How I got published in a travel book

Getting one’s story published in a newspaper or magazine is one thing, but it getting published in an international book is something of a different level altogether. I have been published in several newspapers, but the joy right now of holding a real book with my story in it is impeccable. Here is the short backstory of how this happened.

One December 2016 night, I found an online travel story writing contest by a Portuguese company called Navigator Paper. I was high on my recent 'Returning from Bhutan-but cancelled flight tickets-went to Darjeeling' story (Read here) Without much thought, I squeezed the episode into under 2500 characters and submitted it for the contest and forgot all about it. Nothing really ever comes out of these random online international contests. How wrong I was.

A month later I received an email stating that my story had been selected as one of the 80 'Most Inspirational Travel Stories' out of over 1300 entries received. The story was to be published in a book called 'Around the World in 80 Pages'. I was thrilled beyond anything!

I didn't make it to the top 3 prize winners list but this was already beyond imagination. Over the next few weeks the editing of the story was carried out and after a good 6 month wait, the book arrived in the last week of July. Hard bound. Real.

A post shared by On second thoughts (@iamantarik) on Sep 5, 2017 at 5:16am PDT

The book contains brilliant and inspiring travel stories by travelers from around the world. There are stories by teenagers, couples, solo travelers, and even grannies out on adventures.

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When my friends and I had cancelled our flight tickets/further plans that November morning on the way from Phuentsholing (Bhutan) to Bagdogra, it had just been emotions talking. We were not thinking logically. Perhaps sometimes it's okay to be impulsive, to take crazy decisions, to do what your heart tells you to do and not think what the world is going to say or how the boss will give you a hard time if you don't turn up at work just one day.

And that in all these months has perhaps been the best impulsive decision I have made. Now it's a legacy for THE WORLD to read as ONE OF THE MOST INSPIRING TRAVEL STORIES of 2016.

This happened last month. Check out the pics of MY BOOK. Yes, I am now PUBLISHED! (AND HOW IT HAPPENED IS INSANE!) :D #onsecondthoughts #publishedauthor #writer #writersofinstagram #travelwriter #travelblogger #adventurethatislife #travelgram

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You can read the longer version of the published story here: The Love Letters from Darjeeling

Have a similar inspiring travel story of your own? Please do share in the comments below!

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