Win a 14-day travel writing trip to Argentina!
Travel Writing Scholarship Frequently Asked Questions
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Strictly one application per person.
Get your FREE travel writing tips from mentor Tim Neville to help prepare your application:
Eligibility
- How old do I need to be to be eligible for the scholarship?
You need to be 18 or over at the time of the application deadline (before February 28, 2018). Sorry, we can't make any exceptions to this rule.
- I'm not from an English speaking country. Can I still apply?
The scholarship is open to all nationalities; however, you must have an exceptionally high degree of proficiency in written English to be considered for the scholarship. Please note: you do not need to supply an English proficiency certificate to apply.
- I am from Argentina. Can I participate?
Of course! You are welcome to apply. What better way to explore your own backyard?
- I work for one of your program partners. Can I participate?
Employees of World Nomads, Say Hueque and their subsidiaries and affiliated companies, and members of their immediate families or households, are ineligible to apply for this scholarship.
- Do I need a current passport? What about visa requirements?
You need a current passport with at least eight months left before expiry. We'll assist the winner in acquiring a visa and reimburse all associated costs, however the applicant must be eligible to obtain a visa to Argentina.
- Am I considered a professional travel writer?
Essentially this is a 'learning opportunity' for someone who is looking for an introduction into the travel writing industry and more importantly, is keen to be mentored. The scholarship is not open to professional writers of any kind.For the purposes of this opportunity, we would consider you to be professional writer if you have been published regularly in commercial blogs, newspapers, magazines or journals. We would also consider you to be a professional writer if you derive more than 25% of your income from writing of any kind.If you have only had a few stories published, or keep a regular travel blog then we would not consider this professional.Please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started.
- I'm a writer, but I've never done any type of travel writing professionally. Am I still considered a professional?
If more than 25% of your job consists of writing, in any professional capacity (social media not included), you are ineligible to apply. This includes editors and copy-writers who spend more than 25% of their time writing.
Applications
- Can I apply more than once?
No, you can only submit one story per person, make it a good one!
- Does my application have to be in English?
Yes, the judges will not be able to understand your story unless it is written in English. The travel writing workshop will also be run in English.
- Can a pair or team submit an application?
No, each travel story must be submitted by an individual writer.
- Do I have to write to the themes mentioned in the application form?
Yes, as a travel writer it is important to demonstrate your ability to stick to a given brief.
- Can I add pictures to my submission?
We haven't allowed for photos to be added to the submission, simply because you will be judged on the quality of your writing alone.
- My story has already been published on my personal blog. Can I submit the same story?
Yes, however, you should ensure the story meets the requirements of our brief.
- I have submitted my story to a previous travel writing scholarship for World Nomads and did not win. If my old submission still fits the criteria that you are looking for, can I submit it again?
Yes, however, we do encourage you to read our brand new guide The Art of Travel Writing written by scholarship mentor Tim Neville so that you can improve your story before applying. Use the sign-up form on this page to download your guide.
- Does the character count include spaces? Is there any wiggle room in the character count?
Yes, the character count does include spaces. No, the form will not allow you to submit an application if your writing is longer than the specified the character count. The character count for the story is 2500 (roughly 500 words). Please do not email us with a longer version of your travel story.
- Once submitted the travel story will appear on a public page. Can we applying under a pseudonym or alias?
You can apply with a pseudonym if you don't want your full name visible on the post. Preferably in the following format: Preferred Name. First Initial of Surname (eg. Brittany. V).
- So the travel story I apply with will be available for the public to view?
Yes, your travel story will be publicly displayed on our website. Please don't share information or anything you would mind your mother reading in this section! If you would like your travel story removed from the World Nomads website please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the title of your entry. Please note, your personal information and contact details will not be made public.
- Oh no! I've submitted my story, but I need to make a change to my application. Can I edit my application?
Once you apply, you will not be able to go back and edit your entry, so please make sure you are completely satisfied before you submit an application.
- Where can I find winning applications from previous Travel Writing Scholarships?
Take a look at last year's results page to read the winning and shortlisted travel stories.
The Trip
- What will the winners win?
Each of the 3 successful applicants will receive the following:
- Return economy airfare from the nearest international airport to Buenos Aires.
- 4-day all-expenses-paid workshop with professional travel writer and scholarship mentor, Tim Neville in Buenos Aires.
- 6-day all-expenses-paid tour a specific region of Argentina courtesy of our friends at Say Hueque.
- 4-day free travel in Argentina with $1000 USD spending money thanks to World Nomads.
- The cost of any relevant visas and vaccinations and travel insurance for the duration of the trip from World Nomads.
- What if I can't drive or am ineligible to rent a car?
The trip will take a 'planes, trains and automobiles' approach. Any constraints will be taken into account when finalizing your itinerary, however, there are plenty of ways to explore Argentina.
- What are the trip dates?
The travel writing workshop in Buenos Aires will begin on May 7. The trip around Argentina will begin May 11. To take part in this scholarship experience you must be available between May 6 to May 22, 2018 - allowing for travel time between your country of residence and Buenos Aires.
- What will I be doing during the workshop?
Under the mentorship of professional travel writer Tim Neville, the winners will learn how to find a great story, create solid pitches, improve their writing skills and gain a better understanding of the travel writing industry.
- What will I be doing during the 10-day trip?
After the workshop, each writer will embark on their solo 10-day Argentina trip. First, you will be whisked away on a 6-day exploration of a specific region with Say Hueque. Then, you may travel to a destination of your choice. During your trip, you will be tasked with writing about the people you meet, your adventures (and misadventures), and your local off-the-beaten-path encounters.
- Can I bring a travel companion or my partner along for the trip?
Only the winner will be allowed on assignment. Should the winner wish to extend their stay in Argentina after the assignment, this can be discussed.
- Can I extend the trip beyond the specified trip dates?
Yes, you can extend your trip after the assignment, however any travel after the official 2-week assignment will need to be carried out at the winner's own expense.
- Is there any other way to get into the program besides the scholarship? Can I pay for my room & board myself and take part in the program?
No, unfortunately, you cannot pay your way onto this trip.
Troubleshooting
- I have a problem submitting my application. Can I email my application to you? Help!
No, you cannot email your entry to us. All applicants need to fill out the application page and submit their applications via our website. If you have encountered any specific issues please contact us at scholarships@worldnomads.com.
- I keep receiving a character count error with my personal essay, how can I fix this?
Make sure that your text is within the specified character limit (which includes spaces) as per our form's counter. Keep in mind that this is characters and not words and that we can't guarantee an external count will exactly match our form's.
- I'm not sure if my application was submitted correctly. How do I check this?
Successful applications will be visible within this section. If you cannot find your application here, it is likely we have not received your submission (even if you've received a confirmation email). Please try to apply again.
Have a question? Ask us below.
Please note: Due to the large number of questions we receive, any question already answered in the above FAQ section or within the comments section will not be answered again.
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97 Comments
So excited to apply for this opportunity! Winning would be a dream come true!
Hi,
I'm hoping to enter into this scholarship, but I was wondering with the themes. Can I write about something that has happened to me in the past whilst travelling ( if it fits in with the themes)?
Hi Dannielle. Yes, you can write about a previous travel experience as long as it fits one of the three themes in the brief. Good luck!
- Pari, World Nomads
Hi! I wanted to enter but was wondering if the age limit meant 18 and over or strictly over 18.
Hi Mia, eligible candidates must be 18 and over.
- Pari, World Nomads
Hi!
Quick question that I didn't quite see answered above: it was stated that if your story has previously been published on your personal blog then that story is fine to submit with your application, but what about a story that has been published on someone else's blog? I wrote a piece for a travel radio show that they posted on their blog (under my name, and I retain the rights to the work) and would like to use an edited excerpt for my submission. Would that be okay?
Thanks :)
Hi Lindsay, good question! Yes, as long as you retain the rights to that work you can submit the story for the scholarship. For you best chance of winning, please make sure the story meets the requirements of our brief. All the best!
- Pari, World Nomads
Hey there,
What's the policy on, say, colourful language? Obviously there are limits and lines that shouldn't be crossed, but is there at all a rule about no swearing? The judge panel is made up of adults, and the age limit for entry is 18+, but should we be writing for an all ages audience?
Hi Jimmy, we don’t have strict rules on swearing however please refrain from using language that could be perceived as offensive and/or disrespectful. As long as the language you use is enhancing the story and serving a purpose then we have no problem with it. You won’t be judged on how ‘family friendly’ your writing is so feel free to write for whichever audience you chose but bear in mind the judges will be adults.
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there!
Once an application has been started through the World Nomads application portal, are applicants able to save their information and revisit their application for edits, additions and final submission?
Thank you!!
Hi Christina, no unfortunately you cannot save information to edit at a later time, so make sure you're all ready to go when you start your application!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there!
This sounds like an incredible opportunity! I was looking at the past winning articles and saw that one of them was from Myanmar. I recently lived there for a few months and was considering writing a story from my time there as well. This may be a silly question but would this lessen my chances at all?
Thanks!
Hi Ali, entries from previous years will not impact our judge's decision, they will just be looking for the best stories. So if you think your best travel story is from Myanmar then write away!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there - I just got a job as a technical content specialist explaining things online for audiences (a communications role) and have freelanced a bit here and there, though usually for free and about random topics - can I still apply?
Thanks so much!
Hi Izabela, unfortunately I can't advise on eligibility from the info you've given. If your new job requires you to spend more than 25% of your time writing then we would consider you a professional writer. If there's any doubt it will be addressed once judging reaches the shortlisted entries. Before then, it's up to you to assess whether you're eligible against the 25% income/time spent writing, and the extent of articles you have had published. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi!,
I would like to know what does "Making a local connection" mean?, can you please be more descriptive?
Thank you! :)
Hi Zulma, we purposefully try and keep the writing themes broad and open to individual interpretation. If you'd like some examples of what others have written for this theme I'd suggest reading the shortlisted stories from last year: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2017/results. Thanks,
- Pearse, World Nomads
Greetings!
I'm looking for a copy of "the art of travel writing." I submitted my email in the "tips" section on the left and haven't received anything.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Ashley, you should receive an email about 2 minutes after completing the form, make sure to check your junk mail just in case. Feel free to try again as you can submit multiple times. If you're still not receiving anything, please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the address you're using and we can make sure you get the guide. Thanks,
- Pearse, World Nomads
Just want to verify that it’s 2500 characters and not words for the submissions
Hey Cara, that's correct - the travel story should be max 2500 characters (including spaces), not words. All the best,
- Pearse, World Nomads
I submitted my application and accidentally selected "Australia" for the country the story is set in, when it's actually the country I'm from. Will this have any bearing on my application?
Hi Kate, please email us at scholarships@worldnomads.com with the name of your application and we'll be able to fix it for you!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi! I I would like to know if I can apply as I wrote 1 article for the New Zealand Insider's Guide (as it states in my signed contract my collaboration was limited to that project). I also updated the article "15 things I wish I knew before going to Argentina". So would that make me an WNs employee or because it was just for that project and I was a freelancer for the company I would still be eligible to participate? Thanks!
Hi Martina, if you are a freelance writer it would seem more than likely you would spend 25% of your time or earn than 25% of your income from writing and therefore you would be ineligible for this scholarship. Essentially this is a 'learning opportunity' for someone who is looking for an introduction into the travel writing industry and is keen to be mentored. If you have any more questions regarding your personal eligibility feel free to send us an email at scholarships@worldnomads.com. Best of luck,
- Bec, World Nomads
I'm curious, how many people entered the competition in 2017?
Thanks
Greg
Hi Greg, last year we had over 8000. But don't let that number scare you off! If you've got a passion for travel writing this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Best of luck,
- Bec, World Nomads
Does the travel story have to be about a personal travel experience or can we make up a fictional travel story? Thank you.
Hi Lucy, we find that the stories that are based on personal travel experiences are a lot more authentic than the fictional entries. You don't need to have traveled far to come up with a good story. Your story can be from your country of residence. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi! Does the travel history have to be written in English? May we write it in Spanish? Thank you
Hi Bego, yes the entries do have to be in English. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there
Could you clarify if the story can be fiction or non fiction?
Thanks
Hi Priya, ideally your story will be based on a real-life travel experience. You technically can submit something fictional, but the better entries tend to come from authentic experiences. Thanks,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi! I'm incredibly keen to enter but have had four articles published for weekendnotes. Am I still eligible?.
Thank you,
Hi Catherine, if you spend more than 25% of your time or receive more than 25% of your income from writing then we would consider you not eligible for this scholarship. If there is any doubt it will be addressed once judging reaches the shortlisted entries.
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi! I am from Kosovo. I cannot find my country in the dropping list. What can I do in this case?
Hi Nora, at this time we are only able to use the list of countries advised by our underwriters. So please select the country of residence you would use if you were buying insurance with us, or if you're unsure just select the country nearest to you and we can address this if you make it to the shortlist. If you have any more questions please email us at scholarships@worldnomads.com. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi dear,
I just have one more question I'm 17 years old and I'll be 18 in nextt November can I apply?
Hi Bahia, no unfortunately you do need to be 18 years of age at the time of the application deadline (28th of February 2018). However keep writing and practicing, there very well might be another opportunity for you to apply next year! All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi Bec!
I'm hoping to do some travelling this summer. I'm still working through exact dates and places, but I would probably be abroad during The Trip to Argentina. If I am one of the winners, I would of course love to accept the prize. Since the winners are being announced so close to the trip date, I would have most likely booked my flight for my trip already. Is the prize flight from the airport closest to me when I fly to Argentina? Would I be able, for example, to be flown from Berlin to Buenos Aires and back again once the trip is over? Does it matter where my country of residence is?
Thank you in advance for answering my question. I'm very excited for this opportunity to learn more about travel writing.
Hi Kirsten,
We will have some capacity to fly you from another country that is not your country of residence. However you will need to know exactly where we'll need to book your flight from at the time of the winners announcement. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
I'm a novice writer without any pieces published. Would I still be considered?
Hi Lauren,
Yes of course! The scholarship is meant for people like you who are not professional writers but want to get a start in the industry. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi! I have 2 questions. First one: can we have one or 2 words in another language that's not English? Examples: Hola, gracias, Buenas Noches? And the second one: I know the character limit is 2500 but can it be lower than that or does it have to be exactly 2500 characters, no character less or more? Thank you.
Hi Marta,
Yes of course you can use a few basic words not in English as long as it would be understandable to someone who speaks the language - or provide an explanation. Your story can be 2500 characters or under. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
For the better part of a year, I worked as a stringer for a daily, metropolitan newspaper filing about two news pieces per month, does this activity exclude me?
Thank you,
Sandra Knight
Hi Sandra, yes we would consider this regularly contributing to a newspaper and therefore you would be ineligible for this scholarship. This is essentially a 'learning opportunity' for someone wanting to get a start into the writing industry. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Can I include pictures/snaps in the write up?
Hi Ranjini, this scholarship is writing only, no images are able to be uploaded in your piece.Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Does the story we write have to be true? Or can we write about a true story that someone told us and we haven't experienced first hand?
Hi Francesca, although you technically can write about someone else's experience we find that the pieces based on the writer's own personal experiences are much more authentic and detailed. You don't have to have travelled far to find a story of your own! All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there,
Will everybody be contacted about the outcome of their application regardless of if they are successful or not?
Thanks!
Hi Rhiannon, no unfortunately only the people who make the shortlisted will be contacted on the 4th of April. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello,
How many years has this scholarship opportunity been available now? And are there stories written by previous years on the website?
Thanks!
---
Hi Rebecca,
This scholarship has been running annually for 10 years. And yes, here is a link to the winners and shortlisted entries in 2017: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2017/results
and 2016: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2016/results
All the best,
Bec
I don't have a job related to writing now. But If I had a few articles published on websites or blogs a few years ago, would I be eligible for this program?
---
Hi Jess,
From the sounds of things we would not consider you a professional writer and would be eligible. If there are any doubts it will be addressed at the shortlisting stage. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
I'm a resident of New Delhi, India. If I win this scholarship, will the round trip air ticket be provided Delhi-Buenos Aires-Delhi? or not?
----
Hi Suhani,
Yes that's correct. You will be provided a round trip flight from the nearest international airport to you to Buenos Aires for the scholarship. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
Included in the 'package', is hotel stay? or would we have to pay for that ourselves??
Hi Zoe,
Yes we will be paying for the hotel stay. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
I am an Indian national currently studying in the United Kingdom. So, In the submission form, should I write India or United Kingdom as my country of residence??
Hi Ishaan,
If you are a resident of the UK then you can put that. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi,
Over 15 years ago I was the deputy editor of a geographical magazine. I had some travel articles published within the magazine. I have not written since as I followed another career path. Am I eligible for this competition?
Thanks
Hi Jo,
This opportunity is for aspiring travel writers with minimal experience and trying to get a start in the industry. Although you are not currently in the industry, please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started. All the best,
-Bec, World Nomads
Hi there! My essay is under 500 words but appears to be over 2500 characters when I check the count. Can I still submit this piece? Within the examples given it appears one of the posts is displayed as over 3000 characters. Please let me know!! Thanks so much :)
Hi Taryn,
Unfortunately we have a strict character limit of 2500 characters and you cannot exceed this. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello,
I was wondering if there are any restrictions for using the name of a places of business (restaurant/shop) in a story. May I use the name or is it best to describe the experience and place without naming the establishment?
Hi Katya,
You can use the name of a specific business if you like as long as it isn't defamatory. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello, I’m very excited to enter the competition. I have a question about copywright. If I win and have my writing published on your website, would I maintain ownership of the content? If I was to use my own entry in a book or something later on, would there be a conflict of ownership?
Many thanks,
Mel
Hi Mel,
You will still retain rights to the content, however by applying for this scholarship you allow World Nomads to showcase your writing on the World Nomads website and use it to promote the World Nomads Travel Writing Scholarship. If we are to use your work for any other purposes we will inform you and seek additional permission. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomds
hey!
I am not professional writer but i have passion for same, and I am from non-English speaking country, and i have intermediary English speaking, writing, reading skill.
so,can i still apply?
thanks,
Riddhi
Hi Riddhi
This scholarship is for aspiring travel writers, not for professionals, so of course you can apply! Your travel story does need to be in English and you will be marked on quality of language. Winners and shortlisted entries in the past have not been native English speakers but their English has been of a high level. If you think that your English is good enough then of course we encourage you to give it a shot. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi, I am trying to submit my story, it is just below 2500 characters and it will not let me upload. Help!
Hi Sasha, if you are still having an issue please email scholarships@worldnomads.com and we will try sort it out for you. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Do I get an extra star if I spot the grammatical errors in the FAQ? I mean, that's part of the test, right? ;)
In all seriousness, you guys are pretty awesome to offer this opportunity year after year. On behalf of every nomad writer, thank you!!
I do not spend more than 25% of my time writing, but I'm an academic who has published 7 academic books. I receive very small royalties and have only published a couple essays in small online magazines in travel writing, so I want to confirm that I'm still not considered a professional writer in the field. I truly need guidance in travel writing and would love to apply for this opportunity. Can I still apply?
Hi Angela, thanks for writing in. This competition is not open to professional writers of any kind - not just those in the travel writing field. We would consider you a professional writer if you are published regularly in commercial blogs, newspapers, magazines or journals. If there is any doubt it will be addressed at the shortlisting stage. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi,
I accidentally clicked the wrong country when I submitted it! I'm from the USA but the country I wrote about is France. I accidentally clicked both of them as USA. Is there a way to fix this?
Thanks!
Hi Greer, can you please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the name of your story and the name under which it was submitted and we will be able to fix it for you. Cheers,
- Bec, World Nomads
I'm a very practical person. I have two concerns, relayed through questions.
What exactly do you mean by "characters?" I understand spaces count, but do you mean the 2500 is not related to how many words? How many words is too much? How many words is not enough for submission?
If I were to win, I wonder about safety.
Would winners be responsible to pay for, and locate, their own lodgings and meals? What exactly is the $1,000 USD intended for?
Does anyone meet us at the airport?
Other than the tour, are we expected to stay in Buenos Aries only?
As a single female who would be "alone," and speaks no Spanish, I worry about being lost, being pickpocketed, etc while in Argentina.
But I would so love to have experiences that can evolve into travel stories! I am attempting to balance a once in a lifetime opportunity against my fears. Thank you.
Hi Seri,
Characters are letters or symbols. So the total of the letters, symbols and spaces that you use cannot exceed 2500. The character count is not related to word count so we cannot give a specific number of words - it varies from piece to piece. We have a character counter within the application form which will tell you how many characters you are up to.
We and our partners from Say Hueque will be organising your trip so we will arrange transport from the airport. You will just need to be in Buenos Aires for the 4-day writing workshop and then all 3 winners be together for the 6-day tour across Argentina with a guide from Say Hueque.
Winners will only need to plan meals, accommodation and transport on the last 4 days, that's what the US $1000 is for. They'll be able to chose to go anywhere they like in Argentina.
For safety concerns please refer to our Argentina Travel Safety section here: https://www.worldnomads.com/travel-safety/south-america/argentina.
Best of luck,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi.
Im a resident of India. I am not really into the field of writing but I am passionate about it amd do write articles. But having a background in Literature, I've got a good hold over the language. Am I still considered eligible? Also would the cost of the entire trip be counted by you'll?
Looking forward to this beautiful opportunity.
Thanks,
Valerie.
Hi Valerie,
As long as you are not a professional writer then you are eligible.
The first 4 days will be all-expenses-paid and for the last 10 days you will be given US $1000 to spend. So as long as you don't exceed that everything will be covered.
Good luck!
-Bec, World Nomads
Hello!
Is it possible if we use someone else's story? I can't afford to travel often but my brother has told me several stories from when he lived in India. Can I use one of his stories (with his permission) told from his perspective instead of a story told from mine?
Thank you,
Avery
Hi Avery,
The writing does need to be your own work. Technically you can use someone else's story, however we find that the more authentic pieces come from the authors themselves. Remember you don't have to have travelled far from home to find a great story! All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi!
If my story is set in a few countries, which country should I select?
Thanks
Sonja
Hi Sonja,
Select the country that the majority of the story is set or if you can't decide just chose where your story began. It won't affect your chances in judging. All the best!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello there !
This sounds like such a fantastic opportunity! I was wondering about accessibility for those who may have an impairment or disability.
Thank you
Surayya
Hi Surayya,
If someone with an impairment or disability does win this opportunity then we will do our very best to cater for them to offer the same experience as the other winners. It will not impact their chances of winning. If you have any further questions on this please email scholarships@worldnomads.com. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Can the story involve multiple locations? Would it be okay if the travel story is about an experience during a string of trips to different cities and countries?
Hi San,
Yes your story can take place across multiple locations. However, we find the best entries usually just focus on one story in one location as it allows the author to delve into the details of the experience. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there,
I have a few questions for you!
- So to begin, is there any contact information or a phone number that I can contact to discuss my questions and concerns with? I ask this just because I have quite a few and I would like to keep my concerns conservative and 1 on 1! Not all the wonders in the world is everyones business! Also if unfortunately not, is there a personal e-mail or chat session that I can participate in?
- Also currently I am a student at a University and I am wondering if this lessons my chances or eligibility to enter into this beautiful opportunity?
Please get back to me as soon as you can !’ Thank you :) _Naudia H.*~
Hi Naudia,
You can email scholarships@worldnomads.com with any personal questions that you have.
As to your second question, of course this will not impact your chance of winning this competition, we welcome all applications from people who are looking to break into the travel writing industry.
All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there,
It's pleasure to write to you,
I have a question, You stated that the winners will be announced at 4th April and the trip will begin at 7th May, So What if the visa required more than one month to be issued? It's something out of my hand.
Best regards.
Hi Mohamed,
We will work with the winner to acquire a visa during this timeframe, however the applicant must be eligible to obtain a visa to Argentina.
All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there! My name is Marta and I've always loved writing, so thank you for this great opportunity.
I was wondering, I'm from Spain, but I'll be studying abroad for the following five months. Would it be a problem for me to travel from Hamburg (the city where I'm going to live during my Erasmus) instead from Spain, in case of being selected?
Also, I'm studying journalism and it was one of my teachers who told us about this contest, so I'm a little bit confused. Are you looking for a fictional story, the type that is published in a short story compilation, or something written more in a 'journalistic style' as the ones published in a newspaper or a magazine?
Thank you so much for your time!
Hi Marta,
Thanks for writing in. Yes we will be able to fly you from your closest international airport as long as you know where that is at the time of the winners announcement.
Have a look at the previous winners from last year https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2017/results that will give you an idea of what type of stories the judges will be looking for. Generally we find the stories that come from first hand experiences to be more authentic and detailed.
Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi,
The trip includes:
- 4-day workshop
- 6-day tour
- 4-day free travel
Additionally, the FAQ states 'To take part in this scholarship experience you must be available between May 6 to May 22, 2018.'
If our current job does not grant all 17 days of leave at a short notice - is it okay to attend only the workshop, or only the workshop and tour?
Hi Rose,
Every part of the trip is just as valuable as the last. It will be on the last 4 days that you will get to put into practice what you've learnt and get to have your very own travel experience in Argentina. We would expect that the winners would be available for the whole scholarship opportunity as we have stated in the FAQs.
All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi there, I am very excited to apply for this awesome scholarship, have one question though ... The story must be from another country than the one I reside in? I'm from Portugal and although I have a lot of stories to tell from various travel destinations, I do enjoy exploring my country so I think I have interesting experiences to write about too.
Thank you again for this dream opportunity!
Hi Annamaria,
Good question! You're story can be about anywhere you choose. There's nothing stopping a great travel experience happening in our own backyard.
Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi!
I was just wondering how polished do our writing skills have to be in terms of Structure and the more technical aspects of writing. I have no training in creative writing (all my understanding of structure, narrative style etc is self-taught!) and this question has been giving me quite a bit of anxiety!
I would love some clarity on this subject and whether it will affect my chances.
Thank You.
Hi Priya,
Great to hear you're giving it a shot. All great travel writers need to start somewhere! You don't need any formal training to apply but if you're after some extra guidance we've got loads of articles with tips on travel writing here: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/learn/writing.
Tim Neville who will be mentoring the winners in Argentina has also made a great Travel Writing Tips Guide that we'll send to you if you put your email in the panel to the left of the FAQs on this page.
Also you see what last years' winners and shortlisters wrote here: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2017/results.
Hopefully you find these useful and will give you a bit of guidance! Don't get too stressed, we're all about supporting aspiring writers here and want to give you every opportunity to succeed.
Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi, I am from Argentina, may I participate?
Hi Marina
Yes of course you can apply! What better way to explore your own country.
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi, I would like to submit my application with a pseudonym, however if I put the first initial of my last name in the 'Last Name' box I am then not able to submit the application as it tells me I have not entered a last name. How is it possible to submit my application without having my full name visible on the post? Thank you.
Hi Julia,
It might be an issue with the form. Some people put their last initial with a "." at the end. Remember that's just a suggestion for a pseudonym and you're not restricted by this. If you are still having a problem email scholarships@worldnomads.com and we'll try sort it out for you. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
What if I don't have a passport now, but I am sure I will be able to procure one before the commencement of the journey, can I apply?
Hi Priyata,
As long as you have a current passport with at least 8 months at the time we announce the winner you can apply for the scholarship.
All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
I am unable to submit my application. I continue to receive an error message asking for 3-2500 characters. Your counter say 2443 characters. I have edited it several times, and it will not accept it. How can I submit it? I spent quite a bit of time on it.
Hi Laura,
Can you please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with your problem and we'll find a way for you to submit. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Assuming that I made it , do I have to take care of the airfare to Argentina cuz i am basically penny less.
Hi Saibabu,
As part of the prize we will take care of the flights for you.
Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Brief question: I understand that the bulk of consideration for the scholarship will be based on my submitted piece along with the shorter "Why You?" part. Will the optional entries for my website/blog, twitter, and/or Instagram be considered? Thank you in advance.
Hi David,
Only what you write on the application for the scholarship will be looked at by the judges, this ensures that everyone who applies is on an even playing field. The only time writing outside of that on your application will be looked at would to determine whether we would consider you a professional writer.
All the best,
Bec
Thank you for providing such an exciting opportunity! I was wondering if someone would still be eligible if they needed to leave the country earlier than May 22, say if they needed to leave by May 19 or 20? Would this be acceptable pending they were committed to completing the writing assignment while traveling out of the country a couple days early on their own expense?
Hi Nicole,
As stated above "to take part in this scholarship experience you must be available between May 6 to May 22, 2018." This would mean that you would have to be able to stay in Argentina for this period of time.
All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello,
The story that I am submitting for the competition occurs in Antarctica. I was wondering how I should decide what country to use, considering that Antarctica is not an option.
Hi Daniel,
Sounds like you've got an unique story coming our way! We can't edit the drop-down list of countries this far into receiving applications but if you know which country's jurisdiction you were in whilst in Antarctica just put that. Or otherwise just put your home country. Thanks for the heads up and we'll make sure we've got it listed as a subject country next year.
Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi.
Abundantly aware that it is a strict one application per person but I can see mine appearing twice in the submissions. How can I get one deleted? Or will you just ignore the duplicate?
Thanks
Adam
Hi Adam,
Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the title of your story and full name which you submitted the application under and we'll get it sorted. Best of luck,
- Bec, World Nomads
Excuse the additional question. When I copy and paste my texts to the website's interface, the italicized words become normal text. In my travel piece, italics create a smoother read - is there a way to create italics within the interface? If not, might I be able to submit the version without italics via the website and send a supplementary e-mail containing the version with italics? Thank you for your time.
Hi David,
Unfortunately our form doesn't allow for italics at this point in time. It's not ideal but perhaps there is another way you will be able to express your writing to work around this such as quotation marks. We'll be sure to look into fixing this for next year! All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
I'd rather the reveal of where my story is set comes within the piece itself, not in the header upfront - since it's partially set in my hometown and partially in the country I visited - can I set the country it's set in as my own?
Hi Vicky,
Nothing wrong with keeping us in a little bit of suspense. If you feel this is the best way to convey your story then we don't have a problem with it. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi,
I have submitted a story.Where I can find it now?
regards
Hi Bikram,
Head here: https://writing18.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2018/applications/. You'll be able to search for your story and view the other applicants' entries. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
There is a lot of information available about what the judges are looking for in a story but not what the judges are looking for in an applicant, even though the personal essay is cited as being given “considerable weight” in the selection process. Can you give some insight as to the kinds of qualities or goals the judges are looking for? I want to make sure I’m giving my best pitch, so it would be helpful to know which parts of my personal story the judges are interested in knowing!
Thanks,
—Claudia
Hi Claudia,
It's hard to give exact criteria for the "why you" section as it will be up to the judges themselves to decide what they are looking for in a scholarship winner. Everyone's answer will be different and unique and should express why they in particular will benefit from this opportunity. Essentially it will come down to your discretion in what you believe is most important to share with the judges. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi, like an aforementioned question, I can see my application submitted twice as it displays so. I realized this happened probably because the response time by the page was slow when I clicked on the 'Sumit' button. Hence, I clicked twice.
One will get deleted, while the other one will stay, right?
Hi Rikita,
Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the title of your story and the full name you submitted the story under and we'll be able to fix it for you. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
I have tried lots of time to submit but the word count error keep showing,any alternative please that i can use to submit
Words that are italicized in my original do not appear in italics. Is there a way to fix this? Thank you
Sorry - I have just seen that there was a question about this (didn't trawl through all the FAQs sorry!)
Hi,
I was wondering if the story can be fiction or does it have to be non-fiction?
Thank you
Hi Tiffany,
We find the best stories come from the author's own experience. Have a look at what last year's winners wrote to get more of an idea what we're after: https://www.worldnomads.com/create/scholarships/writing/2017/results. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello!
The counter shows less time than it's left until the deadline. Why is this?
Thanks!
Katalin Toth
Hi!
On the counter it says "Apply by Feb 28, 2018 at 11PM EST" which is 4 am on Thursday 1st of March in GMT. Is this correct?
I'm confused about the counter showing 21 hours left when actually, it should be 2/3 days depending on the country, right?
Thanks in advance.
Best,
Nuria
Hello,
Just to make sure, will you be choosing one story per category? i.e. one story out of all the applications under the 'The last thing I expected' category?
Hi Raluca,
The judges will be selecting the best 3 stories regardless of category. Good luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi, the deadline counter does not match the provided deadline. Is this a bug?
"Put me over the edge" is usually a bad thing, but I saw your earlier response to someone that the subjects are purposely vague to be open to interpretation... so we can use that subject in a positive way then, right?
Hi Amanda,
Yes of course you can take it however you would like to interpret the theme. We're just looking for the best travel stories. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
I’m attempting to submit, and though I have a title listed, it keeps prompting me to “Please enter a title for your travel story.” Any advice?
Also, I agree with the above comment that the submission date and countdown don’t match.
Thank you!
Hi Ashley,
Please make sure your title is above 3 characters. People have also had trouble when their title has been too long so you might have to shorten it. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello, I was wondering if I an eligible to apply for this competition, as I am ex journalist. I stopped working as a journalist about 20 years ago. I have never published any travel stories, in print or online or any other articles. I wrote some news stories about 20 years ago. Can I still apply for this competition?
Thank you.
Hi Tamara,
This competition is aimed at aspiring writers who are looking to get a start in the industry and are keen to be mentored. Please consider the spirit of the program which is intended to help those with a burning desire to be a professional travel writer and need some help getting started. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hey! I submitted my story last night and got the e-mail confirmation, but I can't find my essay on the page with other applications.
Do I have to submit it again? How do I know everything is ok?
Thank you.
Hi Fernanda,
Please email scholarships@worldnomads.com with the name of your story and full name which you submitted it under and we'll try sort out what's happened for you. Cheers,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello!
Is there a specific time on February 28th that the applications must in by?
Thank you,
Lauren
Hi Lauren,
Your story will need to be in by 11PM. Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello. I realize that the contest requires 2500 characters or less for the story including spaces. However, I noticed the character counter goes up to 2550 for the story, and 1550 for the essay on why the judges should choose you. Is that because it gives you a small amount of wiggle room to work with? The character count for my story and my essay were under the amount of characters in Microsoft Word, but when I copied and pasted it into the form, the character counter said it was over the amount. Will my entry be disqualified once submitted if it is over 2500, but under 2550, or will my ending get cut off, or will it result in an error, not allowing me to submit at all? The deadline is quickly approaching, so if you could give me feedback as soon as possible, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.
Hi Jennifer,
We go by the character count in our form, not that in Microsoft Word. We do give a 'wiggle' room of 50 characters and we will not penalise you or cut off the ending of the story if you are within this. You will not be able to submit if your story is over 2550.
Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello! Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this exciting contest. Was it compulsory to provide twitter/ instagram/ blog/website details. I do not have a instagram / blog or website. hence not provided the same in the application. Should I create one and then update?
Thanks again.
Hello! I recently submitted my essay for the 2018 scholarship. However, as I clicked the submit button, nothing happened thus I proceeded to refresh the page. In hindsight I probably should not have done that.
Upon refreshing, all my writing and even my personal details were still there, minus a few mistakes in my name and country of residence, hence I brushed it off as a glitch. I read everything all over again just to make sure everything was in order. Nevertheless, I did find a mistake in my application, both in my instagram handle and my "country where the story happened" section. Upon changing both of those, I submitted my application. I was redirected to a page which said that my application has been received.
However, when I went to the public page where all submissions can be viewed, I saw my essay being published twice - once with the mistakes and once without.
I understand there's a one essay per person rule, but I sincerely hope that you could be of help to me. It could be my poor connection which caused the glitch, but I really hope there is something that can be done to ensure I do not face disqualification for a technical issue on my part.
I appreciate your time and would definitely appreciate your help. Looking forward to your reply.
Thanks.
Best,
Ben
Hi there,
As I was about to submit my application, I realised my country of residence was listed as Togo instead of Thailand, where I actually live. I'm not sure if this submitted and so I submitted my application again with the correct country.
Please could you accept the second entry (the stories are the same: "Dancing until dawn")
Many thanks in advance
Alex Gowans
Hello,
I've submitted my application and on the website it says UK next to my story, and I just want to check this is correct as it is where I am from, but my story is based in Germany.
Also, I would need to return to the UK for work by the evening of 18th May as it is work that cannot be moved. Would this be possible? I am free the rest of the time.
Thank you,
Carmina
Hey,
So I submitted my story (took longer to edit it thant to write, that limit its insane!) but originaly I had a perfect title for it and came back in red saying I must give another so I did ... I like the new one too of course but I would really want the previous ... if I email it to you could you change it? I didnt understand why wasnt accepted either ... I saw titles way longer than mine ...
Thanks a lot and good luck on reading all entries ;)
Hello,
I submitted my application last night but I did not receive any email confirmation so I do not know if my application has been received. I re-applied again this afternoon with a different theme and different story as I was using my office computer when I did my second application. I couldn't have brought up of what I wrote last night as it was an impromptu one. Apparently, I did not receive any confirmation email again.
So, I have two applications with two different themes and stories but I do not know if my two applications have been received or not. Can you please let me know?
Cheers,
Amelia
I am trying to submit my application but each time I try the page says 'Error' and a page of code comes up instead.
The competition closes in four hours! How should I submit my piece before the deadline?
Urgently,
Claire
Hi there,
I have just submitted my application but said your system went down, did you still received my entry? Also said: Oops. Something went wrong ... sorry
An unhandled exception has occurred..... Please refresh the page. If the error persists, go back.
Unfortunately, I couldn't go back.
Please advise as I have submitted my story within the time limits and it is really unfair to cut me off without explanation. Thank you!
Kind Regards,
Anna
Hello,
I am trying to apply but the page is not opening. What can I do?
Thank you!
Hi Catharine,
Sorry about this! We're experiencing a greater traffic than expected on the application form. Our team is currently working to get the page back up, it shouldn't take too long. We will leave the form open a little over the deadline for everyone experiencing difficulty at this time.
Many thanks,
- Bec, World Nomads
Hello,
I'm been trying to submit my application for an hour now. I clicked submit but the system went down and it said Oops. Something went wrong ... sorry. And now the application page is not loading anymore.
Please advise me on the matter because I submitted my story within the time limit.
Best,
Lara
Hi Lara,
Sorry about this! We're experiencing a greater traffic than expected on the application form. Our team is currently working to get the page back up, it shouldn't take too long. We will leave the form open a little over the deadline for everyone experiencing difficulty at this time.
Many thanks,
- Bec, World Nomads
UPDATE: The page is now back up and running
Travel writers, we're experiencing greater traffic than expected on the application form. Our team is currently working to get the application page back up, it shouldn't take too long. We will leave the form open a little over the deadline for everyone experiencing difficulty at this time. Thanks for your understanding.
- World Nomads Scholarships Team
Hi there,
I just applied and upon viewing my completed application it says that it's from the USA. I am from the states, but the story is from Myanmar. I thought I marked this on the application but I'm not sure if it saved. Is this where the story is from or where I am from? I'm so sorry if I mixed this up but please let me know.
Thanks,
Ali
Hi Ali,
Can you please email scholarships@worldnomads.com your issue along with your full name and the title of the travel story. All the best,
- Bec, World Nomads
Can you write about two separate visits to the same place undertaken at different times in this one essay?
I had submitted my application about a minute before the deadline, if my time was correct. I should have submitted earlier but it was not possible. I encountered a null exception and I don't think my application went through. Since I have had not saved my work, I could not re-submit again. Can anything be done? Many thanks.
Hi,
I didn't realize that italicized words wouldn't show up in the submitted version. I'm reading my story now in the submitted works section and nervously noticing that the Spanish words I used for context are no longer in italics.
Is there anyway to change that after having already successfully submitted the application?
Best,
Marshall Myer
Hi Marshall,
The judges are aware that the formatting of the applications is limited so they won't penalise you for this.
Best of luck!
- Bec, World Nomads
Hi everyone, thanks for your comments and questions. As applications for this scholarship are now closed, we have closed the comments on this page. If you have any further inquiries please email us at scholarships@worldnomads.com. All the best!
Please note: The judging process has now commenced and we will not be able to make any changes to your travel story. If you would like your story to be removed from consideration, please email us with your name and the title of your story.
- World Nomads Scholarships Team