Courses in travel writing are designed for those who want to share their intriguing travel experiences with others, either for money or enjoyment. Courses with titles such as "The Ultimate Travel Writer," "Be a Travel Writer" or "Travel Writing: Inside Secrets" equip the student with a set of effective writing skills needed to succeed in this challenging field. Great travel writers have acquired every trick of the trade in order to find success.
Travel writing courses usually consist of a variety of lessons covering every aspect of travel writing. Topics such as knowing your audience, how to find original travel ideas, preparing for your first assignment, dealing with agencies, research techniques and types of travel articles are designed to provide the student with a thorough knowledge of how to start and succeed in the field.
Finding good travel writing courses requires choosing the kind of travel writing that inspires you the most. For example, many writers prefer to write about far away places, while others prefer to write about resorts and cruises. Still others like to visit and write about small country towns and annual events. Since travel writing courses can be quite expensive, you should avoid taking courses that have little influence on your preferred niche.
The cost of travel writing courses depends on the type of courses in which you enroll. For example, a three- or five-day travel writing course retreat (sometimes with famous authors) may cost you from $1,000-3,000, most likely including transportation, lodging and materials, whereas a single course usually costs $200-300. Travel writing courses offered at community colleges or writing schools may require quarterly payments on a sliding scale. Some online courses can be taken anytime throughout the year and at your own convenience; these courses are usually cheaper than writing retreats.