Have you done your list of things to accomplish before you’re 30 yet? Yes? Well, naughty you. This is a Slow Life zone people, so we suggest you halve that list and add at least 10 years to the deadline ;-). Two goals I can predict will be on there are to travel the world (slowly) and to write a bestseller. I’m right, yes? Well, now there’s a way to make both goals happen at once.
Punk Publishing, the independent outfit behind the cult “Cool Camping” and “Wild Swimming” guides, are seeking submissions for new travel guides. You travel, you write, they publish.
Punk are looking for travel guides or travel literature, books to encourage outdoors activities and “the unusual or quirky”. Have you ever needed a better excuse to take that sabbatical, get the case packed and book a train ticket?
Punk are setting criteria for submissions:
1. You’ve got to feel absolutely passionate about your book / idea.
2. You must write a synopsis of the idea, with a list of contents the you would like to see in the book, and explaining why YOU have to be the person to write it.
3. You must write a full sample chapter to give a flavour of the book – and your writing style.
4. You send all this, along with your CV, to enquiries@punkpublishing.co.uk with SUBMISSIONS as the subject line.
5. Don’t call them, they will call you! (“No, really, as long as you’ve followed the above steps and after we’ve had time to have a good think about your idea, we will be in touch,” they promise.)
Writing about your travel experiences, either during a trip or afterwards, or using your expedition to inspire a piece of literature, is a sure-fire way to make sure you slow down, observe, and get to a know a place at a local level. Writing makes a necessity of slowness, infact, a way of travelling that is all too rare in an era of cheap airfares and weekend breaks.
Now, with these two goals from my To Do list potentially nailed, does anyone out there know how I can get dinner with Monty Don?
Write a slow travel guide for Punk Publishing
Image: Scrapygraphics
