Writing about Travel, Writing about Journeys

Walking to the corner store can be interesting if well written.

~  Dave Barry

It is almost impossible to explain how it feels to be lost in the middle of nowhere with no end in sight. Dawn began with the call of exotic wild birds as the sun peeked over our lifeline: the muddy Putumayo River. We ate a meager breakfast of leftovers from supper the night before and set out in our leaky dugout canoe, each taking turns paddling until we became too tired.

Exhausted and wondering if we were ever going to find an end to this endless river adventure, we were rewarded when loud calls from above revealed a brilliantly colored, large flock of red tailed macaw parrots flying overhead. Their joyous freedom in flight was contagious. They inspired us to continue on through this everchanging dangerous green wilderness.

Excerpt from AMAZON HITCHHIKER: A Woman’s Adventures from Canada to Brazil

Writing a first-rate travel memoir involves reflecting on your personal travel experiences and how those experiences changed or shaped your life. It took many years for me to begin writing my adventure travel memoir, AMAZON HITCHHIKER: A Woman’s Adventures from Canada to Brazil. The COVID lockdown offered me the perfect opportunity. I was stuck at home alone, which left me free to write all day long.

Remembering the Past, More or Less

How do you remember the past? There are several steps you can take.

First, dig out your old journals. (You did keep a journal, didn’t you?) It is imperative to keep a journal when traveling. The tiny details that make an exciting read can be too easily forgotten if not recorded as they actually happen. In addition to your own journals, search for old letters you may have sent home. My dear mother saved all of my letters.

Next, try to contact the people you met or traveled with and ask them for their memories, too. Undoubtedly they will remember amusing moments that you may have forgotten. By connecting with your travel mates, you will also make them aware that you are writing a book. If they have any objections to being mentioned in your book, this is the time to find out. Get permissions in writing.

Then, focus on your narrative’s theme. Your point of view should be unique. Consider why you are writing this travel memoir. A travel memoir is not a guidebook. It reflects and recollects your past journeys and how they transformed you. Be truthful. Sharing your embarrassing globetrotting blunders will make your book authentic and much more interesting for the reader.

Writing the Past

The best stories paint vivid pictures through well-chosen words. Colorful descriptions using metaphors or the occasional simile transform vague recollections into memorable engrossing moments. Using dialogue will help you to engage your reader. You want your reader to feel like they are experiencing what you lived. Adjectives can add color, but the overuse of adjectives, adverbs, or even similes tend to encumber a story. If you are unsure how to accomplish what you want in your writing, read and study some of the successful travel memoirs you admire and love.

I started writing my travel memoir AMAZON HITCHHIKER for my son. To my surprise, it became a new-release Amazon bestseller with favorable reviews and a 5-star rating! AMAZON HITCHHIKER appeals to travelers of all ages and to those who simply dream of adventure from their cozy armchairs.

Be brave. Be honest. Reveal a little piece of your soul.

For more about writing travel memoirs, check out the following:

Writing-World.com

Tips for Writing a Travel Memoir

Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Writing

Master Class’s Travel Writing Guide: 4 Tips for Travel Writing

[Editor’s note: WAG would love to see articles on any and all topics of interest to writers. Please send your ideas or finished pieces to Cynthia D. Bertelsen at BlogEditor@writersalliance.org for consideration. Remember: these posts are more than just posts, for they are actual articles and can be cited in your CV/résumé in the same way you would a short story, essay, or any other writing credit you may possess.]