Writing while traveling

[Jackie.Hikaru]

I’ve recently gone on a sabbatical to travel, and I hoped to use the time to write a lot more. But since I’ve started traveling, I’ve been writing far less than when I was working a stressful job with long hours lol. Truth is, I don’t look forward to writing as much now as I used to…I suppose that tells me something about why I write — escape apparently. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have that urge for an escape anymore, but at the same time I’d love to get back to writing while I have the time to write.

So, I’m curious to know, what do you all do for writing when you’re traveling / on vacation / on holiday etc. ??

Do you write? Do you try to stick to your daily ritual? Do you adopt a “traveler mode” writing regimen, or do you take a pause and just soak up life?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

This feels familiar.

I've just returned from a trip, and while I managed to catch a moment or two to browse the AH and make a quick post here and there, writing never even occurred to me. I rarely have time for that when I travel.

But the same as with you, writing is a kind of escapism for me, and when I'm travelling, I don't really want to escape. It's happy time.

 

[YmaOHyd]

I don't usually write on personal travel. When I'm traveling for business, I always want to -- my plan for free time is either to read or write -- but never seem to have the time, except at the airport or on the plane. And I hate writing where other people can read over my shoulder. So most of what I end up writing turns into either plot/story/character stubs or developmental outlines I can do on my phone.

 

[MrPixel]

I have to divide my response. When actually on the move (we used to do cross-country train travel), the laptop came out primarily to check e-mail and see what was happening on the two or three forums I kept up with at home. Nothing beyond that; maybe I'd write myself a note or two for something I was working on.

Then there's the destination travel. Once we "got there", I'd write. For a while, I tried to use an iPad, which was a horrible experience. Frustrated, I acquired a MacBook and would sit back in the comfy chair and write. That worked out okay.

Last year we declared "Enough!" of the travel on account of discomforting situations with both. So I'm perfectly happy to be at home in my office on a real computer with a real keyboard, and Bob's your uncle.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Do you write? Do you try to stick to your daily ritual? Do you adopt a “traveler mode” writing regimen, or do you take a pause and just soak up life?

I write when I get inspiration. Like A Boardwalk Walk (written on vacation) was inspired by a real couple we ran into on the Wildwood boardwalk, after having spent the day at the water park.

I don’t have a routine per se. I do write on vacation, but it depends on the vacation. A few years back we did a couple of nights in three European cities, that’s not very conducive to writing. But two weeks on the Jersey Shore? Writing can fit into that fine.

 

[Voboy]

My first story here was conceived, written, and submitted while I was on vacation.

So yeah, I don't really have a problem doing that.

 

[Milo_Grigsby]

I do like writing while on travel, especially when I am on a place. I get a lot of inspiration from people watching and creating characters and stories from what I see in airports, hotel lobbies and restaurants. However, when writing erotic fiction I have to be very conscious of people "shoulder surfing" what I am writing so I typically do it longhand in a notebook. And since I can barely read my own writing, I am not too concerned about my seatmate reading it.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

If I don't write, I die. It's as simple as that. So if I'm traveling, and I'm in the middle of a project, it is most likely that I'll take that project with me. Easy to do with Obsidian on my phone, or a notebook, or a folder with paper if what I'm doing is handwritten. Plus, I always make sure to bring my BuJo along. My rule is to do it for just 10 minutes, which I can easily squeeze in a bathroom break.

I mean that. Almost 50% of one of my stories got written in the bathroom, and a couple of entries from the 365 were also written there.

However, when writing erotic fiction I have to be very conscious of people "shoulder surfing" what I am writing so I typically do it longhand in a notebook.

I actually love to tease people about it when I'm writing in the same language that we speak. "Careful, else you'll beg me to do this to you," or something like that.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

I always make time to do a little writing while traveling. It's sort of like a souvenir for me, to be able to say my memory of writing story X reminds me of place Y.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

And I hate writing where other people can read over my shoulder.

Same!

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

tried to use an iPad, which was a horrible experience.

I sold my desktop pc and my laptop and bought an 11” iPad because it’s easy to carry. It doesn’t feel great to write with. Maybe that’s the problem lol

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

Plus, I always make sure to bring my BuJo along

was ist das?

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

while I managed to catch a moment or two to browse the AH

Part of my problem is when I do have a bit of a down time, one of my favorite things to do is to drop into AH to catch up on the latest kerfuffle…

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

we did a couple of nights in three European cities, that’s not very conducive to writing.

Currently wandering Europe. Maybe Europe is the problem! Maybe I need to go check out the Jersey Shore

 

[onehitwanda]

I’ve recently gone on a sabbatical to travel, and I hoped to use the time to write a lot more. But since I’ve started traveling, I’ve been writing far less than when I was working a stressful job with long hours lol. Truth is, I don’t look forward to writing as much now as I used to…I suppose that tells me something about why I write — escape apparently. Maybe it’s a good thing I don’t have that urge for an escape anymore, but at the same time I’d love to get back to writing while I have the time to write.

So, I’m curious to know, what do you all do for writing when you’re traveling / on vacation / on holiday etc. ??

Do you write? Do you try to stick to your daily ritual? Do you adopt a “traveler mode” writing regimen, or do you take a pause and just soak up life?

I take my macbook with me as it doubles as a work laptop in a pinch. Evenings I might write an hour or so before sleeping, if there's something I need to write.

Can't imagine trying to write on a tablet; I'd gnaw my wrists off in despair.

P.S jealous of you and your gallivanting. I want to go to Oslo and then get lost in the woods in the distant north for a century or two.

 

[LittleGreene]

I ‘write’ (and it really is the loosest term I’m aware) when my husband travels for work. I find that it gives me the freedom and the time (usually in bed after kids are asleep) to allow my mind to focus on a scene.

 

[StillStunned]

I write on holiday. I have my laptop with me to work anyway, and at least I don't have an external hard drive dangling off it when I'm writing fiction. I've spent quite a few happy weeks in Spain, writing for a few hours during the day and then reading to the redhead before bedtime.

I've written (and worked) on a tablet, but only with an external keyboard.

 

[Bazzle]

I have sat there in airports and on trains and tried to write, but I have found that jet lag really takes the enthusiasm to write erotica right out of me.

As such, I plan to write as I travel, I write a little bit, then the brain fog kicks in and I don't.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

As such, I plan to write as I travel, I write a little bit, then the brain fog kicks in and I don't.

Me in a nutshell.
Then when the brain fog kicks in I convince myself that the perfect cure is a Chianti Classico, which turns out to be a fiasco.

 

[Jackie.Hikaru]

I want to go to Oslo and then get lost in the woods in the distant north for a century or two.

I’d bet you’d make a good skogsrå

 

[Actingup]

I sometimes write on travel, but I always use travel to get ideas - a few hotels that I've stayed in IRL have appeared in my stories! In terms of over the shoulder viewers etc - yes, always a risk, but if you focus on the story / narrative when in public and insert Tab A into Slot B later in the editing process, you could be working on a perfectly innocent story!

 

[onehitwanda]

I’d bet you’d make a good skogsrå

Thanks for the plot bunny, you bitch

 

[Bamagan]

Me in a nutshell.
Then when the brain fog kicks in I convince myself that the perfect cure is a Chianti Classico, which turns out to be a fiasco.

Chianti Classico Fiasco would make a great title.

 

[Soixenta]

I think it is easier for me to write when I am relaxed. So time permitting I probably am more productive when I am on holiday, or at least when I am not working.

 

[redgarters]

When I'm on holiday abroad with the family or with my wife I don't write much. My writing is an escape mechanism as well, like reading. I never thought of it in the way that when I'm on holiday I'm escaping anyway so I don't need to write, but it makes perfect sense. But when I'm on holiday in our cabin out in the country I'll write on my tablet. Got the idea for The Woman in the Spare Room on the drive there this summer Wrote most of it during the two weeks we spent there while my wife read or wrote her own stories. Sharing some red wine writing our separate things in the quiet evenings was nice and relaxing
I've recently started writing on my phone on the flights when I travel for work. Got a few plot bunnies hopping on the page that way, as well as getting a good start on the Teddy Swann Mysteries...