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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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

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!)

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

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

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...

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...

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

REMINDER: this free webinar is TOMORROW. All travel writers / editors welcome! PRs, you're allowed in too! It should be a brilliant, enlightening discussion! travelwritingwebinars.com/product/free...

Is there anything quite as delightful as a (fake) log fire when it's 4°C outside?

If you're an author or publisher with a book of travel/place writing coming in 2025, please let me know via deskboundtraveller.com so that I can include it in a roundup like this one: deskboundtraveller.com/words-from-t....

Read me if you want to learn about pitching travel stories to non-travel mags 👇🏻

I'm really looking forward to watching this on Thursday and best of all (in addition to the wonderful Jen, Amanda and Charukesi being on the call) is that it's donations based, so you can pay what you want for their sage advice. Sign us 👇🏻

I'm curious to see the results of this survey, so if you're a freelancer, make sure you complete it!

Sign up to attend Thursday's webinar, which will help you wrap up 2024 and start planning for 2025

I rarely get personal in my writing, but it was a delight to write this piece for @inews.co.uk about how my trip to Sicily was the perfect antidote to a failed relationship. Featuring Catania's obsession with Saint Agnes' boobs: inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

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...

Followed by the only British politician that matters

🌟 BLACK FRIDAY OFFER 🌟 I run an online course on how to become a travel writer and for anyone who enrols by midnight on Monday 2 Dec, you'll get a free 1-2-1 Pitch Clinic session where we offer advice on how to level up your travel pitches. talkingtravelwriting.teachable.com/courses/how-...

I've just spent half an hour digging out who I used to follow on The App That Shall Not Be Named. We're sticking on this platform now, right?

And then they follow up about ten times. No, please stop!