"Winter's only 10 days away folks!" the cheery perma-tanned newscaster said glibbly from Channel 7's studios.
Don't I know it. Leaden grey skies are forming ominously overhead as I walk from my friend Bernie's house to the tram stop in East St Kilda. I'm wearing layers for the first time in months and my sandals are consigned to the wardrobe. Welcome to off-peak Australia!
Why I chose to come to the best city in Australia just when it's getting cold and wet is beyond me. Last time I was here in 2000, it was the most enjoyable of the cities I visited 'Down Under'. Looking around the centre of town yesterday nothing I saw changed that view.
As I meandered through the central area, I felt immediately at home. The bustling cafe's, the vibrant art scene and even the self important parliament building reminded me of, well, Blighty!. And even more of London and Glasgow. Now if any Melburnians read this and start frothing at the mouth, hold on one second and lets go over a few similarities:
A huge newly renovated South Bank of the river arts complex - check!
Inviting pubs on most corners selling European beer - check!
A grid system with cool little alleyways and tiny covered malls to explore - Glasgow check!
Lot's of folk running from the rain in scarfs and hats - check!
An underground train system which loops around the city and you have no idea how to get anywhere - check!
Important overly caffineated people scurrying to work in Skyscrapers - check!
Cool people hanging out in designer bars in interesting neighbourhoods - check! (Just swap Camden town for St Kilda and Hoxton for Fitzroy).
An obsession with local football teams - check! (except it's aussie rules here, annoyingly the umpires don't dress in butchers overalls anymore).
A culturally significant boat just gone up in flames - ermmm......
See?, case closed. I've kind of avoided the fact that Melbourne also has some fine beaches, parks and seems a lot more laid back than the Big Smoke, but that's just nit picking....
Showing posts with label london. Show all posts
Showing posts with label london. Show all posts
Tuesday, 22 May 2007
Thursday, 1 March 2007
Seek professional help
"Who am I..? You know who I am - I'm your worst fucking nightmare!"
The whole class takes a collective intake of breath. The eyes of Matt, our tutor, have just doubled in size. It's possible to see the veins in his neck pressing against the skin. He's just told us how not to pitch to a commissioning editor. I believe him. We're all just a bit afraid.
How did that happen? It's the first day of a weekend course for budding travel writers. Twelve of us have given up a precious weekend to sit in a classroom at King's College, by the South Bank of the Thames. Surely this should be about describing gin-clear lakes, majestic mountains, breathtaking vistas and the ubiquitous land of contrasts? (Btw: that's the only time in this blog you'll read those cliches, honest). Instead we're being shouted at by an Andrew Lincoln look-a-like with anger management issues.
I'm here seeking professional help. I want to write about more than just 7 car pile-ups on the M25. So the purpose of the weekend is to try and gain the wisdom of three experienced writers. Between them they have written for most of the newspaper and magazine travel sections you've idly browsed through on a Sunday morning. Their life seems impossibly glamorous. Another one of our tutors, Ian, has just flown in from the Arctic Circle after observing the Northern Lights from a deserted mountain. Sophie our third sage, casually recounts tales of meeting heart-stopping Frenchmen while Camel Riding through Rajasthan.
Over the course of our two days, we cover everything to do with travel writing. From how to spot a good idea, researching a story, pitching to editors (hopefully less scary than Matt), to proper interview technique and how to avoid being sued. The vibe is fun and relaxed. Everyone has an anecdote to share or a pertinent question to ask. After both days we decamp to a near-by pub for a well earned pint or three.
Through a number of practical sessions I meet a few of my fellow class mates. It's pretty inspiring stuff, and everyone wants something different from the weekend. There's Aussie Mike who's setting off on a mammoth tour of Europe with his trusty dog, Bondi. He's here to get tips for his excellent blog
Catherine is about to set off on a one woman tour of the Trans Siberian Express and is fitting this course in whilst also learning Chinese. Laid back surfer Gary wants to document his trips to the reef. Jane wants to break out of profiling inane celebs for women's mags, into weighty double page travel features for broadsheets.
So what did I get out of the course? Well apart from being on permanent cliche-alert, and avoiding overblown adjectives, I've discovered it is possible to turn your travels into engaging stories. Hopefully that will show through in this blog. Also If I can conquer my new found fear of commissioning eds, maybe a story or two will appear in your next Sunday paper.
PS. Matt Potter is actually a lovely bloke, who buys you drinks down the pub. This entry is a direct steal from his template of how to use a strong quote as an intro... cheers Matt.
For more info on this course click here.
The whole class takes a collective intake of breath. The eyes of Matt, our tutor, have just doubled in size. It's possible to see the veins in his neck pressing against the skin. He's just told us how not to pitch to a commissioning editor. I believe him. We're all just a bit afraid.
How did that happen? It's the first day of a weekend course for budding travel writers. Twelve of us have given up a precious weekend to sit in a classroom at King's College, by the South Bank of the Thames. Surely this should be about describing gin-clear lakes, majestic mountains, breathtaking vistas and the ubiquitous land of contrasts? (Btw: that's the only time in this blog you'll read those cliches, honest). Instead we're being shouted at by an Andrew Lincoln look-a-like with anger management issues.
I'm here seeking professional help. I want to write about more than just 7 car pile-ups on the M25. So the purpose of the weekend is to try and gain the wisdom of three experienced writers. Between them they have written for most of the newspaper and magazine travel sections you've idly browsed through on a Sunday morning. Their life seems impossibly glamorous. Another one of our tutors, Ian, has just flown in from the Arctic Circle after observing the Northern Lights from a deserted mountain. Sophie our third sage, casually recounts tales of meeting heart-stopping Frenchmen while Camel Riding through Rajasthan.
Over the course of our two days, we cover everything to do with travel writing. From how to spot a good idea, researching a story, pitching to editors (hopefully less scary than Matt), to proper interview technique and how to avoid being sued. The vibe is fun and relaxed. Everyone has an anecdote to share or a pertinent question to ask. After both days we decamp to a near-by pub for a well earned pint or three.
Through a number of practical sessions I meet a few of my fellow class mates. It's pretty inspiring stuff, and everyone wants something different from the weekend. There's Aussie Mike who's setting off on a mammoth tour of Europe with his trusty dog, Bondi. He's here to get tips for his excellent blog
Catherine is about to set off on a one woman tour of the Trans Siberian Express and is fitting this course in whilst also learning Chinese. Laid back surfer Gary wants to document his trips to the reef. Jane wants to break out of profiling inane celebs for women's mags, into weighty double page travel features for broadsheets.
So what did I get out of the course? Well apart from being on permanent cliche-alert, and avoiding overblown adjectives, I've discovered it is possible to turn your travels into engaging stories. Hopefully that will show through in this blog. Also If I can conquer my new found fear of commissioning eds, maybe a story or two will appear in your next Sunday paper.
PS. Matt Potter is actually a lovely bloke, who buys you drinks down the pub. This entry is a direct steal from his template of how to use a strong quote as an intro... cheers Matt.
For more info on this course click here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)