Teaching

In almost thirty years in the travel writing business, both as a freelance travel writer and an editor of hundreds of stories in the Travelers’ Tales book series, Larry Habegger has developed a fine eye for what makes a story work. He shares his knowledge at numerous writers conferences, writing workshops, and individual coaching sessions, both online and off.

New Classes

Writing Workshop Sailing off the Turkish Coast
Learn How to Craft a Travel Article, Write a Memoir and Publish Your Book
Larry Habegger will lead a seven-day writers workshop on the personal travel narrative aboard a traditional 82-foot gulet (a Turkish yacht) September 20-27, 2008. On this seven-day intensive workshop sailing on the Aegean Sea you’ll learn the ins and outs of crafting a superb story and how to bring your work to print, whether it’s a short essay or a book-length memoir. Larry will help you develop powerful stories with simple tools and plot the course to successful publication.

In this workshop you will learn how to:

• Unearth kernels of inspiration
• Find the right way in
• Create the ideal structure to give a story maximum substance and meaning
• Access memory to add depth and texture
• Use techniques of fiction to add drama and suspense
• Craft the perfect ending
• Edit to make the story a page-turner
• Develop the kind of book proposal publishers are eager to see
• Create the perfect marketing plan so your book will sell
• Write like a poet but think like a publicist

Daily writing exercises will help you find the focus of your story, and discussions will provide guidance for shaping and polishing. Participants will gain confidence about what makes a story work and how to make it shine in the marketplace.

The group workshop will be structured around our tour of the Turkish coast and will include:

• Maximum of 12 participants
• Emphasis on personal travel narrative and memoir, but open to other forms
• Hour-long group workshops each morning
• Daily one-on-one consultations with Larry
• Writing assignments to prime your pump
• Afternoons devoted to writing and exploring the Turkish coast
• Evening group reading and discussion of participants’ work
• Write about your Turkish experience, craft journal notes into compelling stories, develop material you’re already working on
• Come ready to write, share, learn, and have fun

And Much More…
We’ll begin in the internationally renowned resort of Bodrum and work our way down the Aegean coast and into the Mediterranean. You’ll see turtles nesting, sail past and hike among ancient ruins, visit Turkish villages, natural hot springs and a mud bath, explore inner waterways, and learn to write and get published. All while reveling in a classic Blue Voyage of legend. Turkey is a beautiful country, and Turks ooze with hospitality. Don’t miss this chance of a lifetime!

Want to know what the trip might be like? A few years ago John Flinn wrote a story for the San Francisco Chronicle about a journey on a similar vessel in the same area. Read it for the full flavor, sans the travel writing workshop.

Price: $2500 usd
Includes:

• Two hours minimum of instruction per day and private consultations with seasoned travel writer and co-editor of Travelers’ Tales Books, Larry Habegger
• Three delicious meals per day and all drinks
• All land and water excursions
• Use of a jet ski, kayaks, snorkel gear, and fishing rods
• Full use of a luxurious classic Turkish yacht constructed of African teak and brass, and shared with a maximum of 12 students and 3 Turkish crew members
• Shared accommodation in a large double cabin with a private bath
• Three Turkish crew members to make sure that the only work you do is write and play
• Airport transfers
• One night’s stay in the plush Marina Hotel in Bodrum, Turkey
• And last but not least, laughter, exploration and camaraderie galore

The price does not include round trip airfare to Bodrum, Turkey from whence we will depart on our boat on Saturday, September 20, 2008. We have scheduled the workshop during the travel “shoulder season” so that students may benefit from lower airfares. If you would like assistance booking an airline ticket, please email workshop organizer, Robin Sparks at robin@robinsparks.com.

This is a small intimate class of no more than 12, so don’t delay. Reserve your spot by sending your first installment of $1250 via PayPal.com to robin@robinsparks.com. Final payment of $1250 is due by June 1, 2008. Please purchase travel insurance as we are unable to issue refunds unless we can fill your spot.

For information about sailing along the ancient shores of Turkey with Larry, contact Robin Sparks at robin@robinsparks.com.

Sample Classes

Advanced Travel Writing Workshop in San Francisco
Larry conducted an advanced personal travel writing workshop in the fall of 2007 in San Francisco, a series of seven Wednesday nights beginning from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The group met at 4th and Townsend Streets across the street from the Caltrain station, a short block away from the Muni Metro stop and several bus lines, and for those who drove, there was ample free parking. The group had a minimum of six people and a maximum of ten.

In the first session everyone got to know each other, talking about their experience, goals, what they wanted to get out of the class, and, of course, the material they were working on. They also read and discussed some examples of superb writing. In the six subsequent sessions they worked on their stories in depth. Each week half the group sent a story to everyone for all to read in advance so they could be prepared for discussion in class. This way, each participant got three stories worked on over the seven weeks, and had the benefit of critiquing everyone else’s pieces.

After the seven weeks together this class transformed into a master class meeting every three weeks indefinitely.

Questions or comments to larry@LarryHabegger.com

The Personal Travel Story: Art, Craft, Inspiration
The best travel stories are really stories about life, with lessons for the writer and reader about ourselves and the people and places in our still magical world. Travelers’ Tales Executive Editor Larry Habegger helps you develop powerful stories with simple tools. Learn how to:

• unearth kernels of inspiration
• find the right lead
• create the ideal structure to give a story substance and meaning
• access memory to add depth and texture
• use techniques of fiction to add drama and suspense
• craft the perfect ending
• edit to make the story a page-turner

These techniques are valid both for short essays and longer narratives. In-class writing exercises help find the focus of the story and discussions provide guidance for shaping and polishing. Participants gain confidence about what makes a story work and the value of their own stories, and should come prepared with ideas they want to explore. The class includes advice on how to get your stories published, including market leads and submission guidelines. Larry Habegger is a founding editor of Travelers’ Tales and has helped edit virtually all of the company’s books. He has been on the faculty of the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference annually since 1994.

Writing Workshop Sailing off the Turkish Coast
Travelers’ Tales Executive Editor Larry Habegger led a writers workshop on the personal travel narrative for eight writers on a classic 82-foot gulet (a Turkish yacht) in June, 2006. He’s making plans to do so again in the summer or fall of 2008. Don’t miss out.

Want to know what the trip might be like? Four years ago John Flinn wrote a story for the San Francisco Chronicle about a journey on a similar vessel in the same area. Read it for the full flavor, sans the travel writing workshop. For information about sailing along the ancient shores of Turkey with Larry, contact Robin Sparks at robin@robinsparks.com or call via Skype at 415-697-5423.

Writers Workshop on the Canal du Midi in Southern France
Larry conducted a week-long intensive writers workshop July 24-30, 2005 on the Canal du Midi in Southern France. The voyage traversed portions of the historic Canal du Midi between Toulouse and Castelnaudary on Lurley, a classic 35-foot Dutch motor cruiser. Life slowed to a reflective pace as we leisurely motored along the shady tree-lined canal. We became part of the flow of four centuries of travelers through these hand-built stone locks. Between the vibrant city of Toulouse and the winding streets of Castelnaudary, we passed the sunflower and wheat fields of Languedoc, sampled local cheeses and feasted on traditional dishes such as cassoulet de Castelnaudery.

• The workshop was limited to five participants working with one instructor
• The emphasis in Larry’s workshop was personal travel narrative
• Ninety-minute group workshop each morning
• Daily one-on-one consultations with Larry
• Afternoons devoted to writing and exploration of the French countryside
• Evening group reading and discussion of participants’ work following dinner at local restaurants

For more information, go to canaldumidiwriters.com or contact Barbara Euser at (415) 454-7171 or bjeuser@hotmail.com.

Other Class Topics

Master Class
Once or twice a year Larry conducts an advanced personal travel writing workshop for in-depth study of the craft and close critiquing of each participant’s work. These classes usually run for seven weekly sessions and then transform into an ongoing master class that meets once or twice a month. Limited to ten writers. For information, write to Larry at Larry@larryhabegger.com.

The World of Travel Writing: An Introduction
For anyone wanting to find a way into what may be the world’s most romantic career.

Markets for Travel Writers
Where to sell your stories, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting them accepted.

So, you want to be an editor?
Career paths for entering the world of book publishing.

To book Larry for a class or work shop, email Larry@larryhabegger.com