Q&A with Travel 91快播 Awards winner Ben Lerwill, Specialist Travel Writer of the Year 2021
What did it mean to you to win Specialist Travel Writer of the Year?
An enormous amount. I was thrilled just to be nominated, so to win the award was way beyond my expectations. I was shortlisted alongside a group of writers that I really admire. The day after it was announced, I had a couple of emails from editors I鈥檇 not worked with before, so it really did give me a boost professionally.
What have been your biggest challenges of the past year?
From a travel writing perspective, the biggest challenge was metaphorically dusting down my passport and figuring out the kind of trips I鈥檇 like to prioritise. For a long while, it felt a bit like the starting gun had gone off and I was still floundering around trying to tie my shoelaces.
What makes a really good travel story?
I鈥檇 say it varies hugely depending on the topic, but I love reading pieces that have a genuine warmth and curiosity to them. You can tell when someone鈥檚 thrown themselves into a feature 鈥� the writing has real heart and honesty. The other upside is that when a writer鈥檚 looking to tell a meaningful story, it generally means there鈥檚 far less room for cliches.
Where鈥檚 on your travel list for 2022?
I鈥檓 crossing Europe by rail to spend time in Romania, which is massively exciting. I鈥檓 also off to South Africa to write about how some of the game reserves are recovering after the turbulence of the pandemic. I鈥檒l be doing plenty of UK stuff as well, with a lot of walking, and Ireland and France are on the agenda, too.
Do you think travel writing will change over the next few years?
I think it鈥檚 already changing. Several of the specialist titles are including a much greater range of voices and perspectives, and I imagine too that we鈥檒l continue to see a rise in pieces that focus on responsible tourism, community tourism and low-impact breaks. I鈥檇 also like to think that, collectively, we鈥檒l resign the word 鈥業nstagrammable鈥� to the dustbin of history. Confession: I鈥檝e been guilty of using it in the past. And I鈥檓 sorry.
If you鈥檇 like to for the awards, it鈥檚 easy, and free of charge, to do so on our website. Enter now to make sure you鈥檙e in the running for the 2022 Travel 91快播 Awards, which will be presented on 26 September 2022 at The Dorchester in London.
KEY DATES
14 February 鈥� awards open for entries
29 April 鈥� entries close
25 July 鈥� recipient of Outstanding Contribution Award announced
1 August 鈥� finalists announced
26 September 鈥� awards ceremony takes place
