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Thu 17 May 23:49
COMPETITION
 
 
WIN
Travel Writing Competition
THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED

Enter our travel writing competition and you could win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to volunteer in China and see Giant Pandas up close.

Calling all young writers (aged 18 to 23) with a passion for travel, if you think you’ve got what it takes, then put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and send us 400-500 words about your most inspirational travel experience. If you’ve ever considered yourself as a budding writer who is looking for an avenue for your talent, and can really weave a tale, then why not give it a go? Your piece doesn’t have to be based on somewhere exotic; it just needs to offer a fresh perspective to a familiar destination, event, or experience. We’re not looking for flowery evocations, we’re looking for a writer who can engage us and take us on their fantastic journey. No matter how big or small.

OUR TRAVEL WRITING TIPS:
>> Familiarise yourself with National Geographic Traveller’s style, tone and content.
>> Always question what makes your article different from all the others we may have received on the same topic or destination.
>> Your article should have a beginning, a middle and an end, and the opener should be one of the strongest paragraphs to pull the reader in. You don’t have to tell a story in chronological order — you can open with an exciting event and then explain how it began.
>> Ensure that your piece has a strong central theme that provides a point to it all.
>> Do not try to cover too much in one article — there’s often several different angles within each piece but focus on one.
>> Be honest — if you felt frightened or out of your depth, say so.
>> Use dialogue if you can to add personality and colour.
>> Bring a destination to life by describing smells, sounds, flavours
and emotions.
>> Be aware of the political, environmental and social background to the places you describe.
>> Avoid travel clichés like ‘a city of contrasts’ and ‘an island paradise’.
>> Check your facts and be wary of making generalisations or statements you’re unsure of.

THE PRIZE
The winner will receive return (economy) flights from the UK, plus four weeks in China. The first two weeks will be spent at a conservation centre for endangered species such as the Giant Panda, Golden Monkey, Crested Ibis, and Takin. This will be followed by two weeks working with disadvantaged children, while exploring the city of Xi’an and sampling ‘real’ Chinese food. The prize includes shared accommodation, all activities and excursions, most meals, return flights from London, in-country orientation, a local in-country team, and 24-hour emergency support.

Full details are available online:
Panda Conservation near Xi'an, China. www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/volunteer-panda-conservation-in-china.html
Community work with children around Xi'an, China. www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/volunteer-work-overseas-with-children-in-china.html

Prize consists of a four-week trip to Xi’an, China with two weeks Panda conservation and two weeks community work with children.

Full details on http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/volunteer-panda-conservation-in-china.html and http://www.i-to-i.com/volunteer-projects/volunteer-work-overseas-with-children-in-china.html

Prize to be taken on specific dates in 2012 over the Easter period.

The duration of your stay is a maximum of four weeks, but you can purchase additional weeks if you’d like to stay on.
Includes return (economy) flights from London, shared accommodation, all activities and excursions, three meals per day, in-country orientation, local in-country team and 24hr emergency support.

The prize is non-transferable and non-refundable. No cash alternative will be offered. All incidental expenses are the responsibility of the prize-winner. Prize does not include personal spending money; organisation and costs of any visas required for China; personal travel insurance; return airport transfer; local transport. The winner should purchase personal travel insurance prior to travel to China, ensure they have a valid passport, and check with their GP about suitable immunisations and medical precautions.

The competition is open to residents of the UK aged 18 to 23.

The judges of the writing competition will include a member of National Geographic Traveller’s editorial team and a former travel editor of the Independent on Sunday. The judge’s decision is final. One entry per person. The winning entry will appear on National Geographic Traveller (UK) online and in print, if approved by the editor.

The competition is not open to employees and associates of i-to-i Volunteering or Absolute Publishing Ltd, or their families. Closing date is the 1st January 2012 at 11:00am GMT. The promoter is Absolute Publishing Ltd, 197-199 City Road, London, EC1V 1JN. Winners will be notified within 10 days of closing and details of the competition winners will be published in the March/April edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK) 2012. All entrants are automatically opted into receiving further correspondence from National Geographic Traveller (UK), its publisher Absolute Publishing Ltd, i-to-I Volunteering and selected third parties unless otherwise stated on the online form.

For a full list of terms and conditions, visit:
/competitions/terms_and_conditions/






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