Didn't have "quote a The Last Dinner Party lyric in a work thing" on my 2025 bingo card. Thanks to the ace @lottiegross.bsky.social & @stephdyson.bsky.social for asking me to write about the (ongoing) Express saga for Talking Travel Writing newsletter travelwriting.substack.com/p/this-trave...

This travel writer's work was ripped off by national paper

Daniel Puddicombe is embroiled in a battle with a British tabloid. Here's what's happened.

travelwriting.substack.com

Together with @stephdyson.bsky.social and @travmedia.bsky.social, we're using the Talking Travel Writing newsletter to launch our latest mentoring scheme for aspiring travel writers! Details here - please share: travelwriting.substack.com/p/2025-trave...

2025 travel writing mentoring scheme open!

The Talking Travel Writing mentoring scheme is back thanks to sponsorship from TravMedia - find out how to apply here.

travelwriting.substack.com

For a Talking Travel Writing series, I'm looking to speak to PRs about how journalists can get the best out of your destination knowledge to chat about potential story ideas. Are there qs you wish more journalists would ask? What do you wish more journalists knew about working w/PRs?

Devastated to look closer and realise someone hadn't stuck a googly eye on the plane wing

After reading @johannhari101.bsky.social's fantastic Stolen Focus I've realised there's so much more we need to be doing to regulate tech companies - but I can't find any organisations whose sole purposes seems to be this. Does anyone know of any that need donations or support?

What one thing would you suggest every travel writer needs to be good at their job? We're running a series on this very topic in #TalkingTravelWriting this month, so here's my take: travelwriting.substack.com/p/just-one-t...

Just One Thing: stupidity

Inspired by the late Michael Mosely, this month's series is a Just One Thing tribute.

travelwriting.substack.com

I'm writing a piece for Talking Travel Writing for April about whether there's ever a place for AI in travel writing. Do you have strong opinions on the topic? 👇🏻

Writers, this really is your last chance now! You've got until noon to apply. open.substack.com/pub/freelanc...

Last chance to apply for the FWJ New Directions bursary

You've got until midday today.

open.substack.com

At LATA we want to celebrate the incredible work being done across the Latin American travel industry. Entries are now open for the LATA Excellence Awards & the LATA Responsible Tourism Awards and will be announced at LATA Expo in June. Media awards coming soon! travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/ent...

It does worry me how much time I spend pissing around at my desk. Got 8 hours to write a feature? I'll fanny around for six of those and then get stressed that it has taken so long. Got two? Complete it, plus have time for a cup of tea.

@jenrosesmith.bsky.social the undisputed queen of the good idea

Jen Rose Smith@jenrosesmith.bsky.social · last yr.

When interviewing academic sources for stories, I love to add a little "and what are you excited about now/next?" right at the end, and good lord is that a magical story-idea generator

There's still time to sign up for next week's webinar on how you can use data to help you find fascinating story angles for pitches and how it can add substance to your features 👇 travelwritingwebinars.com/product/data...

Always

Mollie Goodfellow@hansmollman.bsky.social · last yr.

I really like writing when it is exactly within the parameters that I find ideal for writing which are vague and ever changing

My toxic travel trait is swearing blind that I won't book six-week-long work trips again because they're exhausting, and then proceeding to do it anyway. Oops! Patagonia and the Atacama Desert followed by the Pantanal is going to be totally worth it though 😂

It always such a pleasure to write for Adventure.com and researching this piece about the realities of AI's impact on travel was fascinating adventure.com/artificial-i...

Sian's newsletters are always informative and involve excellent GIFs. 10/10, would recommend

Sian Meades-Williams@sianysianysiany.bsky.social · 2y ago

I love compiling the first Freelance Writing Jobs of the year. A full-on burst of optimism! The freshly squeezed orange juice of newsletters. Get it in your inbox this week. 🍊🍊🍊https://freelancewritingjobs.substack.com/

Starting Talking Travel Writing's 2025 content as we mean to go on with a series on how passive income should be a staple part of your strategy for the coming year. Read it here: substack.com/inbox/post/1... (the first newsletter is free!)

Passive income: the holy grail of travel writing?

Steph chats about earning money while you sleep

substack.com

Talking Travel Writing 2025 planning went very well yesterday with @lottiegross.bsky.social The second bottle went down a little too easily, however 🥴

My parents are dealing with the sad task of packing up my grandparents' home by unearthing bangers like this

This is deliciously unhinged. I'm now picturing Badenoch gnawing on a dry lump of bread

Helen Lewis@helenlewis.bsky.social · 2y ago

This Kemi Badenoch quote is such a rich text. Steak at your desk? Sandwiches for breakfast? No moist bread?

Anyone fancy a job in travel media? The Travel Media Awards Step Up Scheme is now open for young people from diverse backgrounds. Tell your younguns! travelmediaawards.com/travelmediaa...

Not sure what the name a group of travel writers going walkabout in a storm might be but just spent an inspiring w/e with @lottiegross.bsky.social @stephdyson.bsky.social at the #TTWRETREAT2024 to learn about the travel media. Thank you so much to you both & to HF Holidays for a wonderful stay.

I love this! Mostly because I can't stomach imagining ever having another actual boss

Jen Rose Smith@jenrosesmith.bsky.social · 2y ago

I'm convinced one secret to freelance happiness is to imagine your own perfect boss — high expectations, kind, firm boundaries with clients, etc — and then just become that person.

Can't get over how talented this exceptional group of women are and what a delight it was to host them this weekend for #TTWRetreat2024 Editors, you're going to be getting some fantastic pitches landing in your inboxes soon!

Such an honour to have 20-odd people here – some all the way from the USA – for the TTW writing retreat in the Cotswolds. We are teaching aspiring writers how to get into this industry and make it work for them, and this lot are super engaged and v clever! Exciting times 🙌🎉

Brilliant first day with our 18 attendees of the #TTWRetreat2024 at Harrington House in Bourton-on-the-Water. Started with how the travel media works and then invited the brilliant @howard-tcg.bsky.social of Travel Connections Group to discuss how to network like a pro #hfholidays

Every time @lottiegross.bsky.social and I try to host an in-person travel writing course the British rail network gives us the finger and then does this www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...

Rush-hour trains delayed due to 'nationwide fault' on communication system

Affected services include South Western Railway, Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink.

bbc.co.uk

Got the part of a guidebook that is simultaneously my favourite and my least favourite: the final stretch of writing that can only be wrung out of my exhausted brain with the lubrication of a mediocre bottle of red

My latest piece for @telegraphnews.bsky.social dives into one of my favourite subjects: Peru's other archaeological sites. Featuring the Moche - who loved psychedelic drugs and human sacrifice - plus the 219 mummies that scared me shitless a few weeks back www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/alter...

Forget crowded Machu Picchu – head to these under-explored sites instead

Visit Peru’s spectacular remnants of the ancient world, often in remote locations far from civilisation

telegraph.co.uk

Looking forward to this webinar later today - such a useful series. Thanks to all involved!

Steph Dyson @stephdyson.bsky.social · 2y ago

Don't miss Travel Writing Webinar's final webinar of the year, which is all about getting ready for 2025, is FREE to join, and features a stellar line-up of writers dishing out their wisdom. 👇 travelwritingwebinars.com/product/free...