How Travel Improves Your Writing
My 5+ month journey through Southeast Asia
I’ve been traveling overseas for 5+ months now.
My time has been spent in three countries:
Vietnam
Cambodia
Thailand
The experience has been lifechanging.
And I can confidently say it’s made me a better writer.
Here are 3 ways travel can improve your writing:
1. Total focus
I’m 26 years old.
I was working an office job in Washington D.C. when I decided to put aside money and plan this trip.
The goal was to see new parts of the world while focusing on writing full-time.
It’s been a real luxury.
Away from my normal life, I’m able to completely set my own schedule.
Mornings are the best time for me to work.
Instead of answering company emails over a cup of coffee, I can work on NORMIE.
I definitely miss my family and friends (severely), but this trip has allowed me to jump-start my writing career. I think the time set aside will be well worth it in the end.
2. Time to read
According to Stephen King, “Reading is the creative center of a writer’s life.”
It can be hard to find time to read while living a normal life. This is one of the many reasons I like my current strategy of publishing weekly chapters of NORMIE through this newsletter.
While working in D.C., I did my best to read on my morning and evening commutes. I took the metro into work, a clear inspiration for the events of NORMIE.
Even though I had time to read on my commute, there was always the question of energy and trying to clear my mind of the responsibilities of the office.
Full-time travel clears your schedule.
And that gives you lots of time to read.
As a writer, every book I read impacts my writing in some way.
The bad books often teach more than the good ones (AKA what NOT to do).
During my travels, I’ve been able to read a mix of novels and books on the craft of writing.
Here are some of the books I’ve read on this trip:
On Writing by Stephen King
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Misery by Stephen King
The Shining by Stephen King
The Metamorphosis by Frank Kafka
Dream Story by Arthur Schnitzler
The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham
Island In The Sea Of Time by S. M. Stirling
Shadows Of The Empire by Steve Perry
Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Have you read any of these?
3. Constant inspiration
Writer’s block is impossible when you’re traveling.
Everyday is something new.
New places.
New food.
New experiences.
New people.
(I’ve met people during these last 5+ months that seemed like they’d walk straight out of a novel.)
I think my time in Vietnam had the most impact on NORMIE.
But it feels like every couple days I’m inspired by something and get an idea for a full new story.
At this rate, I have story ideas to last at least a decade.
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