Each month I spend a lot of time researching online—whether it’s for blog posts, articles, presentations or books. And in that quest for travel writing inspiration and information I often stumble across articles, podcasts, books, news or newsworthy events worth sharing. Take a look at what you may have missed this month.

October 2019 Travel Writing Roundup

Travel Writing Competition

Enter the Irish Times Travel Writing Competition

You still have a few days left to enter The Irish Times Travel writing competition: My holiday adventure. Entries close on November 4th, 2019 – and as entries are limited to 500 words, you have enough time to whip up your entry. Check the entry requirements to make sure you qualify.

How you tell it is as important and the story you tell. If you can convey atmosphere and drama, write dialogue, avoid cliché and tell a good story in 500 words or less … you might just win.

Don’t forget we also feature a list travel writing competitions here.

Travel Writing Article

Get inspired for NaNoWriMo with this list of Nonfiction Prompts

Londoner turned wanderer, Frances M. Thompson of As the Bird Flies, has created a list of 100 prompts to get you inspired for NaNoWriMo. She’s included 31 Non-Fiction Preptober Prompts especially for writers of memoirs, a self-help book, a how-to guide, or an essay. And if you’re planning on writing a travel guide, her list of prompts can’t fail to inspire.

Preptober is the month of October and a month of preparation, specifically for participating in NaNoWriMo. Even though this annual writing sprint is aimed primarily at fiction authors, there’s a group, affectionately call NaNoWriMo Rebels who join in the fun and write nonfiction, poetry, or edit a book rather than writing fiction.

Travel Writing Article

You don’t have to travel far to be a travel writer

This was the month I discovered Great Escape Publishing, and read an article by Mary Charlebois who shared three benefits of writing locally. It’s a good reminder that you don’t have to travel far to find inspiring places and people to write about.

If you’re looking for guest blogging opportunities, take a look at the Great Escape Publishing writing guidelines.  I’ve also added them to my list of 150+ Travel Blogs Accepting Guest Posts.

Travel Writing Podcast

The Travel Writer’s Field guide is hosted by travel writers Phoebe Smith (From Our Correspondent, Wanderlust) and Daniel Neilson (Time Out, The Great Outdoors, Sidetracked), and is a monthly podcast that accompanies the book of the same name. Episode Seven is about Land of Contrasts – the cliché in travel writing.

The Travel Writer’s Field Guide is a book about travel writing, how to write well, and how to get published. It’s currently on preorder, due to ship in November. It’s full of gorgeous illustrations and has reignited my desire to illustrate my own books!

Travel Writing Book

Need some travel book ideas?

This month The Broke Backpacker’s Will Hatton updated his ultimate list of the 50 best books to read while traveling. I don’t know about you, but I love the travel genre. Whether it’s travel guides, travel memoirs or travel narratives. There’s plenty of inspiring books on this list.

Did you discover a useful or inspiring travel writing article? Please share the link below. Anything to do with travel writing is fair game.