Learn to improve your writing and make a living as a writer
I believe there’s a storyteller inside all of us.
The trick is getting it out.
If you are looking to improve your writing, land assignments that send you to the far reaches of the globe, successfully pitch editors, write a book proposal, or pen that bestseller, you’re in the right place.
Becoming a better writer takes practice but, most importantly, it takes a good teacher.
My name is Matthew Kepnes (a.k.a. Nomadic Matt) and I’ve been running the website Nomadic Matt since 2008. Since then, my website has become one of the top travel blogs in the world, with over 1.3 million visitors and I’ve written two books: Ten Years a Nomad and How to Travel the World on $50 a Day (a New York Times bestseller).
When you are traveling, living in a small town, or have limited funds, finding a writing teacher can be difficult. I know. When I started out, I looked high and low for a program that would help me improve my writing while I traveled.
But everything I found either required me to go to some college campus or didn’t have the one-on-one editing feedback that I knew would truly help me become a better writer.
That’s why I created this travel writing class.
Together, with travel writer David Farley, author of An Irreverent Curiosity, host for National Geographic, and former writing professor at Columbia and New York University, we will teach you how to write stories that people read, editors buy, and publishing houses publish.
David is considered one of the top travel writers in the country. He’s hosted a National Geographic Channel show, and his work has appeared in the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, AFAR, and countless other publications.
Through video lectures, interviews with successful travel writers and editors, detailed examples of edited stories, and sample book proposals and pitch letters, you’ll learn everything you need to improve your writing – from crafting a story to self-editing, improving your grammar, writing a book proposal, coming up with ideas, creating narrative arcs, and pitching editors.
Moreover, we offer something not found in other programs: copyedits and notes on your writing.
You will get detailed notes and feedback on your work so you can improve your story structure, self-edit, develop characters, and create stories that suck readers in.
What Our Students Are Saying
“Writing is a skill, and David Farley is an exceptional teacher. This travel writing course is everything you would expect out of a university course, except with the added luxury of doing it at your own pace in the comfort of your chosen environment. With tutoring, editing, writing examples, videos, advice, and feedback, being a part of this course is like having your own private writing mentor. It’s helped me improve my own writing, as well as helped me think like a writer and spot errors before I publish them!” – Toni
“David not only explains the ins and outs of what it means to be a travel writer but inspires and teaches his students to become professional storytellers. The feedback and insights David gave me on homework assignments have carried over into everything I’ve written since and have changed the way I read other people’s work, edit my own, and find ideas. The best part of all — the program actually gets you excited to sit down and write!” – Corey
Introducing:
Superstar Travel Writing
- The art of storytelling – Learn how to create the perfect story, how stories arc, and what captivates readers.
- Descriptive writing – Learn how to create a sense of place and descriptive stories that draw people in and create vivid, emotional stories.
- The creative process – Learn how to create stories and come up with ideas so you never face the dreaded “Writer’s Block.”
- How to self-edit – Editing is one of the hardest parts about writing. We’ll teach you how to properly revise your work, spot mistakes, and edit your work like a pro.
- How to get editors to call you back – You’re a great writer, so why don’t editors respond to you? We’ll show you the secrets to getting past an editor’s filters and get responses.
- How to submit winning book proposals – Want to create a winning book proposal? We’ll show you what to do, how to get an agent, and even give you David’s and Matt’s actual winning book proposals as examples.
- How to make money as a writer – We’ll teach you where to find work and what to charge so you can make a living as a writer. We include sample pitch letters so you know the format that works!
- How to write for the web – Writing for an online audience is a lot harder and more different than you think. We’ll give you the lowdown on how to succeed so you can be heard above the noise.
GET HANDS ON HELP AND FEEDBACK
Personalized Feedback on Your Work
Writing is a skill that requires practice and feedback. That’s why you’ll be able to submit your writing samples to us for edits. David and I will help you refine your writing, editing, and story planning so you become a better writer from day one. We will give you feedback on structure as well as copy edit your work so that you grow as a writer and land the gigs you want.
PLUS: Get 10+ Hours of Expert Interviews
With this program, you’ll get audio interviews with 12 award-winning writers and editors as they share their travel writing tips, failures, and successes with you. Additionally, every month, we add a new interview to our archives.
Don George
Travel Writer, Editor
Don has been a travel writer and editor for 40 years. In this interview, he talks about how to break into the industry, his early mistakes, and advice for new writers.
Stephanie Griest
Author
Stephanie is a writing professor at UNC. In this interview, she talks about how to write and pitch a successful book.
Carol Cain
Girl Gone Travel
Carol talks about creating a niche you can grow with, supporting your family on a freelancer’s salary, and the lack of diversity in travel writing.
Derk Richardson
Travel Writer, Editor
Derk is the former editor of AFAR magazine. In this interview, he discusses what writers can do to improve the quality of their writing and pitches.
Travis Levius
Freelance Writer
Travis Levius is a freelance writer and editor, content creator, and consultant based in London. He shares his tips on freelance writing with a specific focus on the luxury niche.
Jason Cochran
Editor, Frommers.com
Jason is an award-winning travel journalist and current editor of Frommers.com. In this interview, he discusses how to write service articles.
Caroline Kepnes
Author, You
Caroline shares her advice on how to create stories, develop a narrative arc, and write dialogue that engages and captivates the audience.
Rolf Potts
Author, Vagabonding
Rolf discusses his evolution as a writer, how to use traditional writing skills for the web, and finding unique story angles.
Seth Kugel
Author, Freelance Writer
Seth is a freelance writer and former NYT Frugal Traveler. In this interview, he shares his advice on pitching editors and crafting narratives.
Benét Wilson
The Points Guy
Benét is a writer and editor at The Points Guy. In this interview, she shares her tips and tricks for helping new writers find their footing as freelancers.
Thomas Swick
Author, The Joy of Travel
Thomas is the editor of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. In this interview, he covers the dual life of writing and editing.
Faith Adiele
Author
Faith Adiele is a travel memoirist and founder of the nation’s only writing workshop for travelers of color. She shares her tips and advice on writing travel memoir.
ARE YOU READY FOR A NEW PLAN?
This program will teach you how to craft the perfect story, improve your writing, self-edit, and enhance your research through video, writing samples, examples of edited work, and much more.
Our students have gone on to write for the New York Times, National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, and other publications. Many have even published books.
Even in a post-COVID 19 world, there is still a demand for incredible, powerful writing. Moreover, the number of channels out there makes it easy for you to chart your own path. Good writing is always in demand by consumers.
If you’re ready to take the leap, improve your writing, and chart a path to success, join our program and let us help you do so.
Let Us Help You like We’ve Done for Others
“This program surpassed any writing course I have ever taken in college, as a homeschool teacher, or as a travel professional. I really enjoyed the content and how it was presented, along with the fact that I could send in my writing for David and Matt to review and give feedback on. This program is really is the best of the best! Thank you, David and Matt!” – Whitney
“I noticed an immediate improvement in my writing after starting the program. David illuminates the fundamental concepts of travel writing in such a relatable way that you will be hard-pressed NOT to have a few lightbulb moments as you progress. From the nuts and bolts of grammar to research, composition, and marketing, David dives into it all. Moreover, the feedback David provided was extremely helpful in helping me identify and correct mistakes! If you want to understand the concepts behind the best travel writing in the world, this program is where to start!” – Christopher
“I took this program to learn the underlying physics of being a great travel writer. Through detailed notes and video tutorials mixed with bespoke and actionable feedback, I found this program suited me perfectly to find structure in my storytelling and also writing for the reader. Supported by a community of bloggers, I now have the confidence to tackle any writing task thrown at me.” – Warren
Meet Your Instructor
David Farley
David has been writing about travel, food, and culture for over twenty years. His work has appeared in AFAR magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Condé Nast Traveler, and World Hum, among other publications. In 2006 and 2013, he won Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers for magazine articles he wrote. He has lived in Prague, Paris, and Rome and now lives in New York City. He is the author of An Irreverent Curiosity and was a host for National Geographic as well as a writing professor at Columbia and New York University.