Aug
21
5 Ways a Traveler can Embrace Ramadan
August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you travel to experience other cultures and expand your awareness, you may wonder how you can participate in the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which has just begun. Here’s an article on Brave New Traveler by Joyce Hanson about 5 Ways a Traveler can Embrace Ramadan.
Aug
21
Tim Cahill and Don George at Book Passage
August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
If you missed Tim Cahill in conversation with Don George at the Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference last week, you can catch up with this FORA.tv link. It took a long time to load, and I had to watch a 12-second commercial for Charmin Ultra Soft tissue before the main feature began, but after that it was excellent.
The whole video is an hour and twenty minutes, but it’s conveniently split up into about 30 shorter clips that are each only a few minutes long.
Aug
21
Edward Hasbrouck elected at National Writers Union
August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Travel writer Edward Hasbrouck (author of “The Practical Nomad“) was elected Co-Chair of the Book Division of the National Writers Union by delegates to the NWU’s biennial national convention earlier this month in Chicago, which he attended as part of the San Francisco NWU chapter delegation. He notes that is a sizable contingent of travel writers in the NWU, and encourages all writers who are serious about trying to make a living to consider joining the NWU.
Aug
21
The Journalism Shop
August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Wondering what happened to the talented journalists who’ve been adversely affected by the fact that the traditional newspaper business model no longer works (not to mention the the economic downturn)?
Thanks to Gayle Keck for this link to The Journalism Shop, “an easy-to-navigate site for finding highly skilled newspaper veterans interested in taking on freelance assignments. All members are former Los Angeles Times staffers offering a wide range of skills and interests, from investigative reporters to book reviewers, page designers to project managers.”
And the Los Angeles Times photographers have set up shop at Pro Photography Network (“We will shoot anything, anywhere, for anyone.”)
Aug
21
“Best of Summer” Travel Photo Contest
August 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| August 31, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
Tours4fun just launched their “Best of Summer” Travel Photo Contest. The winning photographer gets a helicopter or airplane tour of the Grand Canyon, or a 2-day trip to Niagara Falls or Washington D.C., plus discounts for up to six companions.
Photos are being accepted during August, and voting (by website visitors) takes place during September.
Aug
19
National Geographic Traveler’s photo contest
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| August 24, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
The deadline for National Geographic Traveler’s World in Focus photo contest is August 24th.
Grand prize is a 10-day safari trip for one person to Tanzania.
Categories are:
- TRAVEL PORTRAITS: Travel photos of locals working, playing, celebrating
- OUTDOOR SCENES: Landscapes, aerials, wildlife, waterscapes.
- SENSE OF PLACE: Scenes in cities, towns, and villages that suggest a feeling of place.
- SPONTANEOUS MOMENTS: Photos that capture fun, quirky, unrehearsed moments.
- PHOTO ESSAY: Up to six images that convey a story around a particular theme.
Aug
19
Tanya Shaffer’s new website
August 19, 2009 | 1 Comment
Bay Area writer, actor, traveler, and activist Tanya Shaffer launched her new website last month. Highlights include:
- Audio clips from “Sid Arthur,” Tanya’s musical-in-progress with composer Vienna Teng
- Video clips from her solo show “Let My Enemy Live Long!”
- Stories and essays available for free online reading
- A page for each of Tanya’s major original works, including a brief description, press clips, and photo gallery.
Aug
19
Washington Post travel photo contest winners
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Winner of the Washington Post's 2009 Travel Photo Contest, taken by 16-year-old Alisa Tiwari.
Here’s a link to the Washington Post’s 2009 Travel Photo Contest. The winning photo, taken by 16-year-old Alisa Tiwari, is of a landscape mirrored in the side of the train she was riding when she took the shot.
Aug
19
Top 5 Things I Learned at the Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographs Conference
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Here’s a link to an article on Matador by Lauren Quinn, written after she attended my favorite travel writing conference, the (18th annual) Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographs Conference.
Lauren writes, “Two days later, my brain is still buzzing with ideas, inspiration and information. As I’ve been catching up on sleep and attempting to sort it all out, these are the top 5 lessons that have floated to the top, the froth of the golden brew.” (Use the link above for the rest of the article.)
Aug
19
Culinary Writing Fellowship
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| September 10, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
Thanks to Kelly Hayes-Raitt for sending the information below. I’m including this because food and travel are so intimately connected—in my mind, anyway. (Kelly says, “I was just awarded a travel writing fellowship at the Writers’ Colony, which I read about on your blog! Thank you!”)
NEW 2009 Culinary Writing Fellowship ~ deadline 9/10/09
The Duncan Eat-Write Fellowship Fellowship will be awarded to an author writing a cookbook or work of fiction or nonfiction that involves a love of food or healthful eating. This Fellowship provides a residency in the Writers’ Colony Culinary Suite equipped with full test kitchen. The Culinary Suite and test kitchen were designed, sponsored by and featured in Renovation Home Magazine.
Aug
19
Top 10 Roman archaeological sites in northern Africa
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
I met Ethel Davies, a talented writer and photographer, in 2007 when we were both traveling in Tunisia and Libya. Ethel was working on Bradt‘s North Africa: The Roman Coast, which was released this year. In this interview, Ethel talks about her top ten favorite Roman sites in North Africa.
We visited four of those top ten (Leptis Magna, Sabratha, and Cyrene in Lybia; and El Djem in Tunisia) together, and I agree, they’re spectacular.
Aug
19
Self-publishing seminar
August 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| October 4, 2009 | ||
| 10:00 am | to | 5:00 pm |
Lisa Alpine and Carla King are offering a seminar on self-publishing from 10:00 – 5:00 on Sunday, October 4th, 2009, at Fort Mason Center.
Here’s the scoop:
“You’ll learn everything you need to know to do it yourself:
- What the various POD printers, online services, and distribution companies do (and don’t do) for you
- How to outsource: book design, mailing list management, blogs, and other essential tasks
- What to watch out for when using POD “subsidy” publishers
- Options for distribution and fulfillment
- How to use your eBook to sell your print book
Aug
14
Tim Cahill: And then something goes wrong…
August 14, 2009 | 2 Comments
I enjoyed hearing Tim Cahill speak last night at the 18th annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference, where he let us in on the secret to travel writing. We all know the secret, right? Tim said. “Something goes wrong.” That’s what makes the story interesting.
What if nothing goes wrong? “Have a spiritual experience! Spirituality is the last resource for the travel writer.” As soon as I see that the author is going to have a spiritual experience, I know nothing is going to happen in the story.
Ha ha.
Other notes from Tim’s talk:
Aug
14
Judy Zimola’s Four Corners
August 14, 2009 | 1 Comment
I love Judy Zimola’s iMovie about her recent solo trek in the four-corners part of the US Southwest. Great soundtrack, too!
Aug
14
Best online travel resources: Know before you go
August 14, 2009 | 4 Comments
Laurie McAndish King’s article about quirky and helpful websites for travelers originally appeared in Examiner.com in April:
Travel fares are temptingly low these days, but all travel is not equal. Here are some websites to help you find the best seats and meals, avoid dangerous destinations, stay healthy, comply with travel regulations, get through airport lines more quickly, purchase travel insurance, and more.
-
Airlinemeals.net is the “world’s first website about nothing but airline food,” which is currently displaying “more than 17,000 photos from more than 520 different airlines. Monthly, we receive 300 new meal pictures.” There are also photos of what the airline crew eats, food from airline lounges, and behind-the-scenes photos from airline caterers.
Aug
14
Laurie McAndish King’s article below about online sources for travel information originally ran on Examiner.com in April:
One “benefit” of the current worldwide economic crisis is the super-low airfares we’re seeing lately. Cruise lines, too, have some amazing specials. In both cases, the bulk of the owners’ costs — building and owning the planes or ships, or having already committed to a cruise on a particular vessel at a particular time, are already “sunk.” That means the owners need to sell space at whatever price they can get — in some cases, they’re even selling at rates that are lower than their actual costs — in order to recoup at least a little of their investments.
Here are some websites to help you find the best travel deals:
Aug
14
I met Trisha Miller, president and co-founder of Travel Writers Exchange, at the Book Passage Travel Writers Conference last night. She’ll be blogging and Twittering about it; here’s one article she wrote: Inside a Travel Writers Conference.
Aug
13
Travelers’ Tales Sponsors Solas Awards
August 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| September 21, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
From Travelers’ Tales: Award-winning publisher Travelers’ Tales is the sponsor of The Solas Awards, an annual competition to honor excellence in travel writing.
Extraordinary stories about travel and the human spirit have been the cornerstones of our books since 1993. With the Solas Awards we honor writers whose work inspires others to explore. We’re looking for the best stories about travel and the world—funny, illuminating, adventurous, uplifting, scary, inspiring, poignant—stories that reflect the unique alchemy that occurs when you enter unfamiliar territory and begin to see the world differently as a result. We hope these awards will be a catalyst for those who love to leave home and tell others about it.
Aug
13
Call for Submissions: The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2010
August 13, 2009 | 2 Comments
| September 1, 2009 | ||
| 12:00 am |
From Christy Quinto at Travelers’ Tales:
Travelers’ Tales is seeking submissions to its annual anthology of the greatest travel stories penned by women from around the world. Our books capture the full range of travel experiences: adventure, mysticism, humor, cross-cultural connection, transformation.
Story length can be anywhere from 1,000 to 5,000 words. Previously published pieces are fine, as long as you retain the copyright. Payment is $100 plus a free copy of the anthology. Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest will edit the collection.
Aug
13
National Writers Union Opposes Settlement of Class-Action Lawsuit Against Google
August 13, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Thanks to Diane LeBow for forwarding this press release:
For Immediate Release (August 13, 2009)
National Writers Union Opposes Settlement of Class-Action Lawsuit Against Google for Copyright Infringement
The National Writers Union today announced its opposition to the proposed $125 million settlement of a class-action copyright infringement lawsuit brought by writers and publishers against Google because its massive book-scanning project violated their copyrights.
Aug
13
Dick Jordan’s Bay Model Article
August 13, 2009 | 1 Comment
Dick Jordan’s Contra Costa Times article about the Bay Model is a good example of seeing local hidden gems as attractions worthy of travel articles. And check out his Blogspot website, Tales Told from the Road, which does a great job of incorporating Facebook, Twitter, a photo slideshow, and an RSS feed. Nice work, Dick.
Aug
12
Book Passsage Travel Writers Conference
August 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| August 13, 2009 12:00 am | to | August 16, 2009 12:00 am |
The 18th annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference runs from Thursday, August 13 through Sunday the 16th, 2009
“The conference has an extraordinary reputation among publishers, editors, and writers. Alumni have published books, articles, and photos—many as the direct result of lessons learned and contacts made at the conference. There is no finer travel writing conference anywhere in the world.
Aug
12
Travel Classics West 2009
August 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| October 15, 2009 12:00 am | to | October 17, 2009 11:00 pm |
Travel Classics West 2009 is now accepting registration for qualified writers:
Registration for the Arizona conference in Scottsdale is officially open. The conference fee is $725. A $300 deposit is required at the time of registration. Accommodations rate at the Fairmont Scottsdale is $135 per night (3 consecutive nights: Oct, 15, 16 and 17), plus gratuities and room tax. All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are included in the conference and hotel fees.
There’s no better way to stay in the loop of major magazine markets, as you enhance your career with great writing assignments. Travel Classics is unlike any other conference on Earth.
Aug
12
Sarah Palin’s (edited) Resignation Speech
August 12, 2009 | 3 Comments
If you love copy editing like I love copy editing, you’ll get a belly laugh from Sarah Palin’s resignation speech, edited by the folks at Vanity Fair.
Aug
12
Intellectual Property Seminar
August 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment
| August 18, 2009 | ||
| 3:00 pm | to | 5:30 pm |
California Lawyers for the Arts is offering an Intellectual Property Seminar on Tuesday, August 18, 3 – 5:30pm at Fort Mason Center, Building C, Room 265.
Attorney Erick Howard will discuss the general parameters of intellectual property in the performing, visual and literary arts. Usually there are hand-outs given to participants to help explain the basic elements of copyright/ license usage as well as publishing. At the end of the seminar participants are encouraged to ask any questions they may have.