Blogs from Camberwell, Greater London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

One door opens, another door closes - I didn't get selected for the finalists of the 2011 Royal Geographical Society/BBC Journey of a Lifetime award, which I was hoping would kickstart my research on secondhand clothing in Bolivia (I got shortlisted again but no cigar), but I have won the 2011 Raffles Hotel writing competition! The prize is a six night stay in their gaffes in Singapore and Cambodia, valid until December 2012; but in honesty the real prize is being recognised for some nice writing, and I'm hoping that this will lead to some commissions in travel journalism in 2012. My entry was a shortened version of my Travelblog about my trek to Macchu Picchu - here it is below (you can read the full, massive version at http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Peru/Cusco/Machu-Picchu/blog-176531.html ) Here is what the judge ... read more

I've been getting frustrated with how little traction I'm getting with all my freelance pitches. I know that it's hard to get commissioned - even well known, well established journalists with big prizes under their belt tell me most of their pitches are ignored - but I had hoped that my experience as an editor, receiving all manner of pitches and making all manner of commissions, would sharpen my ability to get noticed and know how to approach other editors. It hasn't yet. I've put about 5-6 pitches out there, all to new titles (as in, ones I've never written for and that I have no pre-existing relationships with) - I've only pitched to titles I like to read myself and only pitched articles I myself would read and enjoy. Which means I've been aiming quite ... read more

Two blogs in one month contravenes my at-home blogging policy, but there are two adventures coming my way now so it's probably forgivable. I received word last Saturday that I have a place on the MA course! But I recieved that word the day after having an operation to remove a diseased lymph node from my neck: that happened because the quacks believe I've got cancer, lymphoma no less. So I'll be travelling the well-trod 'C' road before I can reach the start of my university year, which means a summer of treatment. A sick sad world it may be, but I'm no better: I've been looking at this news as a tourist looks at a new destination, almost viewing it from above, surveying the finer points of whatever medical and scientific information I can obtain ... read more