Travel Writing

Travel writing has always been intimately linked with the construction of American identity. Occupying the space between fact and fiction, it exposes cultural fault lines and reveals the changing desires and anxieties of both the traveller and the reading public. These specially-commissioned essays trace the journeys taken by writers from the pre-revolutionary period right up to the present. They examine a wide range of responses to the problems posed by landscapes found both at home and abroad, from the Mississippi and the Southwest to Europe and the Holy Land. Throughout, the contributors focus on the role played by travel writing in the definition and formulation of national identity, and consider the experiences of minority writers as well as canonical authors. This Companion forms an invaluable guide for students approaching this new, important and exciting subject for the first time.

The Cambridge Companion to Travel Writing is a broad, specially commissioned introduction to travel writing in English between 1500 and the present. Five essays survey the period's travel writing; six more focus on areas of particular interest--Arabia, the Amazon, Ireland, Calcutta, the Congo and California, while the final three analyze some of the theoretical and cultural dimensions of this enigmatic, influential genre of writing. An extensive further reading list plus a detailed chronology are included.

Written by a pre-eminent travel writer and bursting with invaluable advice, this inspiring and practical guide is a must for anyone who has ever yearned to turn their travels into saleable tales. Packed with insider hints and tips, practical writing exercises and examples of travel writing excellence, this guide helps you bring the dream job of Travel Writer within scribbling distance of reality. Discover The secrets of crafting a great travel storyHow to conduct pre-trip and on-the-road researchEffective interviewing techniquesHow to get your name in print (and money in your bank account)The quirks of writing for newspapers, magazines, online and booksExtensive listings of writers' resources & industry organizations

When thinking of intrepid travelers from past centuries, we don't usually put Muslim women at the top of the list. And yet, the stunning firsthand accounts in this collection completely upend preconceived notions of who was exploring the world. Editors Siobhan Lambert-Hurley, Daniel Majchrowicz, and Sunil Sharma recover, translate, annotate, and provide historical and cultural context for the 17th- to 20th-century writings of Muslim women travelers in ten different languages. Queens and captives, pilgrims and provocateurs, these women are diverse. Their connection to Islam is wide-ranging as well, from the devout to those who distanced themselves from religion. What unites these adventurers is a concern for other women they encounter, their willingness to record their experiences, and the constant thoughts they cast homeward even as they traveled a world that was not always prepared to welcome them. Perfect for readers interested in gender, Islam, travel writing, and global history, Three Centuries of Travel Writing by Muslim Women provides invaluable insight into how these daring women experienced the world--in their own voices.

Veteran travel writer Jacqueline Harmon Butler shows readers, one step at a time, how to research, write, and sell travel articles--but most importantly, she details what makes a travel article a winner. In this new edition, Butler updates her bestselling handbook for the 21st century with helpful tips on conducting Internet research, utilizing new advancements in digital photography and finding helpful applications on mobile phones. She also helps aspiring writers navigate the changing world of publishing by exploring blogging, new travel websites, and social media, all while discussing how best to expand your platform. She includes a brand new introduction to reflect the current state of the travel industry and the change in editors' needs. Butler covers all the nuts and bolts aspects of travel writing from pre-trip research, specific marketing strategies, and even includes 12 formats for travel articles with sure-fire appeal to editors and readers. She gives insightful and often humorous advice on pre- and post-trip topics like: * How to target your market before you begin * How to save time by doing background research before you leave * How to write queries and get assignments in advance * How to find new angles for overworked subjects * What to take along--from video equipment and laptops to travel documents * How to set up and conduct successful interviews * How to take advantage of freebies and junkets without "selling out" * How to sell what you write--and then sell it again