Got the Travel Bug? Use It to Your Advantage as a Writer
/I (Arlyn) recently returned from a nearly three-week vacation with my husband to the South West of England, including a side-trip to Jersey, on the (British) Channel Islands off the coast of France. Besides marking a milestone birthday for me, the trip also served as both relaxation AND invigoration. For me, there are few things more inspiring than visiting far-off places with new sights, smells, tastes, and adventures!
Traveling has long been a source of inspiration for writers and authors, providing fresh material and perspectives that can enhance your craft. Whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or personal essays, here are several ways that traveling can help you grow as a writer.
A blustery day in Jersey
1. Broaden Your Horizons and Stimulate Creativity
Traveling introduces you to different cultures, people, languages, and landscapes, all of which can expand your worldview and inspire new ideas. Encountering unfamiliar settings can spark your imagination, encouraging you to think beyond your usual limits. For me, it was tea in the mornings at the country cottage in the Cotswalds where we stayed, and sunrise walks on the seawall by the Cornish fishing village we called home for several days. These kinds of experiences can inspire us with a new setting for a novel, a character’s backstory, or even the mood of a scene.
New experiences lead to fresh ideas. If you're feeling stuck or suffering from writer's block, a change of scenery might be all you need—it certainly helped me!
Morning tea in the Cotswolds
2. Deepen Your Understanding of Human Behavior
Great writing often comes down to understanding people—their emotions, motivations, and conflicts. When you travel, you get to observe human behavior in different contexts. You see how people interact in different cultural settings, and how they express themselves through language, gestures, and body language. These insights can help you write more authentic dialogue and multidimensional characters.
Travel also offers opportunities to engage with locals and other travelers, and expose you to new perspectives. Conversations with strangers, witnessing everyday life in foreign places, or even the simple act of people-watching can provide a wealth of information for character development. My husband and I loved our encounters with locals, like the single mom who ingeniously converted a horse trailer to this coffee cart and operates it on the promenade in Cornwall so she can be more available for her young daughter. Truly an inspiration!
Early morning in Mousehole, Cornwall
4. Challenge Yourself and Develop Discipline
Traveling can also foster personal growth, which often translates into stronger writing. Navigating unfamiliar environments, adapting to new customs, and sometimes even dealing with logistical hiccups can build resilience. This resilience can be beneficial when facing the challenges of writing, such as overcoming procrastination, managing deadlines, or dealing with rejection. Writing on the go whether in a café in Paris, on a beach in Thailand, or during a long train ride or plane flight—forces you to create under less-than-ideal conditions, which can strengthen your focus and work ethic.
I truly believe that, in many ways, traveling and writing are complementary pursuits. Traveling feeds my curiosity, broadens my understanding of the world, and sharpens my observational skills, all of which are essential for becoming a better writer.
Whether you’re capturing the sights and sounds of a foreign land, collecting experiences for future projects, or simply clearing your mind to tackle writer’s block, the benefits of travel extend far beyond the journey itself. So, pack your notebook, get out there, and let the world inspire you!
~Arlyn