If you’ve ever needed help with programming homework because you love the humanities, writing essays or stories on your journey will be very easy. You can believe us! You just have to start. After all, is there any better way to occupy our time than writing about our travels?
In these times when leisure options have been reduced, nothing can be a better idea than writing down some of our travel experiences. However, as with almost everything in this life, travel writing has little tricks. We show you some of them so that you can express yourself most optimally in black and white.
Think carefully about what you want to communicate
Let’s start at the beginning. At first glance, this advice may seem commonplace, but it is often one of the main mistakes when we start writing: not being clear about what we want to say. Your travel text must be somewhat structured; think that your knowledge of the destination you choose places you as a guide for the reader, who expects you to take him or her on an unexpected itinerary but with a definite direction. Therefore, avoid digressions and writing that follow your consciousness’s flow. Think about what you want to say and summarize it in 7 concepts. Have you already done it? Then eliminate three and leave them in 4 ideas, the ones that best suit you or the ones you liked the most. Now you can start writing!
Choose the right genre
Now that you have chosen what you want to tell; it’s time to define how you want to write it. Many types of literary genres can help you express yourself better. It depends on the topic. In fact, most often, as you define what you want to tell, the way to do it will appear by itself. If you find it a little difficult, here are some examples.
Travel diary
The diary is the most popular genre. You can write your travel text as if it were an account of your daily life. This allows you to be more impressionistic, even terse. If descriptions are not your forte, you can always start to loosen up by using the diary genre. However, the difficulties it presents also derive from its concentrated nature: you have to say a lot in a short space, which is one of the main challenges.
Epistolary genre
This is another of the classic genres of travel literature. Imagine, simply, that you have to tell your experiences to a friend or relative (choosing to whom you address them is one of the great decisions of the genre). You can use any format you want, letter or email. The advantages of this genre are that it allows you to go deeper into your subjectivity and the presence of a receiver always provides a second level of significance.
Travel narrative
Travel narrative is probably the most flexible genre because you won’t have so many corsets. It is simply about telling your experience. You can organize it as you prefer: by days, by destinations… As with everything, its virtues also lie in its difficulty. Since it is so free, it will depend on your imagination and narration skills to keep the reader interested.
Travel essay
If you want to do your literary best and give it your all, then you can write a travel essay (redundancy aside). It is the most complicated genre since it requires a lot of reflection and often some erudition. However, they are undoubtedly the most enjoyable to read and the ones that best transcend mere personal experience.
Do your homework
In the same way that when you travel, you want to know new things, the reader of a travel text also expects to discover new perspectives. When we travel, we do not always do so fully informed about the destination, its history, its peculiarities, and its people. However, when you want to write about that destination, it is highly recommended that you first get to know the place in as many aspects as possible. History, art, culture, nature, customs, religion… Yes, you are right: you want to write a travel story, not a doctoral thesis. Certainly, knowing everything is unnecessary, but getting new keys will help you re-signify it better. Something that will benefit the text and, above all, yourself.
Let yourself go, but don’t overdo it!
It is inevitable that when we write about personal experiences, we get carried away and end up with a text that we do not even know very well the next morning about what we want to say. Never lose sight of the fact that a text is an act of communication. You are writing about yourself for others. This requires a certain restraint in our emotions, which not infrequently, and this is the most natural thing in the world, can overflow beyond what is necessary. Sincerity in a text does not necessarily mean opening your chest wide but reaching directly to the emotions of those who read it. Let us not overwhelm them with our subjectivity.
Me, me, and me?
No, no, and no. Obviously, a personal text has to be, by force, subjective and individual. However, you should distance yourself a little. Think about the fact that the text will be read by someone who may not necessarily share your views or your way of understanding things and may even be antagonistic to your way of being! When you write, think of yourself, of course; but above all, ask yourself this question, which of the things that have happened to me on my journey or which of the many emotions I have felt can be shared in a meaningful way? When you answer your question, then you are ready to write a text that engages and excites your readers.
Work the descriptions thoroughly
Descriptions are at the heart of travel writing and, unfortunately, one of the most difficult things to nail down successfully. Think that you are lending your gaze to the reader when you describe. You should avoid the common misconception that an evocative description must include sdrújulos adjectives and a cascade of subordinate clauses. Sometimes a well-placed adjective works a lot better than the most detailed description of the color of every leaf on the tree you have seen. In fact, impressionistic descriptions often work very well. The reader appreciates that you don’t give it all chewed up but that his own memory and emotions can reprocess the text.
Work on the descriptions in depth
Descriptions are at the heart of travel writing and, unfortunately, one of the most difficult things to do successfully. Think that you are lending your gaze to the reader when you describe. You should avoid the common misconception that an evocative description must include sdrújulos adjectives and a cascade of subordinate clauses. Sometimes a well-placed adjective works a lot better than the most detailed description of the color of every leaf on the tree you have seen. In fact, impressionistic descriptions often work very well. The reader appreciates that you don’t give it all chewed up but that his own memory and emotions can reprocess the text.
Work on the descriptions in depth
Descriptions are at the heart of travel writing and, unfortunately, one of the most difficult things to do successfully. Think that you are lending your gaze to the reader when you describe. You should avoid the common misconception that an evocative description must include sdrújulos adjectives and a cascade of subordinate clauses. Sometimes a well-placed adjective works a lot better than the most detailed description of the color of every leaf on the tree you have seen. In fact, impressionistic descriptions often work very well. The reader appreciates that you don’t give it all chewed up but that his own memory and emotions can reprocess the text.
Let yourself be inspired and, if necessary, borrow from others
Being original does not mean discovering a new continent. In fact, the great masters borrow from others, even steal from them! Don’t be shy to be inspired by writers or other texts that have left their mark on you. They will show you the direction to follow. The path, however, is set by you. In this sense, we advise you to immerse yourself in travel literature, a genre enjoyable and very pleasant to read. If you need some ideas, we suggest you take a look at our article on some of the best travel books. We’ve already said it all; now it’s your turn to write!
