5 Travel Writing Tips
Travel writing sounds like the most fun job in the world (and, well, it kind of is) - but it’s still work! There are plenty of how-to articles out there if you are interested in getting started, but what we haven’t seen are tips to help you get inspired to write! Please note that this list is for fiction / poetry more than for writing travel guides or reviews, but we hope these tips will help anyone!
#1 - Get Touristing Out of the Way
You can’t get work done if you aren’t working. When I travel, I try to cram as must tourist sightseeing into day 1 and/or day 2. This gives me plenty of time to just enjoy the city after that. If you’re focusing on your upcoming visit to the Eiffle Tour, it could be harder to focus. Plus, once you’ve seen the sights it is easy to think about what sight was most inspiring to you! You can always go back and re-visit a sight.
Even more importantly though, don’t cheat yourself. Just because you are working doesn’t mean you can’t play too. Don’t skip the touristing, just get it done early so you can enjoy the city you are in for the city itself.
#2 - Take Care of Yourself!
I wish this could go without saying but take care of yourself! Remember to eat balanced meals (pasta for every meal isn’t a good idea, even if you are in Italy). Wash your hands, sleep normal hours. Don’t party every night. Getting sick on vacation is the worst, but also just feeling weary and uncomfortable is no fun either.
#3 - Get Lost
Wandering the streets is one of the best ways to get inspired. Be safe, be aware of your surroundings, and let yourself get lost. Up a side street, down an alley, under a bridge - take the road less traveled! You never know what you will stumble across.
This advise may not always go so well. In Siena, Italy, I found charming, floral sidestreets like the one pictured above. In Tennessee, USA, I got lost on a mountain and had to scale my way down a cliff-side - it was terrifying! Either way, a good story though! Get lost, but be careful and smart about it!
#4 - Use Time Unwisely
Okay, this headline is deceiving. What I mean is: work at odd hours. Get up ridiculously early one morning to watch a sunrise. Stay out late one night to walk along the river after dark. Not only do you get lovely photos and the chance to see the city at different times, but it’s also less crowded - a perfect time to sit and do some writing.
#5 - Go Solo
I love traveling with friends and my partner, but it makes writing more difficult. Sometimes other folks are ready to move on, and you have to rush through your notes. You want to be able to take your time and focus on your work, so sometimes ask to break away from your group! Take a night to explore on your own, or wake up early and go before anyone else even wakes up. Of course, if you’re a solo traveler than even better! Taking sometime for yourself gives you the opportunity to clear your head and focus on your own goals. Take that time and use it!
Best of luck and happy writing!
