Turn your travel experiences into stories
Perhaps you have long wanted to write about a place that you love? Or maybe you
have a memoir in mind, one that moves across landscapes and cultures, capturing the
richness of travel.
This five-day travel writing course from 26-30th May, set in the peaceful countryside of the Algarve, is designed to help you develop the tools and the mindset to bring
your ideas to life.
What the course offers
Practical guidance on gathering material, structuring a narrative and refining your prose.
A focus on observation, learning how to see a place with a writer‘s eye.
A “roaming day” where participants explore the local countryside (on foot, by bicycle or by train) to capture impressions in writing.
Individual and group feedback sessions.
The setting is a rural retreat, surrounded by hills and orange groves, just a few
kilometres from the sea, a peaceful and inspiring environment for writing.
Who is leading the course?
Stephen Powell – Travel writer and journalist, formerly with Reuters for 27 years,
and author of books on travels in the South Caucasus and Portugal.
Masha Sereda – An experienced facilitator who works internationally, bringing a
strong focus on storytelling and engagement with the world.
Both have a lifetime of experience in writing and travel.
Practical details
Location: Casa Anatôlio, a rural venue in the eastern Algarve.
Accommodation: Participants will stay in Tavira, a historic coastal town about
7km from the venue.
Nearest airport: Faro, about 30 minutes away by taxi or train (to Tavira station).
Course fee: 500 euros (This is the cost of the course itself. Flights and
accommodation are not included.)
How to Register: Contact stephenpowellauthor@gmail.com for more details.
Why focus on travel writing?
This course is not just about improving writing skills. It is also about discovering why
travel writing matters. We draw inspiration partly from 19th century English art critic
John Ruskin, for whom beauty was key. Ruskin taught drawing to working men and
he wanted to go beyond technique. His fundamental aim, he said, was to develop in
his students a deeper appreciation of beauty. Writing works in much the same way.
To describe a place well, a writer must observe more carefully than the casual traveller,
noticing details and nuances that might otherwise go unseen. Travel writing fosters
this kind of attention, encouraging a more engaged relationship with the world.
Some writers set out with a clear theme ahead of their travels, as Edmund de Waal
does in 'The White Road', which traces the history of porcelain, or as Colin Thubron
does in 'The Amur River', a journey along the border between Russia and China.
Others allow themes to emerge naturally, as in Vasily Grossman‘s 'An Armenian
Sketchbook' or Beryl Markham‘s 'West with the Night', her memoir of an extraordinary
childhood in Kenya and pioneering feats of aviation.
These books illustrate the variety and richness of travel writing and participants are
encouraged to read them before attending the course.
Whether writing for publication, for family or for personal enjoyment, this course will provide the inspiration, structure and support to help bring your stories alive.