Travel Writing

In this course, we will learn new ways of bearing witness to our rapidly changing world so that we can turn any journey into a travel narrative. We will start with deep readings and discussions of travel literature throughout the ages--from Ibn Battuta's medieval adventures to Robyn Davidson's 1,700 mile trek across the Australian Outback with camels. Through craft talks and writing prompts, we will then devise methods to weave our observations, conversations, and reportage into story arcs that recreate the places pivotal to our lives through sensory detail. We will also debate the ethical dilemmas inherent to this genre.