Five Weeks: January 10 - February 7, 2012
Space is Limited! This Class is Filling Fast!
Globejotting: How to Write
Extraordinary Travel Tales

Sign Up Here! To register for this workshop, please click the "Buy Now" button below. Doing so confirms you have read the information on this page and agree to the terms. Writers under 18 are welcome but must have a parent's permission. If you prefer to pay by check or money order, please e-mail Dave at dave@davethefox.com.

Well-written travel tales help readers feel like they're along on the journey, wandering with the author as a story unfolds. But how do you express yourself in ways that fully capture the places, people, events, and emotions you encounter? How do you find the right words to bring a far-flung travel adventure to life?

If you've ever dreamed of becoming a travel writer, if you're a journaler or blogger wanting to capture your journeys in words that sparkle, if you've already done some travel writing and wish to hone your stories, or if you're a writer in other genres, looking to expand your skills, this online class will launch you on the road to becoming a scintillating, wandering storyteller.

This workshop is geared toward beginning and intermediate travel writers. Taught by bestselling travel author and writing coach Dave Fox, the course will focus on a specific type of travel writing: the personal travel tale. We'll begin with a crash course in how to write lively and meaningful travel journals. Then, we'll craft those "rough draft" diaries into polished stories we can share with friends, or publish - in blogs, magazines, newspapers, books, and more. The final week of this workshop will touch on the basics of travel publishing - identifying markets for your writing, pitching stories to editors, an overview of pertinent copyright laws, etc. Its primary focus, however, is on how to tell compelling stories.

A few of the topics we'll cover include:

• Travel journaling secrets: How to find time, write fast, stay motivated, and collect the most powerful details to help you craft compelling stories once you're home.

• How to travel with the mind of a writer.

• Various types of travel tales: Adventure, humor, personal growth, and more.
  

• Setting the scene, building excitement, and maintaining energy throughout a story.

• Weaving together the various elements that create a great travel tale - the setting, people, events, and unique emotions we encounter on the road.

How it Works

Each Tuesday for five weeks (or Wednesday if you're on the eastern fringes of the International Date Line), you'll receive a written lesson by e-mail as well as an optional exercise or two. You'll share your completed assignments in a private, password protected Google Group. Dave will offer weekly feedback. Participants are also encouraged to share constructive and friendly comments on their classmates' tales.

You'll have a week to read each lesson and do the exercises. Dave will check in to the online group on most days to see how the discussion is going and offer his insights. (He is sometimes traveling himself, and needs an occasional day off like everybody, so there may be a day or two on most weeks when he's not around.)

How Much Time is Involved?

The weekly lessons will be around seven to ten printed pages each. As far as the exercises and online discussions go, the amount of time and effort you put into them is up to you. The most time-consuming weeks will involve writing or revising a travel tale of 800-1,000 words.

The more time you spend, the more you'll get out of this workshop. Plan to on a few hours each week to read the lessons and do the exercises. If, however, you are one of those perpetually busy people who always has a hectic schedule, Dave understands. Even if you're short on time, the lessons will teach you skills you can keep practicing long after the course is finished.

If you're having an unusually busy week, you can turn in an assignment up to two weeks late. To be fair to the rest of the class, Dave will prioritize exercises that meet that week's deadline before reviewing late submissions.

[You can also take this course as a one-on-one tutorial, which you can do quickly or spread over up to six months. You will not have the student interaction you get in a group workshop; however, Dave offers his private students in-depth feedback by phone or Skype as well as e-mail. The cost for the one-on-one version of this course is $269. He's also available for writing and humor coaching in a wide variety of genres. For more info, drop Dave an e-mail.]

Dave's Teaching Philosophy

Dave's goal for this course, in addition to helping you become a phenomenal travel writer, is for you to have fun. He offers feedback in constructive and motivating ways, and encourages others to do the same. (No mean people or big egos allowed!) He structures the message boards in a way that creates lively exchanges and fosters a global community of writer friends.

About Dave

How to Sign Up

How much does it cost? The cost for this five-week workshop is US $169 per person. This gets you five weeks of lessons, weekly assignments, weekly feedback on your work, access to our private Google Group, and a list of resources to keep strengthening your travel and general writing skills once the class is finished.

Cancellation Policy: If you cancel before the class begins, you can request a refund, minus a $30 handling fee. Once the class begins, no refunds will be given.

Got Questions? This class is intended for begining and intermediate travel writers. If you're wondering whether it's the right class for you, Dave's happy to answer any questions you have. Drop him an e-mail at dave@davethefox.com.

How to sign up: To pay online via credit card / Paypal, just click the "Buy Now" button below and follow the instructions. (If you have any problems with this link, please e-mail Dave.)

(Clicking this button confirms you have read all of the above information and agree to the terms. If you are under age 18, you must have a parent's permission to sign up.)