In this three-session generative craft class, we will study travel stories published in magazines—inspirational articles, service stories, reported features, best-of lists, and more—to better understand the anatomy of different types of articles and how they function, thereby learning to create travel stories of our own.

We will distinguish between a first-person travel essay and a personal essay about travel: The latter privileges the self, emphasizing the writer’s intellectual and emotional discoveries; the former shifts its focus slightly, prioritizing instead the reader’s immersion in an exciting elsewhere by telling the story of that place—be it the local culture, history, environment, cuisine, or community. More than a matter of semantics, these distinctions help us as writers to find multiple ways to tell a tale, navigate the power dynamics between a journalist and their subject, and sell an article to an editor for publication.

The first session will be devoted to developing story ideas through discussions of short articles (print and digital), as well as generative and brainstorming exercises. The second will focus on the fundamentals of how to write a first-person travel essay and dedicated close-readings of reported features to scrutinize their craft, e.g. the use of the narrative “I” in travel magazine writing, tried-and-true story “formulas,” and basic reporting techniques. The third will be dedicated to a “pitch symposium” where students will volunteer to share their ideas and get feedback from the instructor.

This class is for students who are new to travel writing or those who wish to hone their skills in narrative place-based nonfiction. No prior writing experience is required. Potential authors to be read in and outside of class include Maggie Shipstead, Gary Shteyngart, Saki Knafo, Ligaya Mishan, Stephanie Danler, Mary Holland, Betsy Andrews, Chris Schalkx, Christine Chitnis, and others. Each session will end with a short Q&A.

The Art of the Travel Essay | Led by Matt Ortile