Budding travel writers share their travel world firsts

03 February 2012 11:27

My World First travel writing competition logo

My World First travel writing competition logo

Travel insurance specialist, World First Travel Insurance, has launched a new monthly writing competition for budding travel writers named My World First. The theme for the competition is first-time travel experiences – personal world firsts.

The competition is designed to give people the chance to flaunt their flair for the written word and entrance the panel of judges with travel tales. Each month all of the entries will be reviewed and a short list will be deliberated by the judges before a winning entry is selected.

The competition launched at the end of 2011 and more than 30 people entered in the first month, sharing a range of world first experiences. Entries included stories of celebrating a wedding anniversary under the northern lights, getting kissed by a camel in Egypt and how a lack of a packed lunch on a sweaty train in India sparked a continent-spanning friendship.

The panel of judges comprises of Martin Rothwell, Managing Partner of World First, Jane Labous, a travel writer and journalist who's journalism and broadcast career has seen her work for The Independent, The Times and BBC Radio 4, Martin Dorey, a professional writer and author of The Camper Van Cookbook and Jamie Harper, an English Language graduate, travel blogger and freelance journalist.

Commenting on the idea behind the competition Martin Rothwell said, "As travel insurance specialists we regularly insure people who are planning amazing holidays and experiences. Over the years we have insured thousands of people who are all experiencing their own personal world firsts and we thought it would be great to find out more about these people and their stories, whilst also inspiring people to have a go at travel writing.

"In terms of the personal world firsts we really are looking for any stories, so it can be anything you like. It might be the first time you went on holiday. Or the first time you swam with dolphins. It could be the first time you travelled after a life changing event. Perhaps the first time you went on holiday with your partner dished up a memorable experience. Or the first time you spoke a foreign language on holiday. Entries can be as mundane or as off-the-wall as you like."

Anyone can enter the competition by submitting a written article of 400 words describing their experience. The person who submits the best entry will win either a Kindle or the equivalent value in Waterstone's vouchers.

Winners have included Liz Cleere who wrote about her 'first time at the wrong end of the barrel' whilst sailing from Turkey to India, and Helen Moat who shared her terrifying experience of a drive in Switzerland 'On the Road to Samnaun'.

The competition rolls from month to month. Entries for each month close on the final day of the month at 11.59pm. All winners will be announced at the start of each month and the winning entry published on the World First Blog.

Find out more and enter the world first competition here.

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