In this one-day seminar, students will study the fundamentals of the first-person travel essay. By reading published contemporary travel articles, we will study the use of the narrative “I” in travel magazine writing, as well as tried-and-true story “formulas.” Discussions of readings and generative exercises will offer students ideas for a travel essay of their own that they can continue to develop outside of class. For our purposes, we will distinguish between a first-person travel essay and a personal essay about travel: The latter privileges the self, emphasizes the writer’s intellectual and emotional discoveries; the former shifts its focus slightly, prioritizes instead the reader’s immersion in an exciting elsewhere by telling the story of that place—be it the local culture, history, environment, cuisine, or community. More than a matter of semantics, these distinctions can help us as writers 1) find multiple ways to tell a tale; 2) navigate the power dynamics between a journalist and their subject; and 3) sell an article to an editor for publication.

This class is for students who are new to travel writing or those who wish to hone their skills in narrative place-based nonfiction. No prior writing experience is required. Potential readings include works by Ligaya Mishan, Pico Iyer, Saki Knafo, Sarah Khan, John Wogan, and others. (Reading selections prior to class is highly encouraged; PDFs will be provided.)

This is a one-day craft class on Saturday, October 4th from 2:00 PM–4:30 PM ET. This workshop is open to all writers of color.

Check out the class page for more information. To see all of our upcoming classes, visit kundiman.org/online-classes.