Imagine walking down a street to the nearest taverna as the last light dances across the hilly city.
You pull up a chair under the canopy of cascading vines, order a glass of the finest Assyrtiko, and continue the discussion with like-minded writers about word choices, getting into flow, and the use of adverbs.
This could be you and me, in Athens, this November. 😊
For years, I taught numerous students how to pitch, work with editors and tourism boards, and build a career in travel media.
This November, I'm teaching something even more essential: the craft of writing itself.
Join me here for three days of storytelling, deep discussions on the craft, and writing exercises in one of the world's most inspiring cities, surrounded by a small, dedicated group of fellow writers.

In three days, you'll learn how to write well, structure a travel story, and craft winning personal essays.
PLUS: You'll join an exclusive live virtual session with a working travel editor and attend fun group activities to invigorate our creative senses, followed by the closing-night soirée.
This is a beginner-friendly workshop open to all levels: from emerging writers just dipping their toes into the practice to seasoned practitioners looking to reignite their creativity.
Workshop dates: November 6 – 8, 2026.
Workshop tuition: an inaugural rate of $1,200. (Future intensives will run at a higher cost.)
I designed this workshop as a 3-day creative immersion that fits into a long weekend.
You'll walk away with better writing skills, new creative practices to add to your arsenal, and insights into what editors are looking for in features and personal essays today.
If you're based in Europe, the Mediterranean, or the U.K., it's a weekend trip. 😉
U.S.-based? Consider making a week out of it. November marks the start of low season in Athens, when visitor numbers drop, leading to more budget-friendly airfare and hotel rates.
You can use it however you'd like: to review your portfolio, get feedback on your work, receive advice on a particular project, or even compare notes on our creative endeavors. This private one-hour call will be scheduled at a time of your choosing.
➡️ The code to get this perk is inside your paid-member newsletter.
xx Yulia
🏠 Inside Going Places
A new deep dive series
ICYMI: last week we kicked off our new series, Going Places Deep Dive, that goes deeper into select places around the globe via stories of people who live and work there.
Part 1 introduces Indigenous struggles in Chile, the world's southernmost country. 🇨🇱 Part 2 is out this Wednesday!

Let's talk
This Fall, I'm conducting a series of listening calls to better understand how we can be more useful to our audience.
I want to know more about you, how you came across Going Places, and what we can do to deliver more value to you as we continue building our platform.
Interested? Book a 30-min call with me here.
🚀 Paid Members Corner
This week's creator opportunities
For less than a cup of ☕, you can unlock your access here PLUS support our editorial coverage.
🚀 Win three nights to stay at Swedish Baltic Coast – enter by Sun, Sep 6
🚀 Win $500 to get a day off work – apply by Mon, Sep 14
🚀 A $500 WITS scholarship for women and non-binary travel creators of color – apply by Sun, Oct 25
🚀 Win $20,000 to fund your environmental photography – apply by Mon, Nov 30
🚀 Wall Street Journal is seeking lifestyle pitches – no deadline
🚀 An opportunity to work with the Czech tourism board – no deadline
🚀 SAVEUR is seeking pitches about food and more – no deadline
🚀 This Chase Travel photo editor is seeking to connect with photographers and other travel media pros – no deadline
🚀🔓BONUS: Get $90,000 to write at New York Public Library – apply by Fri, Sep 26
🚀🔓BONUS: Get free hotel + $300 to speak at WITS next year – apply by Fri, Nov 20
Find all the latest opportunities here.
🔓 Bonus opportunities are unlocked for our free subscribers.
🌍 In The World
Get paid to travel
This Friday, I'm leading a free virtual session for Freelance Opportunities!, a weekly newsletter and platform that connects independent workers with paid freelance opportunities.
In this session, Get Paid to Travel, I'll discuss everything you need to know to get started as a travel writer.
The session kicks off at 2 pm EST on Friday, September 11.
Get more details and register here.
Guess This Place
Let's play a game 🗺️
Your task is to name this place.
Today's place is:

Know this place? You can check your answer on our site here.
Last week's answer was Barcelona, Spain.
100% human-made | Become a member to support our work here
RISE Travel Institute is our Founding Member
RISE is a nonprofit with a mission to create a more just and equitable world through travel education.
➡️ This November, RISE is running the Experiential Journey to the Indian Himalayas. Their RISE Traveler Pathway is a new self-paced program for travelers, digital nomads, content creators, and tourism practitioners centered on justice and systems thinking. Use code GoingPlacesCommunity for 10% off!
Interested in your organization becoming a Founding Member? Get in touch here.
Radostina Boseva is our Founding Member
Radostina Boseva is a film wedding photographer with an editorial flair based between SF and Europe.
To get a shout-out like this in every issue, join us as an individual Founding Member here.
We pay $1,008 a year to host Going Places online. Help us offset this cost with a one-time tip 🙏
Did you know? You can now learn with Yulia
Check out our current offerings (classes, private sessions, and mentorships) here.

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