About Amanda Castleman
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Travel Writing: From Free Trips to Flat Tires (10 weeks)
The glamour of travel writing attracts many people. After all, who wouldn't want free trips to exotic destinations? But it's not all easy living. Journalists must concoct ideas, sell them, plan the trip, research extensively in the field and then craft a gripping article. It's work. Nice work, if you can get it, but a far cry from slobbing on the beach with a margarita.
The ten-week course prepares you to enter this competitive arena. Explore the different types of travel writing, including first-person memoirs, destination guides, historic reflections and news flashes for globe-trotting executives. Learn to devise appealing pitches and target the right editors. Discover the tricks of the trade, from filing taxes to building a journalism portfolio.
Other topics include narrative devices, polishing prose, research techniques and - perhaps the greatest challenge - how to earn a living wage. The class also covers ethical considerations (for example, subsidized trips alienate publications like The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times).
You don't need to be a world traveler to become a "writer about place". Reveal the secrets of your hometown for visitors. Record an exceptional hike or festival. Share family holiday hassles and tips on how to avoid friction. The important thing is to learn how to capture a journey's sensations – even the frustration of a flat tire – then spin them into published work and paychecks.
This course takes you through the process step-by-step, with feedback from the teacher and other students. It can help amateur and seasoned writers alike discover a new voice and inspiration. By the last lesson, you should have a polished draft ready for submission - and be on your way to making vacation a vocation.
CLASS OUTLINE
Class 1 : Specializing
What is travel writing? Controversy. Three catchall categories: inverted pyramid, commentary and features-style. The different facets of travel writing, including essays, adventure tales, destination guides, news briefs, special interest and historic articles. Capturing the moment. Goals and experience. Assignment: Travel journal (500 words or less).
Class 2 : Bright ideas
Generating concepts. Angles. Write what you know. Spotting trends. Press releases. Media kits. Press trip and tour traps. Online options. Research. Travel writing and literature. Guidebooks. Review journal entries. Assignment: Brainstorm ten story ideas (500 words or less).
Class 3 : Selling the goods
Researching your market. Keeping an eye on the competition. Writer's guidelines. Writing succinct and successful queries. Approaching editors. Simultaneous submissions. Writing on speculation. Portfolios. Trappings of the trade. Snail mail vs. electronic pitching. Do you need a Web site? Review story pitches. Assignment: Query letter. Focus on one story idea for development (500 words or less).
Class 4 : Building blocks
Interviews. A colorful palette. Revise concepts. Key volumes. Guidebooks. Online resources. Review query letters. Assignment: Find ten resources for your article (500 words or less).
Class 5: Story structure
Themes. A snappy start. Prioritizing information. Transitions. A strong finish. Sidebars. Review resources. Assignment: Article outline (500 words or less).
Class 6: Writing finesse/ On the road
Errors to avoid. Finishing touches. Fact-checking. Pre-trip research. Planning, but not over-planning. Tools. Cultural sensitivity. Reality versus romanticism. Review outline. Assignment: Begin the rough draft (500 words or less).
Class 7 : Travel photography
The pros and cons of self-sufficiency. Basic composition. Photojournalism versus snapshots. Model release. Equipment: getting started. Lenses. Accessories. Fim and slide. Digital. Submissions. Stock shots. Review rough draft. Assignment: Finish the rough draft (500 words or less).
Class 8 : Toning up
Target audience. Viewpoint. Colorful language and metaphor. AP style. Punchy headlines. Short, clear sentence structure. Avoiding word repetition. Writers to emulate. Review rough draft. Assignment: Polishing your article (1,000 words or less).
Class 9 : Ethics and etiquette
Subsidized trips. Freebie ethics. The middle road. The benefits of anonymity. Recycling material. Following up a pitch politely. Dealing with rejections. Courtesy in the face of frustration. Advertising pressure. Coping with rewrites. Review article. Assignment: Prepare package for submission (1,500 words or less). Post questions.
Class 10 : Nuts and bolts
Rates. Syndication. Earning a living wage. Rights. Invoices. Tax and Accounting. Where to go from here: Conferences, organizations and books. Q&A.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I travel during class?
Students - and the instructor - frequently travel during the course. The lessons and discussions remain online, and late submissions are welcome by special arrangement throughout the ten-week period. The decision should hinge upon your work habits: can you work and focus well on the road? Will you have the discipline to make up assignments back home?
Is the introductory course suitable for experienced writers?
Absolutely. I've taught full-time travel journalists and professionals jumping genres or reviving old skills (including a former Los Angeles Times' staffer). Most find the pitching advice and line-critiques (detailed feedback on assignments) the most valuable aspects, as well as the class camaraderie.
How much time does it take?
The time commitment varies, of course, but students seem to average 30-60 minutes for the reading and at least 60-90 for the assignments (some may be quicker, like the outline). Ambitious students can delve deep via links and articles: some study is self-guided and entirely optional.
Why only one article?
Resources and rewriting separate beginners from the pros. I designed this course to address typical weaknesses.
What happened to the advanced workshop?
My friend and colleague Edward Readicker-Henderson will be teaching this for a while. My course remains a prerequisite.
I live outside the U.S. Is this a problem?
The class is entirely online with no fixed hours. All you need is a word-processing program, Internet access, a browser and a credit card. A recent session included students from Ireland, Scotland, Prague, India and New Zealand, as well as across North America; such a mix really invigorates the class.
What if I have another question?
I'm happy to field questions about content (amandacastleman@hotmail.com), while Mark Dahlby can answer any administrative queries (writers@writers.com).
Advanced Travel Writing Workshop (10 weeks)
This intensive tutorial focuses entirely on students' works in progress. One may chose to hone three articles, another to sprint through ten. The topic, tone and pace are self-directed. Participants post text once a week and provide peer feedback. The instructor critiques submissions in a Nicenet on-line classroom, as well as offering links, conferencing material and commentary. However, no formal lectures or exercises accompany this advanced workshop. Most pupils are alumni of "Travel Writing: Free Trips to Flat Tires". Other applicants should submit a writing sample for consideration.
Suggested texts:
The Associated Press Guide to Punctuation by Rene J. Cappon
The Best American Travel Writing 2005 by Jamaica Kincaid
Lonely Planet Guide to Travel Writing by Don George
Amanda Castleman is an award-winning freelance journalist, specializing in travel, adventure sports, the environment and women's issues. Her articles have appeared in the International Herald Tribune, MSNBC, Wired, Salon, Italy Daily and The Athens News, as well as the UK's BBC, Guardian and Mail on Sunday. She has also worked as an editor, staff writer, graphic and web designer, and has taught through Writers.com since 2003.
American by birth, Amanda spent eight years in Europe. She lived on a traditional narrowboat, moored on the Oxford Canal in England. She also endured two years swilling espresso in Italy, as a Visiting Writer at the American Academy in Rome, then ranged farther afield to Greece, Cyprus and Turkey. Seattle, her native city in the Pacific Northwest, is once again her home base.
She is a regular contributor to Moviemaker Magazine, The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and Road and Travel. Amanda has worked on 11 books, including Italy, A Love Story and Rome in Detail, as well as titles for Frommer's, Michelin, DK Eyewitness, Time Out and Rough Guides. Currently, she is finishing the Rome and Central Italy Adventure Guide. Her web site is www.amandacastleman.com.
Amanda manages to establish a rapport with and among her students. It surprised me that I felt more of a sense of community in her classes than I experienced in the live workshops.
"Her teaching style is informal and lighthearted, yet professional and businesslike. I have found her always approachable, flexible, encouraging, and insightful. Best of all, Amanda is a wonderful editor, both sensible and sensitive. I can always understand the rationale behind her suggestions. She helped me immensely to make my writing more concise and effective, and to use my quirks to best advantage.
"Here's the proof: in my first workshop with Amanda I went through all the stages of writing and marketing an article on Magellanic penguins in southern Chile. To have my first article accepted by the first publication I approached – Christian Science Monitor – was like rocket fuel for me, and I have Amanda Castleman's expertise to thank."
Anne Clippinger, PhD
Adjunct Lecturer, Department of English, Montgomery College, Md
"Amanda Castleman leads her courses with thorough precision. She inspires careful attention to detail so that essential elements of the writers' work shine."
Kayla Allen, also published in the Christian Science Monitor during class
"I rate Amanda Castleman's course A+. I finished it last month and promptly sold an article. Amanda is a first-rate instructor who reviews every word of each student's assignment and offers detailed comments in a constructive, supportive way."
Leon Oliver
"After taking her class, I went on to publish a number of travel writing stories and currently have 20 travel assignments due to my favourite editor (Canadian Living's online presence: www.canadianliving.com) before July 1. I started picking up assignments while taking Amanda's class and have kept all my notes for easy reference. Cheers."
Dee Van Dyk
Professional Member
Periodical Writers Association of Canada
Travel Media Association of Canada
"Fab experience, again! One word describes Amanda: awesome. Her critiques were thorough, encouraging us to aim for excellence. Her lectures were chock-full of practical advice (and humor) about writing on the road. She is a dream teacher, just the right balance between a knuckle-rapping tutor and a mom full of hugs. Thanks again for Writers on the Net. The course fees are lots cheaper than a shrink!"
Linda Petrucelli
"I thought that the class was EXCELLENT and well worth the time and money... The overall structure of the class, literary critique/criticism tied with the "business" end of travel writing, is a great approach... I would definitely recommend this class to friends."
Timmy Williams
"A very generous, knowledgeable person! Amanda was definitely worth every penny. Without your program, my writing would have stagnated. As it is, it remains one of the most important things that I do."
Nina Camic
"I haven't taken Amanda Castleman's class – I already make a living as a travel writer – but because she's a friend, she just looked over a 6,000-word piece I was doing for National Geographic Traveler. Plain and simple, her comments and suggestions were the best I have ever seen from any editor, anywhere. Amanda's a genius."
Ed Readicker-Henderson
Winner of a 2004 Lowell Thomas Award
"A kind of energy that is delightful and empowering."
A good balance between straightforward instruction and descriptive examples. Her style is both approachable and inspiring."
"The [critiques] are terribly witty and insightful and they teach me how to look at a piece critically. Thanks so very much for the openness, willingness to share, wisdom, etc. I mean it! "
"Amanda's energy and expertise impressed me. She was a treasure of information from defining the genre to marketing."
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