The Travel Writing Course
The Travel Writing Course
A complete toolkit to launch yourself as a professional travel writer for magazines and webzines
Learn to write and sell engaging travel articles to publications around the world
The Travel Writing Course is for those who love to travel – and write about it.
Would you like to get paid for the stories you write about your journeys? Then step into the most competitive field in modern professional journalism: travel writing.
Our 12-month online travel writing course gives you all the tools and tips you need to become a travel writer and break into the global travel writing industry. Learn to tailor your writing for print and online travel magazines and blogs, and how to pitch your work.
The Travel Writing Course Gives You...
No Automated Marking
We use traditional methods of assessing work, as editors at publishing houses would. No generic feedback!
A Flexible Schedule
Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.
Relevant, Usable Content
Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.
Ongoing Assessment
Your writing is assessed continuously as your course progresses.
Expert, Individual Feedback
Get prompt, honest, detailed feedback on every assignment from an award-winning writer. We focus on your unique writing strengths.
No Peer Reviews!
You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to write; you'll be guided line by line.
Free Your Potential on the Travel Writing Course
Step into one of the most exciting and
challenging fields of writing
Learn the secrets behind writing an award-winning travel story. Discover how to illustrate your words with great images, how to pitch your work, how to conduct interviews, how to research your feature to give it extra depth and, most importantly, how to make an income in this competitive environment.
Over the course of 11 modules and 20 writing assignments, you will be tutored by highly experienced photojournalists who specialise in the field of travel. They’ll take the guesswork and the trial and error out of travel writing by guiding you through every stage of this exciting journey.
You’ll soon learn it’s more than just a blog post about where you went and what you did. It’s about how carefully your traveller’s eye has been honed: do you see the irony, the human interest, the poignancy and the humour in what you encounter? Do you have the research skills to substantiate your narrative? Can you add images to your words? Can you market yourself to an overworked editor?
Your tutors are always willing to share their knowledge with you, welcoming discussions on the subject of travel journalism and answering any queries you might have.
Free Your Potential on the Travel Writing Course
Step into one of the most exciting and challenging fields of writing
Learn the secrets behind writing an award-winning travel story. Discover how to illustrate your words with great images, how to pitch your work, how to conduct interviews, how to research your feature to give it extra depth and, most importantly, how to make an income in this competitive environment.
Over the course of 11 modules and 20 writing assignments, you will be tutored by highly experienced photojournalists who specialise in the field of travel. They’ll take the guesswork and the trial and error out of travel writing by guiding you through every stage of this exciting journey.
You’ll soon learn it’s more than just a blog post about where you went and what you did. It’s about how carefully your traveller’s eye has been honed: do you see the irony, the human interest, the poignancy and the humour in what you encounter? Do you have the research skills to substantiate your narrative? Can you add images to your words? Can you market yourself to an overworked editor?
Your tutors are always willing to share their knowledge with you, welcoming discussions on the subject of travel journalism and answering any queries you might have.
'I LOVED this course, from beginning to end. I was made to work hard and my tutor earned my respect by her direct and honest feedback at the end of each module.'
Marilyn Scott, Travel Writing Course
Course Overview
COURSE FEE
R 8 495.00
Price includes GST
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
20
The assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
11
These modules include around 300 pages of course notes.
COURSE DURATION
12
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of 12 months.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Basic writing skills are essential.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
Our Graduate Students' Successes
We are proud of our graduates who have achieved success. Here are a few among dozens of other journalism
success stories.
Tutors for this Course
You may choose a tutor that you would like to work with.
Julienne du Toit and Chris Marais work together with each student on the Travel Writing Course, each writer contributing decades of experience and writing expertise to the tutoring process.
Please note: There are times when the tutors may be on travel assignments and be out of email contact; this is an unavoidable aspect of their work. We add any lost time on to your course deadline.
Julienne du Toit & Chris Marais
Julie and Chris have been working side-by-side as photojournalists, publishers and specialist writers for nearly 25 years.
In the past 15 years, their focus has been on the Karoo region of South Africa: road trips, human interest, history and culture, environmental, humour and profiles. Through their content-rich Karoo Space website and popular books, their aim has always been to reflect the magic of the SA Heartland to readers everywhere in the world.
They’ve worked for top-end publications at home and abroad, and are currently engaged in a series of assignments for the new-look Getaway Magazine.
Julie and Chris are also regular writers and photographers for the Rhodes University Research Office, profiling the institution’s achievers every year.
The first in their new book series, Karoo Roads, is doing very well on the reader circuit and the sequel is scheduled for release in August-September 2021.
As tutors with the SA Writers College, they both bring hard-earned experience, two different writing styles and a seasoned hand to the process of becoming a wordsmith.
Dawn Jorgensen
Course Curriculum
Module 1
- Distinguish travel writing from other genres of writing
- Develop an understanding of the elements that characterise travel journalism
- Get answers to FAQs about a career in travel journalism
- Writing Exercise 1: Practice writing scenes that ‘show’ rather than ‘tell’ (assessment and feedback task)
Module 2
- Analyse a magazine in terms of content, style, format, tone, target market and demographic
- Learn how to match your writing with that of a selected travel magazine
- Writing Exercise 2: Analyse the demographic, style, tone and format of a selected magazine (assessment and feedback task)
Module 3
- Know where and how to find sellable ideas
- Learn techniques for generating ideas
- Distinguish between a topic and an angle
- Study an overview of prominent international travel magazines
- Writing Exercise 3: Refine topics into angles; come up with an angle for a travel article (feedback task)
Module 4
- Find out how to write the perfect query letter
- Distinguish between writing on speculation versus querying and being commissioned
- Writing Exercise 4: Write a query letter for your targeted magazine, covering all aspects of style, tone, content and format (assessment and feedback task)
Module 5
- Discover the critical elements for writing a compelling lead
- Identify the different types of introductions for travel pieces
- Writing Exercise 5: Write a compelling opening to your article (feedback and assessment task)
Module 6
- Identify the main components of an article
- Use a basic story structure to map out your travel piece
- Use transitions and logical flow to facilitate easy reading
- Writing Exercise 6: Begin to write up the body of your article and hand in a first draft (feedback task)
Module 7
- Learn the main grammar, style and punctuation rules for good writing
- Know the rules for apt usage of quotations
- Writing Exercise 7: Test your knowledge of grammar, style and punctuation (assessment and feedback task)
- Writing Exercise 8: Panel-beat the body into shape and hand in a second draft (feedback task)
Module 8
- Find out how to create catchy sidebars and resource boxes
- Write your own byline
- Writing Exercise 9: Write a byline and 2 sidebars (feedback task)
Module 9
- Identify the different types of closers
- Essential photography tips
- Writing Exercise 10: Write the closer to your piece (feedback task)
Module 10
- Edit your piece by following basic guidelines
- Understand the different kinds of cover letters and how to submit your piece in a professional way
- Invoice and organise payment for your stories
- Understand the basics of copyrighting, recycling stories and syndication
- Writing Exercise 11: Edit your piece and submit it with a cover letter. Include photographs for bonus points. (assessment and feedback task)
Module 11
- How writing articles for the web is different to print
- Using SEO-friendly keywords, headings and sub-headings
- Writing tips: hyperlinking and chunking
- Finding work online
- Writing Exercise 12: Write and submit a web article
What Our Students Say
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions
We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements
Join a Community of Writers
You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.
Risk-Free 100% Money-Back Guarantee
We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund within 30 days.
Complete the Application Form to Enrol on the Travel Writing Course
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at admin@sawriterscollege.co.za
Questions?
We've Got Answers
Detailed course notes covering the content of each module are emailed to you.
At the end of each module, you will be required to complete one or two writing exercises. In total, the course includes ten writing assignments, all of which count towards your final result. You must also produce one query letter (300–600 words), one feature-length article (1200–1500 words) and one 500–word web piece.
Once you have completed a writing assignment and emailed it to your tutor, you will receive an assessment and feedback, and the module will be considered complete.
Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.
You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.
For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It will remain completely private unless you get it published. The journalism courses might see your work published in the public domain, but you do have the final say as to whether or not this happens.
You will receive a Writers College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided you meet the following conditions:
You must have completed all assignments (namely, writing exercises, one query letter and two articles).
The course must have been completed within 12 months of registration.
A minimum average of 50% for the course must be achieved.
- Basic writing skills are essential.
- Basic computer skills, as well as email and Internet access are required.
- No previous tertiary qualification is required.
Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.
An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, your can start your course.
You could be starting your course today!
Reading Time: 18 hours
Writing Time: Up to 35 hours
Research Time: 2–6 hours, depending on the complexity of your article
Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.
Any work created on our courses is owned by you. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. We follow the rule that copyright subsists with the creator (you).