
By paying your deposit, you agree to accept the terms and conditions of the Retreat.
Two funded places
We believe the travel media needs more diverse voices, so we’re offering two funded places on this Retreat for writers from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. These spaces have been funded by Talking Travel Writing and HF Holidays. If you believe you are eligible, please apply here.
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