Lonely Planet legend Don George shares his advice on the craft of travel writing

SINGAPORE — He’s the travel writer who’s teaching budding writers how to become one, thanks to best-selling books such as Lonely Planet’s Guide To Travel Writing (now into its third edition), as well as Tales From Nowhere: Unexpected Stories From Unexpected Places.

Writing aside, this ultimate globetrotter traipses to different cities to give workshops on the art and craft of travel writing — and that’s what brings him to The Arts House here in two weeks.

“At The Arts House, I’m going to talk about how to find, shape and build a successful travel story,” he revealed. “I’ll also talk about being a travel writer in the field — when I land in a place, how do I move through it, how do I process it, what am I looking for?”

In the works is another anthology, but George promises it will be a book anyone can digest easily. “It will be an extremely slim volume!”

Q: What’s the best advice somebody has given you about the business?

A: Identify your goals, chart the path that will get you to them, be open to serendipitous interventions and detours. Lastly, don’t give up.

Q: You advise budding travel writers to read a lot. What are some of your favourite magazines and websites?

A: My favourite authors are Paul Theroux, Tim Cahill, Jan Morris, Colin Thubron and Pico Iyer. My favourite travel book of all time is The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen. In terms of magazines, I read National Geographic Traveler and AFAR magazines, and I glance through Conde Nast Traveler and Travel & Leisure. For websites, I’m very excited about the Web column BBC Travel has recently asked me to edit, called Words & Wanderlust.

Q: After travelling to more than 60 countries, which country or city has your heart?

A: The three countries where I’ve lived always have my heart — France, Greece and Japan. I became a travel writer in Paris; I fell in love with Western civilisation in Athens; and I fell in love with the woman who became my wife — and with Eastern culture — in Tokyo. But in many ways, the last place I’ve visited, wherever it is, is the freshest infatuation.

Q: What do you wish more travellers would do when they’re in a foreign country?

A: They should spend at least one day getting outside their comfort zone; getting to know local people and their everyday ways. One of my most fervent beliefs is that if regular people from supposedly antagonistic countries could share a day with each other, culminating in a meal that they had shopped for and prepared together, the world would make a great leap forward towards understanding and peace. The whole notion of “They”, “the Other”, “the Enemy” disappears when you realise just how similar “They” are to “Us”. Serene Lim

To register for Don George’s workshop on Aug 27 at The Arts House, visit http://www.bytes.sg