Bradt/Travellers’ Tales writing seminar

I spent a very productive day yesterday at the writing seminar organised by Bradt Guides and Travellers’ Tales.  Five exceptional speakers led a series of workshops designed to hone our writing skills and ability to get our work published.

Jonathan Lorie, founder of Travellers’ Tales, made the process of constructing a travel article look deceptively easy, whilst Hilary Bradt and Adrian Phillips of Bradt Guides offered nugget after nugget of perceptive and invaluable tips on how to write.  Drilling down to the power of a single sentence and offering alternatives to the well worn clichés that will destroy any chance of getting into print (everything from wet spaniels to cork trees lifting their crop tops), Hilary and Adrian demonstrated why they are at the top of their game.

Ben Ross, Travel Editor at the Telegraph, no less, had many encouraging words and pithy advice for a room full of print-hungry wannabes; I scribbled as fast as my hand would let me and hopefully will be putting to the test Ben’s promise to respond to as many emails as possible.  Last but definitely not least, Alastair McKenzie provided the voice of the future, advising on blogging and marketing, and leaving me with a ton of homework to do.  I can’t wait to get started.

Alastair McKenzie, a wealth of useful information