Radio Ga Ga

The last couple of months have seen some big changes for me – least of all a major change of address (more on that in my next post), but also a move off the page and onto the airways. Since early February I've been a regular contributor to ABC Radio North Coast's Thursday travel segment, Planes, Passports and Postcards. At around 10am (EST in Australia) on every other Thursday you'll hear me chatting with Joanne Shoebridge about various travel related topics from what to do when things go wrong to giving you the lowdown on some of my favourite travel destinations. Stay tunned for the next segment on Thursday 19 April.

New Travel Writing Workshop

I'm holding a new Travel Writing Workshop for the Northern Rivers Writers' Centre this March. On this one day workshop you'll learn how to give yourself the best possible chance to earn an income from your adventures.

Travel writing is about engaging the reader and making the travel experience as real and exciting as possible. It's also about selling your work to publishers. This workshop will introduce participants to the requirements of this style of writing, from choosing destinations, to writing the article, to selling your work. Travel photography will also be discussed.

Where: SCU room, Byron Community Centre
When: Sunday, 18 March
What time: 10.00am-4.00pm
Cost: $70 NRWC members; $85 non-members

Only a few places are still available, so don't miss out. Contact the NRWC for details.

Ethiopia: Of feasts & famines

Where in the world is Kim, I hear you ask? Yes, sadly my blog has been dormant for the last couple of months. The main reason being that I have been very busy travelling around Ethiopia updating the Bradt Travel Guide to the country. While I do plan to make some big changes with this site for the coming year, in the meantime if you want to catch-up with my Ethiopian explorations you can view more of my photographs from my trip on my Wild Writing fanpage. The above s a picture of the Blue Nile Falls.

PCFCT Guest Speaker Announcement

I'm happy to announce the first guest speaker for the upcoming Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat - James Bainbridge. Since his first Lonely Planet gig in 2005 - updating the Togo & Benin chapters of West Africa – James has contributed to 20-plus guidebooks and coffee table books ranging from India to Ireland. He's the senior author of LP's guides to South Africa, Turkey and Morocco. James has also written for a range of publications, including Time Out South Africa and Mango's inflight magazine, and last year presented the TV series Lonely Planet's Best in China. Originally from the UK, he's been based in Cape Town for a year. James is aptly leading our session on 'Seeking Eden on a Lonely Planet: The ins and outs of guidebook authoring'. You can find out more about him here.

Byron Bay Writers Festival

It's that time of year again when Australia's writing community converges on Byron Bay for the annual Byron Bay Writers Festival. There are only three sleeps left until it kicks of this Friday, 5 August. This year I'm thrilled to say I am making the transition from festival goer to festival panellist. I'll be offering my insights on the topic 'Why travel broadens the mind – and creativity' along with Adrienne Ferreira & Julietta Jameson, author of Me, Myself & Lord Byron. Our panel - chaired by Michael Pelusey- is on Friday, 5 August from 4pm-5pm in the Red Tent. Hope to see you all there!

New Travel Writing Workshop

You asked for it. You've got it. Following the 2011 Byron Bay Writers Festival - where I'll be a guest speaker on a panel on 'Why travel broadens the mind & creativity' - and before I take off for Ethiopia, I will be running a new one-off, one-day Travel Writing Workshop.

Date: Tuesday, 9 August
Time: 10am-4pm
Location: A&I Hall Bangalow
Cost: $65/$55 Concession
Bookings: 0400 887 991 or kim[at]wildwriting[dot]com[dot]au.

Feedback from my previous workshops include:

"Kim has a lovely presence & communicates exceptionally well - I like the ways she structured the workshop to lead us step by step through the process from thinking about the idea to how to get it published, as well as challenging us to actually write during the workshop. Her feedback on our efforts was very generous, positive and helpful." Virginia Clarke, Byron Bay

"Kim, I would recommend your workshops to any aspiring writers. Your experience and the friendly atmosphere made the weekend a very engaging learning experience." Sue Evans, Northern Rivers

"Kim Wildman lead a clear and inclusive travel writing workshop which not only focused on the skills of writing and storytelling but the business of travel writing and having your work published. A fun and valuable course by an experienced travel writer." Holly Galbraith, Go Future Media

"Excellent! The course was very useful and exceeded my expectations." Amy Dalguish, Travel Editor, Total Travel

"Inspirational and dynamic presenter. Engaging real life experiences of her travels and success in travel writing."

"A shame the workshop is over – onto the hard work now!"

STOP PRESS: Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat now more affordable than ever!

Due to overwhelming demand, the Postcards from Cape Town Travel Writing Retreat is now being offered as a non-residential retreat. This means participants can stay anywhere in the city, bringing down the price down to a very affordable $600 (R4,500) per person. Participants will of course have to provide their own transport to/from Dunkley House, where we'll meet for workshops, and local restaurants.

Held from 5-9 September the retreat will take participants on a travel writing journey through the sights, sounds and scents of Cape Town. During the day we'll explore some of the city's most famous sights practising writing and researching skills learnt in workshops. Come the evenings, we’ll enjoy the tastes and flavours of the city’s best restaurants along with the company and conversation of leading travel writers, photographers, authors and editors.

If that's not enough, MSN NZ, the international media portal for the MSN Network in New Zealand, has offered to publish the best travel articles written during the course of the week on their popular Travel Bite website. So not only will you experience what it takes to be a travel writer, you might even get published! See the attached brochures for more details.

Any participants who choose to stay at Dunkley House, where workshops will be held, will be offered a 10% discount on accommodation.

If you need any more information I can be contacted on kim[at]wildwriting[dot]com[dot]au or you can visit my website.