By Elisa Southard, Board Member and Chair, BATW Anthology

Deadline: Oct. 15. Entries: 75. Word count: 800-1800. Shelf life: digitally unlimited.

If you have not submitted your entry for the inaugural BATW anthology, grab some papyrus, for this applies to you! You owe yourself a potential publishing opportunity and your readers the chance to share in your travel experiences. October 15^th or 75 entries mark the cutoff; 800-1800 defines the word count. Shelf life? The anthology will be published in e-book form and available in print, too, for your personal collection and promotion. In addition, you’ll gain unlimited access to readers as they scroll down screens to read your story on their iPad, Tablet, SmartPhone or Laptop, even Desktop…

Submitting an entry aligns with a BATW core purpose, “to promote the exchange of ideas and information among the traveling public…” We all have a responsibility to inspire those around us to trek, travel, globetrot, tour and taste the palette of our planet, so why not take advantage of a unique opportunity to do so?

We welcome judges Janet Fullwood, who launched her travel editorial career at the Dallas Times Herald, then served as travel editor of the Sacramento Bee for 21 years; John Flinn, former long-time travel editor for the San Francisco Chronicle; and Julia Cosgrove, executive editor of AFAR, published in San Francisco.

The judges will look for well-written stories that represent the best of our membership, so craft a piece you’ve been noodling with, or rally a winning piece of the past into the present and submit it!

I will keep this short so you have more time to write! Sign in to the members-only section of the website, look on top and click where it reads New! BATW Inaugural Anthology: Call for Entries. It couldn’t be easier. Here is the link to log in: http://batw.memberclicks.net/login.

If you still have questions, look below for additional story possibilities that committee member Sandy Sims has complied.

Finally, mark your calendar for March 17, 2012. Join us to out-party St. Patrick when we celebrate BATW’s Anthology release.

Possibilities for Anthology Submissions:

1. Submit that perfect story that just happens to fit within the word count and publication dates. (Don’t forget to get permission from previous publisher.)

2. Write a brand new story (within the word count) just for the contest. Here’s your chance to put together the one you’ve always wanted to write.

3. Take a published story (within the dates) that is too short and add to it, expand it or, likewise, shorten a long one. Then, if you like, add a qualifier sentence at the end that this story was published on (date) by (publisher), but has been added to/altered/whatever you choose. (You still need permission from the publisher.)

4. Pull out that story that never got published, freshen it up and make it fit the word count.

5. You can even take an old story or a section of one, give it a whole new slant and make it a fresh new piece.

6. If you are in the process of writing a book, find a story within the book that works as a travel story. Just keep in mind the idea of it being a fresh story, not one published years ago.

Once again, here’s the log in for the full Call for Entries: http://batw.memberclicks.net/login.

Dear BATW Members:

We are thrilled to be getting an early response to the call for submissions for BATW’s first ebook and print-on-demand anthology contest. Along with these early submissions have come questions. This e-mail should help clear up some of them.

The stated parameters for the stories are this:

Timeline: Stories must have been written OR published between October 15, 2010 and October 15, 2011. Expanded published articles are acceptable provided they fall within the 800-1800 word count. (If previously published articles are submitted, obtaining reprint rights is responsibility of entrant.)

The idea here is to compile fresh, well-written stories that represent the best of BATW.

Some of you have questioned the timeline or the word count, but these parameters give you some leeway. Here are some possibilities:

1. Submit that perfect story that just happens to fit within the word count and publication dates. (Don’t forget to get permission from previous publisher.)

2. Write a brand new story (within the word count) just for the contest. Here’s your chance to put together the one you’ve always wanted to write.

3. Take a published story (within the dates) that is too short and add to it, expand it or, likewise, shorten a long one. Then, if you like, add a qualifier sentence at the end that this story was published on such and such a date by so and so but has been added to/altered/whatever you choose. (You still need permission from the publisher.)

4. Pull out that story that never got published, freshen it up and make it fit the word count.

5. You can even take an old story or a section of one, give it a whole new slant and make it a fresh new piece.

6. If you are in the process of writing a book, find a story within the book that works as a travel story. But keep in mind the idea of it being a fresh story, not one published years ago.

Submission Limit: Some question our limit of 75 submissions. Remember that we are volunteers, and this will take much of our time. We want this to be an excellent representation of our membership.

Detailed information on submission is on the Members-Only side of the BATW Website.  You will find a link to it at the top of the Home page when you login.

We look forward to your submissions. Please be sure to send them to the e-mail address on the submission form. (If you need a submission form, e-mail Elisa or Sandy.)

In light of the growing need to be our own advocates, BATW has decided to showcase member works. Instead of giving out awards in 2012, BATW is going to create an anthology. The stories—to be selected by judges—will be published as an e-book, which will also be available in a well-designed print-on-demand book.

We invite you to submit an entry for the inaugural Anthology.

Submit EARLY, as only the first 75 entries will be considered.

SUBMISSION RULES:

Who may submit: BATW members only (dues must be current)

Entry Limit: Limit of two entries per member

Word count: 800 – 1800. Entries outside the word count will be ineligible.

Photos: No photos with the story

Timeline: Stories must have been written OR published between October 15, 2010 and October 15, 2011. Expanded published articles are acceptable provided they fall within the 800-1800 word count.

(If previously published articles are submitted, obtaining reprint rights is responsibility of entrant).

Fee: $10 per entry

Make check payable to: BATW/Anthology

Mail to: Sandy Sims, 1507 De Anza Way, San Jose, CA 95125

No entries accepted without payment.

Bio: Include short bio – maximum 50 words

Form of submittal: •Entries will be accepted by e-mail only, in MS Word, and double-spaced.

Include contact page with title of story, your name, address, date, phone number and e-mail address.

Include a separate title page with title and word count only.

Article pages: no name on article pages!

E-mail entries to: batw2012anth@gmail.com

Date: Deadline for entries is October 15, 2011, or upon receipt of the first 75 entries, whichever comes first.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Judging criteria includes originality, creativity, accuracy, and appropriateness for general readership.

IMPORTANT DATES:

July 15, 2011                        Entry submission begins

Oct. 15, 2011                        Entry deadline (if maximum of 75 not reached)

Oct. 15- Nov. 15, 2011           Entry coordination and submittal to judges

Nov. 15 – Jan. 15, 2012          Judging period

Jan. 15 – Feb. 28                   Book production

March  1                                Contributors announced. Prepare to Party!

March 17, 2012                      Move over St. Patrick – BATW Book Launch Party

QUESTIONS: Please direct all inquiries to:

Elisa Southard, ElisaSouthard@gmail.com or

Sandy Sims, sansims@aol.com

Laura Fraser (photos © John Montgomery)

Recently, a friend told me that in his youth, an adult wrapped his fingers around a musical instrument. He related, “They channeled all the kids in my group that way, but I would have played if I wasn’t so pressured.” He has been blind since birth.

Like my friend, we as travel writers often channel our attention on one sense: sight. Readers expect it. They “sight-see;” visitors carry “Eyewitness” travel guides; a popular handbook proposes, 1000 Places to See Before You Die.

At our February 19th meeting, New York Times best-selling author Laura Fraser broadened our “sights,” so to speak. Through humor, metaphors and suggestions, she urged us to boost our writing with senses.

She discussed how a writer could fall into the habit of focusing on the visual and wrapping up with the epiphany. “It’s interesting how far we can take the ‘epiphanating,’” she laughed.

She urged us to expand our sensory experiences by using postcards to focus on a smell, a touch, a taste, instead of the expected. The next morning, I wrote “smell” on top of an index card, tucked it into my back pocket along with a pencil, and took it on my morning walk with our greyhound/lab, Fargo. His sniffing led me to explore my own.

Co-president Ginny Prior

Laura started with the simple, “The dessert was delicious,” and graduated into several multi-sensory examples. She wrapped up with Lonely Planet’s A Movable Feast, edited by Don George, whom she cited as an early mentor to many Bay Area writers.

Her topic dovetailed with the mood of the meeting, itself a Movable Feast. Co-president Ginny Prior got out from behind the podium during the business portion. She weaved around chairs, extending the microphone to members with announcements, pacing the meeting, inviting participation.

One particular announcement delighted members who attended the App presentation in January. Laurie McAndish King and Suzie Rodriquez are offering a full day App workshop at Fort Mason on April 2nd.

High-School Writing Contest Winners Michelle Robertson and Rachel Seiler

The feast moved on. Two of the three Student Travel Writing Contest winners comprised our other guests of honor, their smiles enhancing our own, and their families taking up almost the entire first two rows.

First place winner Michelle Robertson’s piece “A Kiwi Grove in Israel,” connected us to world chaos with a realization. Her muse, the orchard, with Lebanon on her right and Israel on her left, “stood not only as an endower of fruit, but as a barrier between two treacherous war zones.” She heightened senses with verbs such as “entice,” “conceal,” “erupted” and “flared.” Michelle attends Acalanes High School in Lafayette.

Monica Conrady, Lee Daley & Karen Misuraca

Dichotomy ensued as Rachel Seiler, from Wilson High School in Santa Clara, soothed us with her close-to-home piece, “Terri Falls,” (near Lake Tahoe). Her third place essay overflowed with calm as she offered, “Happiness, contentment, joy, peace and harmony fill you as you take in this beautiful mystery.”

Though not present, Miguel Cervantes from Cabrillo College in Aptos, came in second with “Enjoy Without Prejudice.” How about this for multi-sensory writing? Miguel describes his family’s stop at a Guadalajara taco stand. “The sound of sizzling oil gave me an appetite like no other. Besides, the owner’s daughters were gorgeous.”

cake honoring High-School Writing Contest winners

We ended the Movable Feast with a delicious chocolate cake that Program Chair Erin Caslavka arranged for, complete with “Congratulations Student Travel Writing Winners” swirled on top. Finally, as we exited the meeting at Books Inc., the aroma of artisan-roasted coffee escorted each one of us as we walked past the entrance to Peet’s, inhaling deeply.

– Elisa Southard

Lee Foster

The Rebecca Bruns Award is awarded bi-annually by Bay Area Travel Writers to one of its members whose dedication, both personally and professionally, has had a significant influence on fellow travel writers and their profession. Naturally, outstanding success is part of the equation, but it is not enough to say that the individual’s professional achievements are laudatory. More than that, the award recognizes originality, individuality and most of all, generosity in giving back to the writing community.

The 2010 Rebecca Bruns Award recipient is longtime BATW member Lee Foster.  Lee’s forward thinking, his dedication to professional development and education and his generosity as a teacher and mentor place him in the forefront of travel journalism today. BATW honors Lee with this recognition for his many contributions to the BATW membership and to the travel writing industry.

Congratulations, Lee Foster.

– Lee Daley

BATW BEST 2010 Writing and Photography Awards

Category 1 – Magazine Articles

Judges: Larry Bleiberg and Al Bonowitz

GOLD
Bill Fink
“Magic Realism Realized in Cartegena”
San Francisco Chronicle Magazine

SILVER
Bill Fink
“Travel Tales — Battle for a Bus Seat”
Islands magazine

BRONZE: Lee Foster
“Let’s Go to the Movies: California as a Movie Backdrop”
Rand McNally 2009 California Travel Atlas

Honorable Mention: Diane M.Covington
“Finding Gilbert”
Reader’s Digest

Category 2 – Best Newspaper Article

Judges: Donald George and John Flinn

GOLD: Bill Fink
“Across Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad”
San Francisco Chronicle

SILVER: David T. Page
“Both Paradise and Safe Haven”
New York Times

BRONZE: Erin Van Rheenen
“Escape to a Tropical Alcatraz”
Los Angeles Times

Honorable Mention: Hank Mattimore
“The Gentle People, Visiting with the Tarahumara Indians”
Daily Republic

Category 3: Travel-Related Essay/Article in an Anthology

Judges: Sean O’Reilly and Bob Jenkins

GOLD: TIE
Natalie Galli
“Risen”, The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2009, Travelers’ Tales
AND
David Laws
“The Setting for Stories”, Steinbeck Review, Spring 2009, Wiley-Blackwell

SILVER: TIE
Ken Matusow
“The Long Red Road”, The Best Travel Writing 2009, Travelers’ Tales
AND
April Orcutt
“On the Lam on the Long Road to Lhasa”, Flightless: Incredible Journeys Without Leaving the Ground, Lonely Planet

BRONZE: Ken Matusow
“Grandpere”, Dreams and Inward Journeys, Longman

Honorable Mention:
Laurie McAndish King
“Big Cats”, The Best Womens’ Travel Writing 2009 and
“Sheela na Gig”, Venturing in Ireland: Quest for the Modern Celtic Soul, Travelers’ Tales

Category 4 – Best Text/Photo Combo articles

Judges: Donald George end John Flinn

GOLD: Ginger Dingus
“Riverboat Rambler”
New York Daily News

SILVER: Lee Foster
“San Luis Obispo, a Wine Lover’s Delight”
Distinctly Northwest magazine

BRONZE: Lee Daley
“Pozos, Artists Breathe New Life in to Old Mining Town”
Epicurean Traveler

Honorable Mention: Diane M. Covington
“Voila, Black Gold, on the Trial of Truffles in the Dordogne Region of France”
Ventana magazine

Category 5 – Internet Travel Article

Judges: Jim Benning and Nelson Alcantara

GOLD: Robert W. Bone
“Vietnam, 40 Years Later”, JPGMag.com

SILVER: Renata Polt
“Whistler, Before the Olympics”, culturevulture.net

BRONZE: Diane LeBow
“A Visit to Palau”, creators.com

Category 6 – Travel Guide Books

Judges: Ken Smith and Georgia Hesse

GOLD: David T. Page
Yosemite & Southern Sierra Nevada Travel Guide, Countryman Press

SILVER: Karen Misuraca
Backroads of the California Coast, Voyageur Press

BRONZE: Robert Stone
Day Hikes around Napa Valley, Day Hike Books

Category 8 – Writers’ Web sites

Judges: Jim Benning and Sean O’Reilly

GOLD: Patricia Arrigoni
www.travelpublishers.com

SILVER: David Page
www.sierrasurvey.com

BRONZE: Stephanie Levin
www.steffelevin.com

Honorable Mention: Lee Foster
www.LeeFoster.com

Honorable Mention: Carole Terwilliger Meyers
www.caroletmeyers.com

Honorable Mention: Diane Covington
www.dianecovington.com

Photography Winners

Category 9—Newspaper or Magazine Travel Photograph

Judges: Robert Holmes and Glen Steiner

GOLD
Zip Line, Honduras Island Hopping
John Montgomery
News-Herald, Southgate, MI

SILVER
Elephant Butte, Monument Valley
Janet and Stuart Wilson
RV Journal Magazine

BRONZE
Man on Log at Rialto Beach, Washington
Lee Foster
AARP The Magazine

Category 10—Internet Travel Photograph

GOLD
Irrawaddy Life
Laurie Weed
Verge Magazine

SILVER
Tienda Talk
Lee Daley
Epicurean Traveler

BRONZE
Kenya Thorn Tree
Lee Foster
National Geographic Traveler Magazine

Planet Earth 2010

“Travel writing that helps to sustain or enhance the unique and valuable character of a place — its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and/or the well-being of its residents.”

Best Travel Article or Essay for Planet Earth

Judges: Louis D’Amore and Bruce Anderson

GOLD
“Global Warming’s Poster Child”, Houston Chronicle
David G. Houser

SILVER
“Big Cats, No Guns”
Best Women’s Travel Writing 2009, Travelers’ Tales
Laurie McAndish King

BRONZE
“Icemen Cometh”, Discover magazine
Douglas Fox

Best Travel Book for Planet Earth

Judges: Dr. Gail Lash and Brad Newsham

GOLD
Sacred Places North America: 108 Destinations
CCC Publishing
Brad Olsen

SILVER
Yosemite & The Southern Sierra Nevada: A Complete Guide, Including Sequoia & Kings Canyon, Death Valley & Mammoth Lakes
Countryman Press
David T. Page

BRONZE
Nomad’s Hotel: Travels in Time and Space
Mariner Books
Cees Nooteboom

- – - – - – - – - -

See all the winning photographs under “Members News” on this website.

Rebecca Bruns, a inspiration to many BATW members

Rebecca Bruns, a founding member of BATW and one of our shining stars, had her trajectory cut tragically short by illness in 1994, at the age of 44. That she remains a muse to many of us is a testament to both her brilliance and her generosity of spirit.

Rebecca was a mentor in the true sense of the word, working hard, achieving success and sharing her every secret about writing, marketing, motivation. In BATW’s fledgling years, a small number of aspiring writers gathered monthly at one another’s homes, to hear manuscripts in progress read aloud. Rebecca’s were invariably spellbinding, yet so too was her agility at helping others bring their work to a new level. She wrote, as she lived, with passion, honesty and creativity. Her metaphors, like her adventures, were gutsy and original.

To an exceptional friend, teacher and writer, we dedicate this webpage.

– Carol Canter

Rebecca was a mentor in the true sense of the word, working hard, achieving success and sharing her every secret about writing, marketing, motivation. In BATW’s fledgling years, a small number of aspiring writers gathered monthly at one another’s homes, to hear manuscripts in progress read aloud. Rebecca’s were invariably spellbinding, yet so too was her agility at helping others bring their work to a new level. She wrote, as she lived, with passion, honesty and creativity. Her metaphors, like her adventures, were gutsy and original.

To an exceptional friend, teacher and writer, we dedicate this webpage on the 10th anniversary of her passing.

Carol Canter
December 2004