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Do a Freelance Travel Writing Workshop in Barcelona

Are you a wannabe travel writer or an aspiring journalist with itchy feet? Do you want to spend a month living in the cosmopolitan city of Barcelona, being mentored by media industry pros and getting real-world writing experience?

Immerse yourself in the Catalan home of art, history and architecture that has long inspired writers with Global Hobo. For a month over European summer, you’ll be shacking up in a flash Barcelona apartment (complete with rooftop pool) and wrapping your tongue around the Spanish language whilst you learn the ropes of freelance journalism, including how to pitch and get published.

Writing and language classes will be held in hip workspaces scattered across the city, and there’ll be a maximum of four hours of class per day. In your free time, you’ll be wandering the boulevards, cobbled streets and plazas in search of local gems to put together an online destination guide in small teams. Not only will this give some solid copywriting experience, but it’ll force you to step outside your comfort zone and throw yourself into exploring Barcelona. You’ll also be producing two articles to be pitched and published online – either for Global Hobo or elsewhere – which will be heavily workshopped and edited over the course of the program.

There’ll also be plenty room for weekend adventures to the rich and diverse countryside that surrounds the city, from La Rioja’s red wine regions to the richly forested Pyrenees mountains and the glittering shores of Costa Brava. We’ll help organise (optional) group trips to make things easier, and have loads of tips and suggested itineraries, no matter your heart’s desire.

It’s also going to be festival season, meaning you can head out to villages like Haro to join in the town wine fight, make like Hemmingway and head to Pamplona for San Fermin or dance ’til sunrise to massive headliners at music gigs in the city. Above all, we’ll be encouraging you to get off the beaten track and look for unique experiences and interactions, as the whole time you’re with us in Spain, we want you to be creating narratives, features and editorial pieces that are as engaging as they are informative.

Spain is a place where quality of life is treasured above everything else, and long lunches are followed by even longer sobremesas – extended periods of wine drinking and chatting. We’ll learn why siestas are woven into the working week; we’ll take living cues from the locals and make time to share and enjoy the fresh produce, regional specialities and wines.

If you’re a high-school leaver, this program is the perfect mini exchange to squeeze in before you hit the books again next year. If you’re already in the throes of university and studying something like journalism or communications, you may even be eligible for a full subject’s credit. And if you’re not studying and you’re just on the hunt for a project that combines travel and writing, this is the ultimate opportunity to get some real-world industry experience.

What you get:

  • Daily travel-writing and blogging workshops with a range of passionate young people who work in the media industry (writers and editors from Global Hobo, the ABC, New Matilda, VICE, Surfing Life etc.). Think creative non-fiction, feature and editorial writing; pitching to editors; building a portfolio and working as a freelancer on the road in exchange for sweet, sweet cash.
  • A month of Spanish language classes
  • A wine-tasting sesh
  • 28 nights’ twin-share accommodation in swish apartments in the city. There’s a swimming pool, heaps of rad chill areas, 24-hour security and an epic rooftop. Check the joint out here.
  • Potential university credit
  • Note that flights are not included! Sorry, but we couldn’t possibly tee up deals with every airline and from every city in the world.

Cost:

  • $3950AUD per person to cover accommodation, writing workshops, language classes and cultural experiences. Once you’re in, a deposit is required to secure your spot, and full payment is due 120 days before the course begins.

Upcoming Program Dates:

  • June 22 – July 19, 2020 (arrive Sunday June 21, last class Thursday July 16)

Successful applicants will be intelligent, open-minded creatives looking for some real-world journalism experience and to get a taste of Barcelona and Spain beyond their tourist vortex. The ability to work well in a group is essential. Do note though that the course is just that: a course. You don’t need to already have a foot in the door of the media industry to apply, nor do you already need to be the best writer. All the skills you’ll need to start sculpting your words like a pro and getting published will be taught as part of the curriculum. In fact, many students often keep working for Global Hobo on a freelance basis once the course is over.

FAQ

  • This looks kind of scammy — I’d like to read some reviews of the program from previous hobos!
    • Suss our Japanand Bali Testimonials Pages (we’re still in the midst of our first Spain workshops, so reviews will be up soon!).
  • I want to know some more information about the program!
  • What do some of the previous guidebooks look like?
    • Check out some gold whipped up by our former spunky interns here.
  • What are your terms and conditions?

To Apply:

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Astray is based out of Lenapehoking / New York City: the homeland of the Lenape. Specifically, we’re in Manhattan: a name that comes from Mannahatta, meaning “island of many hills”. As grateful guests in this city, we recognize the strength and resilience of the Lenape, and extend our reverence to all Indigenous peoples everywhere. This acknowledgement comes from our commitment to working against the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism.