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Are you the next great travel writer?
Win £1500 + Mentoring Session

Are you the next great travel writer?
Win £1500 + Mentoring Session

Published: December 2016

This competition closed on 5th February 2017

I’ve teamed up with Travelex UK and Penguin Books UK as a judge on their latest competition, to hunt down the best new travel storytellers.

They are on the lookout for the Next Great Travel Writer. The lucky winner will not only receive £1500 (or $1500), but also a mentoring session with a Penguin book editor. This competition is only open to UK/USA residents.

It’s as simple as putting pen to paper and jotting down a travel tale, in 1000 words or less, and sharing a moment from the road that not only makes for a great story but will transport the reader right there.

  • Stories from India

    India Travel Photography

Need some tips & inspiration?

With only 1000 words to relay a travel moment, focusing in on the details is key. How can you transport the reader to a destination they may never have been to before? If the smell of the sea and the silence of the beach are what made the moment so special, relaying that feeling and importance to your reader is essential.

Remember, a special moment for you might not convey as well in written word. Balancing facts, personal opinion and emotions will always have me hooked to every page, It might not always be easy (I struggled whilst talking about travelling in the Palestinian west bank), but scoring that right balance can truly reel a reader in.

I asked a couple of my favourite writers if they could share a top tip on crafting the perfect travel story.

Jeremy – TravelFreak.net

“The reason people read blogs in the first place is for the perspective. To tell a good travel story isn’t to relay your trip step by step, but to develop and convey a broader, emotive narrative. It’s important to mix facts and actionable advice into your stories, because these are things the reader may want to recreate, but the true value in a travel story is its emotion.

Use small, idiosyncratic moments of your day to bring life to the general climate of a place, and if you can, link those moments together to show not only what it’s like to travel there, but what it’s like for you to travel there. Most importantly, show how travelling there actually changed you as a person. Travelling is a learning process—let the reader learn right along with you.”

Follow Jeremy on Instagram or get inspired with his tale of mixed emotions whilst travelling through the Balkans.

Jarryd – Nomadasaurus.com

“In the world of travel writing, the old cliché is the “devil is in the details”. The idea is to transport your reader into the scene, so that while they are reading your piece they feel like they were right there with you. Be descriptive and informative, but make sure you keep it concise. Especially in digital media, the reader can lose interest fast if you start to lose flow. Find that happy balance while keeping the reader longing for the next sentence.”

Follow Nomadasaurus on Instagram or get an insight into experiencing a traditional burial in Tibet. 

All set? Click the links below to enter the writing competition and find the full T&C’s on the Travelex Website – Good luck!

UK - Enter the Writing Contest Now
USA - Enter the Writing Contest Now
Travel Writing Competition

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21st June 2020/by Daniel James (Dan Flying Solo)

Beyond The Guidebook

Hey! I’m Dan and I am a little bit obsessed with exploring the world, meeting people on the road and can usually be found lost and attached to a camera. I’ve been lucky enough to visit 50+ countries and aim to share the best travel tips, stories and guides here on the blog. If you want to be kept up to date every month + get access to the latest deals and competitions sign up on the form just down there or feel free to stalk me a bit more if you need help planning a trip, click here to get in touch!

Safe Travels, Dan

Want to learn how to live a life of spontaneous travel? Join me…


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