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Frequently asked questions

Travel Writing Scholarship 2020

In partnership with:

Selina
Bamba
Toad&Co

This opportunity is now closed.

Eligibility

  • I'm not from an English speaking country. Can I still apply?
    The scholarship is open to all nationalities. However, you must have an exceptionally high degree of proficiency in written English to be considered for the scholarship. Please note: you do not need to supply an English proficiency certificate to apply.
  • Can professional writers apply? Am I considered a professional writer?

    The scholarship is not open to professional writers of any kind. Essentially this is a 'learning opportunity' for someone who is looking for an introduction into the travel writing industry and more importantly, is keen to be mentored.

    We would consider you to be professional writer if you have been published regularly in commercial blogs, newspapers, magazines or journals. We would also consider you to be a professional writer if you derive more than 25% of your income from writing of any kind.

    If you have only had a few stories published, or keep a regular travel blog then we would not consider this professional.

    Please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started.

  • Do I need a current passport? What about visa requirements?
    You do need a current passport with at least six months left before expiry. We'll assist the winner in acquiring a visa and reimburse all associated costs. However, the applicant must be eligible to obtain a visa to travel to Panama.

Applications

  • Will my travel story be available for the public to view?

    Yes, your travel story will be publicly displayed on our website. Please don't share personal details or anything you would mind your mother reading in this section!

    If you would like your travel story removed from the World Nomads website please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the title of your entry. Please note, your personal information and contact details will not be made public.

    You can apply with a pseudonym if you don't want your full name visible on the post. Preferably in the following format: Preferred name. First initial of surname (eg. Ernest. H).

The trip

  • What will the scholarship winners receive?
    The successful applicants will receive the following:
    • Return economy airfare from the nearest international airport to Panama.
    • 4-day all-expenses-paid workshop with professional travel writer and scholarship mentor, Tim Neville in Panama hosted by Selina.
    • A 10-day all-expenses-paid trip in a specific part of the Caribbean, courtesy of bamba.
    • $500 worth of Toad&Co. sustainable travel apparel and gear.
    • Portfolio review of content produced on the trip by National Geographic Editor-at-large Norie Quintos.
    • The cost of any relevant visas and vaccinations and travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.
  • What are the trip dates?

    Given the current impact COVID-19 is having on international travel and the widespread health implications, the winners' trip which was originally planned for September may have to be postponed. In this case, we'll work with the winners and other parties to ensure the workshop and solo trips still take place at a future date.

  • What will I be doing during the workshop?
    Under the mentorship of professional travel writer Tim Neville, the winners will learn how to find a great story, create solid pitches, improve their writing skills and gain a better understanding of the travel writing industry.

Troubleshooting

Have a question? Ask us below. 

Please note, due to the large number of questions we receive, any question already answered in the above FAQ section or within the comments section will not be answered again.

32 Comments

  • Amy said

    I have a young daughter that I wouldn't be able to leave for 10 days - would there be anyway to bring her along if I won?

    ---
    Hi Amy,

    Unfortunately we can't allow anyone but the winners on the trip.

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Tuğba Dilan Yıldız said

    It is great to support young people with such an application

  • Tijana said

    Will the winners be completely on their own during the winning trip? Or will there be a guide of some sort, someone to be with them in case of any trouble?

    ---
    Hi Tijana,

    On the trip each of the winners will be on a bamba tour where there will be a guide present. There will also be opportunity for free time if they wish.

    Good luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Carolina Alves said

    I would like to know if the text that we need to write (the one with the 700 words) about a travel experience it's about an experience that we already lived or is an experience that we'd like to live.

    ---
    Hi Carolina,

    The brief is to write about an experience you've had.

    Good luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Tanya said

    Hello,

    I'm an older person who would like to get back into writing after a career in a different field. Can I submit something I wrote a long time ago? In the off-chance I won, the goal would be to improve on my 30-year old writing and to learn what an older traveler can offer to the travel writing community.

    ---
    Hi Tanya,

    You may submit a piece you have previously written. However if you were previously a professional writer then it may affect you eligibility to win. If you're concerned you can email scholarships@worldnomads.com with more information on your previous experience in writing.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Lujain said

    Peace be upon you...
    I haven't had any experience of traveling in my life except my journey to a country near mine . What can I write in my Story? Can I explain my single journey? and can I write about a journey that I have made in my dreams? Please tell me exactly what I should write in my story in order to be a good writing .

    ---
    Hi Lujain,

    We require the stories to be about a travel experience you've had in your life – and it doesn't have to be of a journey far from home. For guidance on how to improve your writing, check out mentor Tim Neville's Art of Travel Writing Guide: https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/guides/art-of-travel-writing-guide.

    Best of luck,
    - Bec. World Nomads

  • Sally Smith said

    Would the winners retain the copyright of their stories after the competition (e.g. if they wish to use the story in a manuscript on which they're working, or to submit to another publication or competition)?

    Likewise, would a story which has already been entered into another competition (in an amended form) be eligible to be entered into this competition?

    ---
    Hi Sally,

    Good question. The writers will maintain the rights to their work and so can publish it elsewhere after the scholarship. As long as you have maintained the rights to your work when it was entered into the other competition then yes you may still apply with a that story.

    All the best,
    Bec

  • Sophie said

    Hello,

    Does the piece have to be a full story or would an extract of a story be accepted?

    Thank you!
    Sophie

    ---
    Hi Sophie,

    The story needs to stand alone as it's own piece as that is all the judges will be able to read. So you might have to edit the extract to work for this scholarship.

    Best of luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • salma said

    Hello, i didn't travel much actually accept with my family and I went to a school trip when I was child will that be count as a story to submit ?? And will the scholarship cover for the flight tickets from and to my country or we need to pay??
    Thank you

    ---
    Hi Salma,

    You can write about any travel experience you've had. But remember you don't have to be far from to find a great travel story, it could just be of a short trip somewhere new. And yes we pay for the flights there and back for you.

    Good luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Oriana said

    Hello! If I didn't have a current passport but were able to get one before the trip in case I won, woul I still be able to participate?

    ---
    Hi Oriana,

    You can still apply but if you do win, you will need a passport by latest a month after the winner announcement (30 April) so we are able to organise the trip as planned.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Rhoda Mae Realda said

    Hi, can I use my husband as the subject of my story? Can I write about his travel experience instead of mine?

    Thanks!

    ---
    Hi Rhoda,

    The brief is to write a story of an experience you've had, as we are looking for aspiring travel writers who will be writing about their own experiences in the Caribbean. We find the best stories draw on details from personal experience. So try think of an interesting angle you can take on an experience you've had for yourself.

    Good luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Sridevi N said

    Hi,

    I am a Public relations professional based in India. Will I be eligible for this scholarship?

    ---
    Hi Sridevi,

    Read the 'am I considered a professional writer' question in the eligibility section. If you still aren't sure send more details of the writing requirements of your job and what kind of writing you've done in the past to scholarships@worldnomads.com.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Preeti Nangal said

    Hello,
    Does the travel write-up necessarily need to be about an international trip or it could be about domestic travel as well? Given my financial circumstances, international travel has not been possible but I have had very interesting domestic travel experiences.

    ---
    Hi Preeti,

    Yes you can write about a domestic travel experience. You don't need to cross borders to find a great story.

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Nibedita Mandal said

    The theme for writing has been given. So shall I use the same theme as the heading for my story or should I give another name to my story?

    ---
    Hi Nibedita,

    You'll be able to select which theme you have chosen when you apply so there's no requirement for you to use the theme as the title of your story.

    Best of luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Pamella Santos Simioni said

    Hi! Can I quote the name of a website where I structured my trip? In this case, I would like to talk about a trip I took on WWOOF ... Thank you!

    ---
    Hi Pamella,

    Yes you can. Good luck!

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Brittany said

    Hi,

    I was wondering if stories submitted by writers in their 30s and up are actually/seriously considered? It seems as though most (if not all?) of the previous winners were in their twenties.

    Thank you.

    ---
    Hi Brittany,

    Yes of course, we don't see age as something to stop you from pursuing a career in travel writing if it's your passion. If you look across all our scholarship programs we have had winners from a wide range of ages.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Sarah-Maria Merz said

    Hey there,

    by who and how will the winners be choosen?

    Lots of love

    Sarah

  • Ryan said

    Hi Bec

    I only saw this competition recently and so I am writing at top speed for it now. Can it be guaranteed that entries close to the deadline are considered with the same attention as earlier entries? I fear that the judges's/screening staff's eyes will be understandably tired after going through all thousands of entries submitted prior.

    Thanks very much!

    Kind regards,
    Ryan

  • Joy said

    Hi there,
    I just wanted to ask if it was fine to write about two different places that were both during one trip?

    Thanks!

    ---
    Hi Joy,

    Yes you can, just make sure your story captures a particular experience rather than a general summary of a trip. If you do choose to write about more than one country, select the location of the story as the one where the majority of your trip takes place.

    Good luck!
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Natalie said

    Hi Bec, can I make a story up or maybe add some details? Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of travel experience.

    Have a nice day :)

  • Leanne S said

    Hi, I don’t have a laptop. I have a desktop at home that’s more than capable of submitting the application but, will I need a laptop on the trip? Will there be one provided by any stroke of luck?

    ---
    Hi Leanne,

    We'll work with the winners to make sure they've got everything they need to get the most out of the trip. Don't let lack of laptop stop you from applying.

    Good luck,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Sarah-Jayne said

    Hello,

    Is it okay to write a story that happened to you a long time ago? I have a story that happened to me in 2008, but it still has relevance in terms of the message of the piece.

    Many thanks,

    Sarah-Jayne

    ---
    Hi Sarah-Jayne,

    Yes that's fine. Good luck!

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Phoebe said

    Hi, what time do applications close?

  • James Greenland said

    Hi. The competition is not open to professional writers, who derive 25% of their income from writing of any kind.

    What about someone who was previously employed as a newspaper reporter - who has never had travel writing published - and who has not worked In this industry for the past 6 years?

    Cheers.

    James

    ---
    Hi James,

    We'd need more information on this to make a call. It would depend on your position within the newspaper and how often you were published. Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with links and this further information. With the deadline so close you will need to do this as soon as possible so we can get back to you in time.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Jo-Ann Rose Sanu said


    When I looked at the countdown today morning, there seemed to be a glitch and it didn't show any time left. But the applications were still open , so in a panic, I quickly submitted my draft piece. This was not the final version and I wanted to add more details and content.
    But when I looked at the countdown, after submission it showed that I still had 23 hours more.
    My story is titled a "Chai shop and contrasts."
    I wanted to inquire if I can submit the edited version that I had intended to submit in the remaining hours. I looked through the FAQ and I understand that editing after submission is not possible. But I'd like to know if any case by case consideration is possible.

    Thank you so much.

    ---
    Hi Jo-Ann,

    Given your circumstances we'll allow you to submit another application. Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the link to the application you would like removed.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Irene Brockie said

    Hi there!

    My story is written in the third person, but it is about an experience that I had. I've given 'myself' another name in the story.
    Is that ok?

    Thanks,

    Irene

    ---
    Hi Irene,

    We find stories that are written in first person are able to match the brief better. If your story has already been submitted then we can't allow any edits or changes at this stage.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Nicolette said

    Hi there!

    On the application, does the 'Country of the story' refer to the country that I am from or the country I wrote about?

    Thank you!

    ---
    Hi Nicolette,

    The country you wrote about. There is another place to fill in your country of residence in the application form.

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Raquel said

    Hello! Should we receive a confirmation email for our submission? Because I haven't received one and I'm afraid my submitted email had a typo...
    Thank you,
    Raquel

    ---
    Hi Raquel,

    Search for your application here: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2020/applications. If you can see it there then we have successfully received your application. You can email scholarships@worldnomads.com for us to check your email is correct.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • shakai said

    hey,
    I was wondering roughly what dat you expect to be shortlisting?


    Thanks in advance,
    Shakai

    ---
    Hi Shakai,

    It will be around early-mid April.

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Zulfiia said

    Hello,

    It seems like my application was submitted two times. They are completely same, looks just like an error. Is it alright or maybe I should do something with it?

    Thank you,
    Zulfiia

    ---
    Hi Zulfiia,

    Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with this issue and a link to the duplicate application.

    - Bec, World Nomads

  • Dave said

    Hi

    Please can you tell us who will read through all the entries? I don't think it will be possible for the three judges to read all of them.

    Thank you for running the competition!

    Dave

    ---
    Hi Dave,

    You're correct, the amount of entries we get would take a long time for just 3 people to go through. To manage this we review the applications internally to get the number to a more manageable amount.

    All the best,
    - Bec, World Nomads

  • World Nomads said

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for all your questions this year. The scholarship is now closed and this page will no longer be monitored for questions.

    Keep an eye out for the winners announcement on April 30, 2020.

    Best of luck to you all!

    - Bec, World Nomads

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