The Gulf of Mexico from my balcony.

Travel and writing are two of my passions. Somewhere on the internet in an unpublished holding pattern, I have a site that combines the two. I have a few posts almost ready to go, but they are setting on the backburner. Don’t worry; they won’t be appearing here. You probably feel like your GPS just lost its signal and are wondering where this is going. We are going to see if it is possible to maintain one while engaging in the other.

Let me start by saying this is not the post I had intended to make. After my last post, I had intended to reintroduce my readers to a quartet of women writers. These women each left a mark in the field of literature in one way or another. Unfortunately, I found myself with less research time than I would like. Rather than shortchange these women with only a partial bit of research, I decided to save the post until later. To post based only on the research I have done thus far would be a great disservice to these women. As to why I lack the necessary time to do these ladies justice, you have probably guessed; I am going traveling.

Of course, these plans placed me in a bit of a quandary; what do I post instead? Since travel is the disruption, although a pleasant one to be sure, I thought the situation lent itself to being the perfect topic. So, let’s jump in and see if it is possible to combine travel and writing without much difficulty.

Preparing for the Journey

Actually, it isn’t that hard to combine the two. All you need is paper, a pencil (or pen), and somewhere to go. Unless, of course, paper and pencil are too old school for you. On a personal note, most of my writing originates with paper and pencil. It was my intention to progress through the ages, from paper and pencil to typewriter and so forth until we reached the laptop, but I decided against it.

Okay. I will pause just long enough to share an interesting tidbit about the typewriter.

Vintage typewriter by ha11ok.

Samuel Clemens, better known to us as Mark Twain, was a strong proponent of the device. Mr. Twain’s Life on the Mississippi, written in 1883, was the first typewritten manuscript. History states it was typed on an 1874 Sholes & Glidden typewriter by Twain’s secretary, Isabel V. Lyon. My digression is over.

So, since we have modernized our means of writing, let’s update my previous statement. All you need is a laptop and somewhere to go…and a charging cord. Oh, and access to Wi-Fi, if you intend to submit or post what you have written. Or, if you need to research something else. Given the price of a good laptop, you need something designed to carry and protect it. Don’t forget your wireless mouse and, of course, batteries for the thing. Might want to grab an external storage device, as well. You need to back things up.

So, I’m sure you see where this is going. While preparing what writing equipment you will need isn’t as detailed as planning your trip, it is just as important if you intend to write while you are gone. For the record, my writing backpack usually has my laptop, cord, mouse, a storage device or three, a couple notepads, three or four pens, and a folder with handwritten research notes. Oh, and a snack or two, plus at least one book to read. The key is to make sure you have everything you might need.

It’s a Vacation, Why Write at All?

That is a valid question. After all, the purpose of a vacation is to get away from everything and give your mind a break. There are times, however, when you might not have that option. Deadlines, for example. When your article has to be done at a certain time, then you have to finish it.

Seriously, though. Aside from deadlines, why should you write while on vacation? From a personal perspective, vacations are a rejuvenation not only of my body, but of my mind. For me, vacations are a source of inspiration. While working on my old blog, many ideas for posts came to me while traveling.

Take, for example, my latest vacation. I spent a few evenings and a couple mornings on a balcony with an open laptop, a cup of coffee, and the green waters of Florida’s Emerald Coast filling up my field of view. The Gulf’s ire was stirred up, thanks to Tropical Storm Arthur gathering strength along the coast of Texas.

Looking back at the shore.

Looking out at the constant waves and hearing the sea’s roar, I couldn’t help but wonder what was being stirred up deep beneath the rough surface. (And, yes, the Gulf of Mexico is technically a sea.) What if the remains of some ancient civilization were about to rise, or some angry kaiju? Could it be the start of an unprecedented storm that would bring about massive destruction? The ideas, though not generally pleasant, were surfacing with ever more frequency. Naturally, I made sure to jot a couple of them down.

As most travelers know, vacations do not necessarily mean rest and relaxation. While some are content to take it easy and lounge by the pool or soak up the sun on the shore, others are active from morning to night. Most of my vacations tend towards the latter. Rather than sit and fume about the amount of time others take to get ready, I often write. After a long, stressful day when I need to wind down, I will write some more. Most of the time, this writing is done old school with pen and paper.

Perhaps the whole purpose of your vacation is simply to get away so you can write. Some writers will head to the mountains with the intention of leaving the noise of the city behind. I have thought about taking this type of vacation, but I am not wired for it.  My preference is to get out and wander the hill (collecting ideas) than spend the whole day in a cabin writing. I also have to take into consideration the fact I wouldn’t be traveling alone. And speaking of which…

Writing and the Vacationing Family

Unless you are a member of the single class, the majority of your vacations will be with family. Whether your vacation is with just a wife or a fiancé, or if it includes the family (and then some,) your writing plans have to change. And there is nothing wrong with this. After all, they are going on vacation as well.

So, how do you adjust your writing schedule so you can spend time with your traveling companions? First, let them know of your intention to write from the beginning, include it in the planning of the trip. Let them know if you intend to write in the morning or the evening. If you are a morning writer, plan on getting up first and getting ready for the day; it might surprise you at how much writing time you have. I’m sure you are going to have at least one member of the party who takes forever to get ready. On the other hand, if you write in the evening plan dinner accordingly. At the end of the day everyone will be ready to wind down; writing is a good way for you to do that.

My family looking for seashells at night.

What if your vacation is one big road trip? I have family who are on a mission to visit the entire continental U.S. in their motorhome. Traveling to a different place day after day requires a bit different planning. If you are the driver, you have to worry not only about reaching your destination, but you also have to worry about reaching it safely. Occasionally, things will occur along the way. You might find yourself stuck in construction traffic moving at a snail’s pace; this can throw your schedule way off course. An accident might slow or halt your progress. Or worse.

On a more positive note, you might spot a road sign advertising some historical site. Perhaps you feel the need to detour long enough to try the 5 lb. cinnamon roll. There are always rest stops that need visited, whether it is to stretch your legs or, well, other, more personal, purposes.

If you are not the one in charge of driving, and your stomach won’t be too drastically affected, you could always break out pen and paper. I’ve done this quite frequently over the years. If you are a passenger, writing while traveling is a good way to pass the time. It also means you will need to spend less time in front of the laptop when you reach your nightly destination. It is quicker to enter what you have already written than to write in the moment.

But What If I Don’t Write

Let’s assume everything is against you. You are the driver or your days are planned out from sunrise to past sunset. Unfortunately, I have been there.

The ever-handy notepad. by World-fly

There are a few problems with not writing. If you are contracted, you will probably miss your deadlines. You also run the risk of losing your momentum,

especially if you have finally nailed down a good writing routine. Worst of all, you begin questioning why you are writing at all. I know this sounds like an extreme scenario, but it happens. (Fingers pointing back at me.) If it was so easy to put aside for a week, is it really what I want to do? I have actually struggled with this a few times. The negative part of life intrudes and, suddenly, doubt creeps in. I find myself asking, “Why bother?”

So, how do you prevent this drastic scenario from coming to pass? I fall back on what has been called a cliched piece of advice; I carry a pen and notepad with me everywhere. Vacations, family gatherings, weddings, funerals, yes, you read that right. My family knows of this habit and have often asked to borrow them to write down names, addresses, or phone numbers they need to remember. Do I pull them out at the exact instant the idea hits me? No, but I do at the first possible moment.

Time to Pack It Up

Traveling and writing are compatible but, like everything else, you need to do a bit of planning. Make sure you have the necessities when combining the two; no one wants to reach their destination and realize the computer cord is still on your desk. Remember, your main objective is to take a break from the everyday routine. Don’t let the stress of forgetting something ruin your trip.

Oh, and keep that notepad and pen close at hand.

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