New travel writing grants and contests

For those of you interested in funding your travels and getting published, here’s a couple of new travel writing contest announcements:

GoNOMAD.com is accepting applications for the second in a series of grants to help travel writers foster their craft. The first of these grants was awarded in May to London-based writer David Atkinson, who followed the trail of the famous outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid through the mountains of Bolivia.

The deadline for entries in the second round of the contest is August 15, 2005. Writers are asked to provide a one-page list of their published travel stories, or links to stories posted on the web. The most promising of these synopses will be culled down to one lucky winner every three months, with four recipients in 2005 receiving the $500 cash award each. GoNOMAD.com will have the first right to publish the articles.

Submit your one-page proposal to travelawards@gonomad.com, or snail mail it to: GoNOMAD.com, P.O. Box 4, South Deerfield, MA 01373. Fax submissions are accepted at 413-665-5006.

For more information, check out the full contest rules.

TransitionsAbroad.com is sponsoring Travel Writing Contest, open to professionals, freelancers and aspiring travel writers. Submit an original essay of up to 1,500 words relating to a travel experience abroad which has changed your life.

To enter the Contest, attach your essay in Word format or copy and paste it into an e-mail. Include your full name, complete postal address and phone number. Please type “Narrative Travel Writing Essay Entry” in the subject description of the e-mail and send the e-mail to narrativewritingcontest@transitionsabroad.com. All entries must be received by November 1, 2005.

TransitionsAbroad.com editors will judge entries based upon literary quality, sensitivity to the people and culture being described, and the ability to engage the reader. The first-place winner