The course
The Matador U writing course lasts for 12 weeks and is divided into 12 modules that are released for access each week. However, there is no pressure to keep up this pace, as the course material and forum access are for life.
Chapter Breakdown
1. Travel writing
This section covers how travel writing became popular, how it got its start, and where the industry stands today. It highlights typical opportunities available both offline and online in traditional and new media.
2. Understand the structure of writing
The chapter explains different styles of writing, what is appropriate, where, and what is the most important part of an article you have written. This is ‘classic’ for a writing course and an important foundation.
3. Bring Your Storytelling Voice to Life
It’s not about “finding your voice” as such, but about making the most of what you have and adapting it where necessary. I found this section a bit weak and it took me away from how I normally write. But in that sense (effectively forcing experimentation in my writing) I found what I was comfortable with and therefore the best.
4. Forms of history
Working with standard narrative forms and structures is another essential part of writing. Using usual forms of storytelling (fiction) but applying their own (travel) experiences to them. I found this chapter to be another experiment based on chapter 3.
5. How to prepare for a paid assignment
The things you might overlook behind a writing job. Research, planning and launch. The things that you don’t get paid directly for, but that you have to do. In effect, the ‘paperwork’ of writing.
6. Think like a publisher
Editors aren’t just looking for sympathy here, they teach you how to make their life easier, and that means you’re more likely to catch their eye and get your work published.
7. Myths and Realities
If they publish this chapter, they may not get as many registrations. This chapter takes down the glamor associated with travel writing in its various forms, prepares you mentally for the problems you’ll encounter in the future, and highlights the amount of effort you’ll need to put in.
8. How to manage writing tasks
With all that writing work coming your way, being freelance and self-sufficient, you need to manage yourself. This chapter will cut to the chase and lay out how to keep as many people happy as possible so that your career as a travel writer works.
9. Use of social networks
Using social media to promote your writing and personal branding is a very broad topic, and the chapter is short. Which is a shame, as mastering it will take your writing to very high levels much faster than has historically been possible. It’s more of a “learn how the internet works these days” chapter than how to master things.
10. New Media, Your Blog and SEO
I personally wish this chapter was earlier in the course. It encourages creating a blog and setting up your own writing and online presence around it. This is not just good advice, but the best advice (currently) for an online presence. SEO is also covered: learning how to make it easier for search engines to find you.
11. Travel Writer Tools
This is mostly crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s for an individual who wants to be a travel writer. The main message is to familiarize yourself with cameras, audio recorders, camcorders, and laptops and how they will become a part of your life.
12. Living the dream
The last 11 chapters have been effective training in how to be a modern travel writer. This chapter brings it all together and makes it possible to cover the rest of the lifestyle.
Additional material
Student forums are where you can share your thoughts with other students and where editors come together to oversee everything. It’s also where you can showcase your writing and get critiqued from Matador’s editors.
This is a key point of the course and Something you’ll be hard-pressed to find elsewhere. Direct feedback on your recent work from modern editors and other alumni is valuable in itself and the fastest way to improve your writing. I found them to be honest and accurate in their assessments.
What shouldn’t be underestimated about that interactivity is the instantaneous network it also creates. It’s a lesson not mentioned in the course, but the more friends you have, the easier it will be to succeed as a travel writer.
Matador U gives you this network of friends. It works well, better than many spaces, because you’re paying and they all have something in common; It’s a different level than participating in larger free forums or on Twitter.
Tea marketing opportunities are another added extra. This is a separate blog from MatadorU that lists opportunities to test your travel writing skills for real. Not just writing jobs, but also odd jobs that add value to the course and help recoup your investment in the course.
Matador U Writing Course Review Summary
The course is quite proficient, concentrating not only on travel writing, but also on life as a travel writer in the modern world. Along with guidance on how to write, they detail how to publish, build a blog with a following, promote your work, and talk about the importance of photography in addition to writing.
There is plenty of material out there on how to do this, from travel writing to blogging to SEO work to publishing to photography. Finding it all in one area, like an ebook, is one way to save time, but organizing it all into a course format with genuine human help is a bigger commitment that’s more likely to be worth it if you’re willing to put in the effort.
