Website Announces Cash Grants for Travel Writers

GoNOMAD.com, an alternative travel website based in South Deerfield, MA, has announced a new series of grants to help travel writers foster their craft.

Senior Travel Editor Kent E. St. John, of Cottekill, NY, a voracious traveler himself, has decided to fund a year's worth of grants to deserving writers who will use the funds to help pay for their trips.

"I've been a traveler all my life," said St. John, who writes monthly articles for the website on the many destinations he visits each year. "Travel is the best education you can get. We hope that with the introduction of these travel grants, we can stimulate writers to develop new themes and use the cash prizes to develop their talents as writers for GoNOMAD.com and other outlets."

Each quarter of 2005, the editorial team at GoNOMAD will review applications in the form of a one-page synopsis of where the author wants to go and what kind of a story they want to write. Writers should include a one-page list of published travel articles, 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.

"We hope to see many submissions from talented people who need this little bit of help to make their travel dreams come true," said St. John. GoNOMAD.com will have the first right to publish the destination guides, and submissions are not limited to traditional travel writing. "We are open to publishing photo or video galleries or guides done as podcasts," said GoNOMAD Editor/Owner Max Hartshorne, one of the four judges for the awards.

"We are hoping that this financial incentive will bring us lots of new talent and these new voices will bring fresh perspectives to the website. We are always looking for great new destinations to write about, and being able to offer cash awards will bring many writers out of the woodwork," said Hartshorne.

Submit your one-page proposal to GoNOMAD.com, P.O. Box 4, South Deerfield, MA 01373. Email: travelawards@gonomad.com, or fax 413-665-5006. No phone calls please.

Deadline for the first Travel award is April 15, 2005, the grant will be awarded on May 15, 2005.