Build Your Brand. Find Your Voice. Write the Stories That Only You Can.
Breaking through with your travel writing can seem like an impossible task. How do you make a name for yourself when you’re starting from scratch?
Intrepid Times is here to help. We’ve been publishing travel writing since 2014, and we want to help you share the stories that matter to you.
From pitching to editors to crafting a story that will hold a reader from the first word to the last, we’ll work together to transform every aspect of your travel writing.
In just 8 weeks time, you could be a confident travel writer with a complete, edited story ready to bring to the world!
Introducing Travel Writer Transformation
Travel Writer Transformation is a small-group online course that lasts for 8 weeks from April 30, 2023. Learning alongside a maximum of 7 other aspiring travel writers, you’ll connect personally with Intrepid Times editors, get constant supportive feedback on your writing, and enjoy masterclasses on the craft and business of travel writing today.
Here’s what other writers’ we’ve worked with have said…
Rhonda Wiley-Jones
John McFadzean
Amy-Leah Potter
Jennifer Wright
Here’s your detailed schedule as a Travel Writer Transformation student:
We’ll jump right in for Week 1, beginning with weekly writing exercises, where you’ll be asked to submit a response to a writing prompt. You’ll receive feedback by Wednesday of the following week, which you’ll be able to refer to in all future writing exercises.
In addition to also sharing two masterclasses with you, we’ll invite all participants to connect via a video call meet and greet on Sunday, May 7. You’ll have a chance to discuss your writing goals, expectations for the upcoming weeks, and where you’re at on your travel writing journey. You’ll also get to meet your mentors, Nathan and Jen!
The Resources
Masterclass 1: An Introduction to Travel Writing | Masterclass 2: The Magic of Storytelling for Travel Writers
The Exercise
Describe a place. Choose a place you have traveled to (near or far), and write one or two paragraphs describing that place.
The masterclasses in Week 2 give you a great overview of the first and last paragraphs of any travel story. You’ll also get to practice writing about a person (tricky for many writers!) for your exercise.
The Resources
Masterclass 1: The First Paragraph | Masterclass 2: Writing a Compelling Conclusion
The Exercise
Describe a person. Think of someone you have met, talked to, or been guided by during your travels. Write one or two paragraphs describing this person.
The masterclasses for Week 3 are based on the experience we had with several mentees during our “Your First Published Article” scholarship. Here, you’ll learn how to choose what to write about (especially when you have a lot of experiences to sift through) and how to introduce characters (including yourself) in a compelling way. Part two explores effective writing style and speaks about the attitude that makes writers successful.
The Resources
Masterclass 1: From Idea to Published Part 1 | Masterclass 2: From Idea to Published Part 2
The Exercise
Describe an experience. Think of something you have done while traveling (e.g. skiing, dancing, rafting, etc.). Write one or two paragraphs describing the experience.
You’ll be almost halfway through the course here, and we know that an “intensive” course can be tiring, but don’t worry! We’ll be here to push and support you every step of the way. For added support, we’ll be hopping online on Sunday, May 28, and inviting all of the course participants to join us to discuss progress on the course and share ideas and lessons learned through the writing exercises and masterclasses.
The masterclasses in Week 4 touch on two topics that many budding writers have questions about: how to pitch your stories and articles, and how to distinguish between travel stories and travel guides. (You’ll get to
put your new pitching knowledge to the test for this week’s exercise!)
The Resources
Masterclass 1: The Art of the Pitch | Masterclass 2: Travel Stories Vs. Travel Guides
The Exercise
Based on story ideas that you may (or may not) have stumbled across during the writing exercises, write up a pitch for two stories you would be interesting in writing starting next week. You will receive detailed feedback as your mentors offer suggestions for which piece they think will be the most interesting to develop.
Start writing your story! The masterclasses in Week 5 are all about finding your voice as a writer and learning how to edit your own work, both of which will help you as you get started on your travel story. If you have any questions as you start this process, we’ll be here with answers and advice to keep you moving in the right direction.
The Resources
Masterclass 1: Finding Your Voice | Masterclass 2: Be Your Own Editor
The Exercise
Using the feedback received from your Week 4 pitch, write up a draft of a travel story of around 1000 words. We will discuss the drafts in Week 6 as a starting point for revisions.
Week 6 is a particularly interesting week, as you’ll be invited to meet with Jen and/or Nathan to talk about the draft of your travel story. Jen and Nathan will have already looked over your writing and marked line-by-line feedback, but a video call will help you dive even deeper into your draft and learn where, how, and why to make edits and improvements.
The Week 6 masterclasses are all about building your platform and using it to your advantage as you seek to get your name out there–and maybe even publish a travel book!
The Resources
Masterclass 1: Building Your Platform | Masterclass 2: Getting Your Travel Book Published
The Exercise
Meet with Jen and/or Nathan to discuss your draft. You’ll be invited to complete a first round of revisions and send in your story by the following Sunday.
A huge part of becoming a travel writer is simply dedicating yourself to finding time to write! The masterclasses in Week 7 will help you learn how to do just that, and instead of giving you a writing exercise, we’ll offer you the time you need to revise your travel story before we wrap things up in Week 8. Use it wisely!
The Resources
Masterclass 1: Starting From Scratch | Masterclass 2: Making Space and Time to Write
The Exercise
Send in a final revision for your travel story before the Week 8 wrap-up. We will ask for your permission to share this revision with your peers.
A bittersweet time, indeed! This is a super fun week, as we’ll bring all of the course participants back together on Sunday, June 25, to discuss the travel stories you and your peers will have been working on. You’ll have a chance to see your peers’ approach to their own stories, share your experiences, and receive more feedback both from Jen and Nathan, as well as the other participants. With so many different perspectives, you’ll come away with tons of ideas on how to continue revisions on your story.
The final masterclasses take a look at the business and career side of writing. If you’re interested in exploring travel journalism or building a full-time career out of writing, these masterclasses will help you get started.
The Resources
Masterclass 1: How a Professional Travel Journalist Writes a Story | Masterclass 2: Turning Writing Into a Career
The Exercise
Discuss your revised draft with the other course participants and with Jen and Nathan mediating the discussions. You can use the feedback you receive to continue revising your travel story.
At the end of the course, you could see your work published on Intrepid Times.
Apply for Travel Writer Transformation
Please fill out the short form to let us know a little about you. If accepted, your investment in the full 8-week online course, including 1:1 mentorship, writing feedback, small group online classes, masterclasses, reviewed exercises and more, will be USD $390.
Timing: The course starts on April 30, 2023. We will accommodate your time zone and your schedule. If you have any other questions before applying, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Jen and Nathan at editor@intrepidtimes.com.
