The 'I Must Be Off' Travel Writing Comp Results!

I was honoured to be asked to judge the I Must Be Off Competition this year. The results have now been announced - see Chris Allen's post below - and I'll be sharing my Judge's Report with you as soon as it's published on the website. (You can read the shortlist here.)

The 2018 I Must Be Off! Travel Writing Competition -- The Results!

Again this year the I Must Be Off! Travel Writing Competition has been a storm of stories from around the world. From the mountains of India to the depths of the oceans, from Mongolia to Maine, you've taken us there--and for this we're grateful. We love being part of your adventures.

This year's judge has been Amanda (Mandy) Huggins, who currently has not one but two short fiction collections out: Brightly Coloured Horses (Chapleton Books) and Separated from the Sea (Retreat West Books). The writers of the three highly commended entries below will receive a copy of Separated from the Sea. Huggins, also an award-winning travel writer, will share her thoughts on the pieces and the competition in her judge's report, which will be published here in September.

Congratulations again to everyone who made the long list and the shortlist. We hope you'll participate in next year's competition.

The Winners of the 2018 I Must Be Off! Travel Writing Competition:

First Place

"My Name is Mai" by J L Hall (Scotland)

Second Place

"Not Your Mother's Travel Porn" by Douglas Weissman (USA)

Highly Commended

"A Fighter in the Waste" by Nolan Janssens (Chile, Belgium, Canada)

"Beyond the Reef" by Brittany Rohm (USA)

"A Peaceful Warzone" by Hannah Elkak (UK, Saudi Arabia)


These five entries will appear at I Must Be Off! in September and October. There is still a Readers' Choice Award to be given, so please comment on and share your favorite pieces.

I must be off,
Christopher