YOU'RE READY TO BECOME THE SUCCESSFUL TRAVEL WRITER YOU ALWAYS DREAMED OF, BUT THERE'S JUST ONE
PROBLEM...
Every time you scribble down an idea or go to pitch a story to an editor, you wonder if you’re actually good enough to make this work for real.
You flick through the pages of National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveller, drooling over beautifully written stories of trekking in the Himalayas, scuba diving in the Maldives and restaurant-hopping in Paris.
Wow, I'd love to do this, you think to yourself.
But then that feeling of self-doubt creeps in, and you scold yourself *again* for indulging in that crazy dream of writing your way around the world.
MY GUESS IS...
You dream of having a career that truly lights you up and lets you live a life of freedom, adventure and meaning.
You want to get published by your dream publications (oh hey, Nat Geo!), start getting paid to travel the world and write meaningful stories that you can truly be proud of.
BUTTTTT, when it comes to finding ideas to pitch to editors, you feel like everything you come up with has already been done or just kinda sucks – and that feeling of defeat comes rushing back.
You tell yourself:
I'm not good enough.
I don't have the time or money to do this.
The industry is too competitive.
HERE WE GO AGAIN...
You're told that to get published you need to travel full time, become an "expert" in your niche, or start a blog with thousands of readers for editors to notice you.
But going off travelling without any confirmed commissions feels RECKLESS, and building a blog or niche takes YEARS. What if it all comes to nothing and you’re left with no job and no money at the end of it?
Then there’s the responsibility you have to your partner, family and friends – what will they think if you quit your *stable* job to go travelling for a career you don’t even know will work out yet?
Heck, you don't even know if this travel writing thing is a proper job.
Can you really get paid to travel the world?
You’re feeling totally overwhelmed trying to figure everything out on your own,
piecing bits of information together from the internet without knowing if it’s actually getting you where you want to go.
You start to feel like you're not brave or resilient enough to make it as a travel writer; like it's all just too much of a risk.
So you go back to plan A, getting another University degree or training in something "more stable" while you "figure things out". Maybe you even go back to that 9-5 job you hate.
YOU'RE NOT GIVING UP – YOU'RE SIMPLY WAITING FOR A "BETTER TIME" AND KEEPING YOUR "OPTIONS OPEN" IN CASE THINGS DON'T WORK OUT.
But months, and then years, go by...
Having no time to pitch your ideas, you’re still no closer to becoming the travel writer you know you were always meant to be. And with every passing day, you feel less and less worthy of pursuing your travel writing dreams.
OK, I WANT TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE
I've been exactly where you are – and I know how frustrating this whole process can be.
HEY, I'M JESS!
I’ve spent the last five years travelling the world writing award-winning stories for publications like National Geographic, the BBC, Conde Nast Traveler, Vogue, Travel + Leisure and many more.
Woah. Saying that out loud still feels crazy to me. Like, what?!
Along the way – and plenty of trial and error – I've learned that being a successful travel writer (or any kind of freelance writer, really) comes down to two key factors:
1. How well you understand your dream publications
2. How you deliver your story idea to editors
Now, I’m not saying that being a travel writer is easy, or that I don’t have my own f*ck ups from when I was starting out.
Pitching a luxury travel story idea to a budget backpacker magazine?
✅ CHECK
Freaking out on my first job because I didn't know how to interview or take notes?
✅ CHECK
Having to rewrite an entire piece because I had no idea how to write a travel feature?
✅ OOOOSH, CHECK AGAIN
THE THING IS... I WAS PUNCHING IN THE DARK
When I was starting out five years ago, I had...
❌ No journalism degree
❌ No contacts in the media industry
❌ No in-house experience working for a publication
❌ No writing portfolio
❌ No professional writing experience
Ouch.
When I turned to the internet for help, I found advice to be confusing, and often contradictory. To be honest, I had no idea if I was even asking Google the right questions.
I spent YEARS (!) coming up with ideas and pitching editors, only to hear nothing back. And want to know the worst part?
IT DIDN'T NEED TO BE THAT HARD.
YES, BREAKING INTO TRAVEL WRITING ISN'T EASY. BUT IT’S ALSO A JOB THAT BRINGS IMMENSE JOY, ALLOWING US TO LEARN ABOUT THE WORLD, TICK OFF BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES AND SHARE THE MOST INCREDIBLE STORIES.
So credit to you for refusing to settle for a "normal" 9-5 desk job and jumping straight into the deep end…
Maybe you dropped $$$ on a trip to South East Asia without knowing if you’d get a commission out of it. Or maybe you sent your first-ever story idea to National Geographic to test your pitching skills (woah, bold!).
BUT THIS FEELING YOU'RE BATTLING WITH RIGHT NOW...
The one where you're constantly telling yourself you're not good enough and blaming a lack of time and money – and perhaps even the industry itself – for never quite achieving your dreams...
Yeah, it's got to go.
Because if you're going to make it in the travel media industry, you’ll need to focus on the things you can control, which is to position yourself as a confident writer worthy of landing that commission.
And sure, maybe confidence feels like it'll come from spending thousands on a journalism degree, writing guest articles for free to “gain exposure”, or waiting for an internship at a magazine or newspaper that might never materialize...
But true confidence comes from knowing how to identify the perfect story for your target publication AND mastering the art of packaging that idea into an irresistible pitch.
It comes from knowing what kinds of stories you want to tell, showing up confidently in your pitch emails, and building a writing portfolio you’re truly proud of.
HERE'S WHAT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW...
Travel writing is one of the most sought-after jobs in the world, but very few make it past the pitching phase because:
01
They give up when they don’t hear back from editors, and take rejection as a personal reflection of their worth as a writer
02
They haven’t taken the necessary time and care to get to know the publications they want to write for
03
They haven't mastered the art of selling – or pitching – their story idea to the editor (this takes time, and A LOT of practice!)
Yeah, you read that right – most aspiring travel writers give up before they’ve even had the chance to write their first story.
BUT HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS
You don’t have to make the same mistakes that defeat most aspiring travel writers. With the right guidance, you can – and you will – achieve your travel writing dreams.
IMAGINE THIS...
What if I showed you, from start to finish, how to get your stories published in your DREAM publications so you can start getting paid to travel and write stories that truly light you up – WITHOUT having to quit your job (just yet) or spend your life’s savings on finding ideas to pitch to editors?
Even with all the free information out there, the travel writing industry can often feel like a closed book, open only to those with inside contacts, fancy qualifications and, well, a whole lot of privilege. It pains me that talented writers (like you) give up on their dreams before they've had a chance to explore their true potential.
SO WHAT IF A MULTI-AWARD-WINNING TRAVEL WRITER WHO’S ALREADY WALKED THE SAME PATH YOU’RE ON SHOWED YOU THE WAY?
*Access opens 9 September
And sure, you could go at it alone and spend years trying to piece it all together on Google & Youtube...
But I should warn you from my own experience: there is A LOT of information to sift through, and not all of it is sound advice. Besides, how will you know if you’re even asking the right questions?
The Travel Writing Academy is different—this is about giving you a solid foundation to become a truly successful travel writer who gets published *regularly* by the biggest names in the biz.
INTRODUCING
THE STEP-BY-STEP ONLINE COURSE THAT TAKES YOU FROM
BEGINNER TO PUBLISHED TRAVEL WRITER IN JUST 3 MONTHS
Your guide to finding and pitching story ideas, discovering who you're meant to be as a travel writer, and building a writing portfolio that will set you up for a lasting career in travel media.
*Access opens 9 September
WHETHER YOU DREAM OF...
Travelling to places you might never have gotten to see
Seeing your name in magazines you love reading
Changing the way people think about the world
Getting paid to experience new cultures
Writing stories you’re truly proud of
Turning your love of travel into a career or side hustle
Having the freedom to work from anywhere in the world
Living a life that truly excites you
I created The Travel Writing Academy to give you everything I wish I'd had when I was starting out, from how to pitch stories that editors actually want to crafting award-winning travel features.
INSIDE THE TRAVEL WRITING ACADEMY, YOU'LL LEARN EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT MAKING IT AS A TRAVEL WRITER FROM SCRATCH, LEARNING THE ART OF STORY IDEATION, PITCHING, NOTE-TAKING, FEATURE WRITING, EDITING & MORE.
More importantly, I'll personally guide you through the entire process, sharing everything I've learnt from going from zero experience to a multi-award-winning travel writer.
No fluff; no filler content; no holding back – just everything you need to get published and start getting paid to travel the world.
*Access opens 9 September
Here's what's inside The Academy...
MODULE 00
Introduction to Travel Writing
What are the different types of travel writing that exist today? How does being a freelance travel writer work? Get clear on what travel writing is, why it matters, and how you want to show up in the industry. You'll also learn the exact steps I took to go from zero experience to multi-award-winning writer.
MODULE 02
Pitching your Story
No more guessing how long your pitch should be, what you should include in it or who you should be sending it to. You'll get an inside look at my pitching strategy, from how I write the pitch (yep, you'll see the actual pitches I send to editors!) to how I find the right editor to pitch to.
MODULE 04
Writing a Travel Feature
How do you structure an award-winning travel feature? How do you create a sense of place and a strong narrative thread? This module covers everything you need to write a story you can be proud of, and that editors will love.
MODULE 01
Finding Your Story
We'll take a deep dive into how to study a publication, identifying its regular sections and themes so that you're pitching ideas that publications don't just want, but need. You'll also learn what makes a good travel story, and the methods travel writers use to find them.
MODULE 03
On Assignment
How do you plan a trip that hits the brief? How do you conduct high-quality interviews and make sure you're capturing all the right details while on assignment? In module three, we make sure you have everything you need to write a killer story, and have a great time doing it.
MODULE 05
Edits & Queries
What happens after you file your story? In this module, you'll learn how to manage edits and queries from editors accurately and professionally to keep them coming back for more.
Carefully curated video trainings, workbooks and templates to take you from beginner to published travel writer in just three months
MODULE 00
Introduction to Travel Writing
MODULE 01
Finding Your Idea
MODULE 02
MODULE 03
Pitching Your Idea
On Assignment
MODULE 04
MODULE 05
Writing a Travel Feature
Edits & Queries
Core curriculum value: £1,500 GBP
PLUS THESE THREE AMAZING
BONUSES
THE MASTERCLASS VAULT
Hear from travel editors, PR professionals & other celebrated journalists in the Masterclass Vault, an ever-growing collection of exclusive TWA podcast interviews to take your training to the next level.
Value: £535 GBP
COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP
Our private TWA community is where you can build connections, celebrate wins and get feedback and support from fellow students who know exactly what it's like to walk this path.
Value: £189 GBP
WEEKLY Q&A SESSIONS
Value: £670 GBP
For the first 8 weeks after you enroll, I'll be on hand to answer your questions and provide feedback on a weekly live group Q&A. This is your chance to get support from me and your fellow students in real time.
WHEN YOU ADD IT ALL UP
That's a total value of £2,894
Buttttt because I'm SO excited for you to be among the first students to join The Travel Writing Academy, you can PRE-ORDER the course at a very special early bird price of just....
ONE TIME PAYMENT OF
£499 GBP
*Access opens 9 September
HURRY! THIS IS A LIMITED-TIME OFFER
14-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE
PLUS, YOU'LL BE COVERED BY OUR
Take two weeks to sample some of the course content before committing to everything the Academy has to offer.
For the first 14 days after the Academy opens, you'll get access to the first two modules of the course, where you can learn what travel writing is, how being a freelance travel writer works, and how to find story ideas BEFORE making a final commitment to the Academy.
If after completing the first two modules (and all accompanying assignments) you feel you haven't learnt the skills you need to continue with the course, reach out to us. If you can show us that you've put in the work and the course just isn't the right fit, we'll return your money in full.
STILL UNDECIDED?
The Academy is for you if...
YOU'RE JUST STARTING OUT ON YOUR TRAVEL WRITING JOURNEY...
And you want to make sure you hit the ground running with a step-by-step, tried-and-tested roadmap that takes you from beginner to published writer.
YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR WRITING & TRAVELLING, BUT...
You have no clue how to find great story ideas, how to pitch to editors or write award-winning travel features that get you noticed.
GETTING PAID TO TRAVEL & EXPERIENCE THE WORLD IS YOUR DREAM, SO...
You're willing to put in the effort and do whatever it takes to achieve your goals, even if it takes time.
YOU'VE TRIED FIGURING IT ALL OUT ON YOUR OWN...
But you're tired of feeling confused and overwhelmed by all the conflicting information out there. You want to give this a proper shot, with a community of people who share your fire to get published.
IF YOU ANSWERED YES TO THE ABOVE...
I'm SO excited to welcome you to
The Travel Writing Academy
*Access opens 9 September
YOUR LIFE COULD LOOK LIKE THIS...
IN JUST THREE MONTHS
Your writing has been published professionally in one of your dream travel publications.
You're getting paid to spend a week hiking and snorkelling in the Galapagos, all expenses paid.
PRs and travel companies are reaching out to YOU, offering to take you on safari in Botswana or wine tasting in Chile.
You finally feel a sense of purpose in your life, telling stories that truly matter and broadening your own knowledge of the world.
You've taken control of your dreams, and you no longer blame external factors for your inability to succeed. This IS your moment.
20+ video trainings, workbooks and templates to take you from beginner to published travel writer in just three months
MODULE 00
Introduction to Travel Writing
MODULE 01
Finding Your Idea
MODULE 02
MODULE 03
Pitching Your Idea
On Assignment
MODULE 04
Writing a Travel Feature
MODULE 05
Edits & Queries
Core curriculum value: £1,500 GBP
PLUS THESE THREE AMAZING
BONUSES
THE MASTERCLASS VAULT
Hear from travel editors, PR professionals & other celebrated journalists in the Masterclass Vault, an ever-growing collection of exclusive TWA podcast interviews to take your training to the next level.
Value: £535 GBP
COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP
Our private TWA community is where you can build connections, celebrate wins and get feedback and support from fellow students who know exactly what it's like to walk this path.
Value: £189 GBP
WEEKLY Q&A SESSIONS
Value: £670 GBP
For the first 8 weeks after you enroll, I'll be on hand to answer any questions you might have on a weekly live group Q&A. This is your chance to get support from me and your fellow students in real time.