Inspiration from Your Vacation AND a NEW Contest!
It’s almost May, and I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to think about what I’ll do for my summer vacation. Last summer, my husband, my cat Ginger and I went to Mount Tremblant in Quebec. We rented a cabin in the woods, my husband took a Skip Barber racing school, Ginger hunted for field mice, and I lolled around by the lake. Yup, there were stories in that trip, but I never wrote about any of it because…it was my vacation!
But if you’re itching to add travel writing to your repertoire, your vacation can be a great source of story ideas. Skeptical? Post your summer vacation travel plans here –and tell me a little bit about why you’re going –and I’ll help you brainstorm a few possible story angles that you can pursue in between margaritas.
ALSO: Announcing a new opportunity to win a free class! If you register for my travel writing workshop or Monica Bhide’s food writing class in the next week, we will enter you into a drawing for a free basic class! That’s a $125 value. I feel like I should now say “But Wait There’s More!” …but that’s all I’ve got. –Alison Stein Wellner
If you liked that post, you might also like:
Apr 24, 2008 Advice, Classes, Contests, Magazines, Opportunities, Writing
Hmmm… vacation AND story ideas? Might as well give it a try…
In two weeks the hubs and I are taking a 17 hour drive to the Smoky Mountains. We are going gem mining and relaxing in the huge cabin we’ve rented. We’re going there for a bit of an adventure and because it’s different than anything we’ve ever done. I’m looking forward to bringing my camera and taking advantage of the gorgeous scenery as well.
Brainstorming here myself…. can you hear the gears turning? Ha ha.
Hi Lauren –that sounds like a fab vacation, the Smokies are so beautiful!
My philosophy on travel writing is that you go on the trip, plan to do things that can yield ideas, and sort out the specific angles thereafter. I also encourage writers to look within themselves, to find their own passions and use that as a way to find stories that are uniquely their own.
My first reaction is: gem mining! Wow. What will you do with the gems that you find?
I wonder if there’s a way to do the gem mining that isn’t mega-ultra-touristy? And since you say you and hubby are interested in adventure, could you combine the two, is there some way you could arrange to do extreme gem mining? (I’m personally very interested in history so I would look for a way to bring in the historical element, but that’s my own preference.)
Since you’re thinking about photography and the scenery, I wonder if you could look into famous photogs that are well known for their work in that area –a possible profile, maybe a joint photo-shooting session, a photo safair in the Smokies? Are there classes you can take while you’re there, or that someone can arrange to participate in?
I haven’t missed that 17 hour road trip with DH, either! If you’re more of a service-oriented writer, I could see doing a story about surviving the long summer road trip, although it’s a little late to pitch that for this year. If you’re more of an essayist, that also might yield material for you –a road trip makes a perfectly serviceable frame for an essay.
At the end of May I’ll be going to Wisconsin. I’ll be spending a couple of days in Madison at WISCON, the SF convention, and then driving up to Door County to spend a week there.
My family & I always spend a week at the beach–South Padre Island, TX–with my best friend & her family. We located a great condo several years ago and have become loyal clients ever since. We don’t plan a lot of “touristy” things because we mostly enjoy lounging on the beach and eating (we have an entire shelf in the pantry devoted to chocolate donuts)! It’s a great vacation for a family with young kids because the parents can do “adult stuff” like boogie boarding or tanning while the kids play in the sand or wade at the water’s edge.
Man….now I’m craving chocolate donuts!
In 9 short days, hubby and I will be taking a 7-day cruise to Alaska. This is our second cruise – last year we were in the Bahamas. We have to keep reminding ourselves that we won’t be packing snorkels and flip-flops this time around!
We have a day at sea before our first stop at Ketchikan, where we’ll be taking a Rainforest Sanctuary nature walk. The next day we’re in Juneau, and we’re looking forward to a day spent out on the Juneau & Mendenhall glacier. We’ll be riding the rails during our third stop in Skagway on the White Pass Scenic Railway. Our last port of call is Prince Rupert, and the evening will be spent checking out the highlights downtown and the local museum. After another full day at sea, we’ll be home in Seattle.
The camera and hiking boots are all packed and ready to go!
Those ideas are great, Alison. Thanks!
I have a bit of a list going over here. I should have plenty of ideas before we hit the road!
My husband and I are going to Key West to visit our daughter (we have been there before and loved it!). We plan to visit the Dry Tortugas National Park with Ft Jefferson, a Union Civil War Fort. It is about 70 miles west of Key West on an island. I got drastically seasick the last time getting there on a boat — a 3-hour trip! I tried writing a funny story about it, but not able to get it off the ground.
The photo opps at the island are many — lots of sunshine and shadows around the brick fort arches. I read that you like history, Linda. Do you know if they prefer history professionals to write for them, like American Heritage Magazine? Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.
Wow, sounds like you’re all in for a fun summer! Let me see what I can do with this. And I hope you’ll use this as a prompt for your own brainstorming and pre-trip research, since that’s where the good stuff will really come from. Also, keep in mind that what I’m looking for is YOUR passion and energy, because that’s what I think the best ideas are made of. If you HATE what I’ve suggested, that’s great –that’s a lot of energy in that– try to think about why I’m so off-base –you’ll probably find ideas you like lots better.
SO,
Tamm, I googled WISCON and see that it’s a feminist science fiction convention. That could be a great source of quirky travel stories, particularly if there are unusual events in town related to the convention? Local scifi writers might be able to point you towards a few places around town that they’ve found weirdly inspirational, and that might yield some unusal ideas too.As for Door County, I hear there’s a lot of outdoorsy stuff happening there, so I’d encourage you to think about why you’re going there –what’s attracting you to it, and what you think of that might be attractive to the audiences you’d like to write for?
Megan: there’s a lot of energy around chocolate donuts for you! Lol…you’re making me want them too. I wonder if there’s a story in perfect vacation foods? Or maybe there’s something else in those donuts…do you buy them locally, bring ‘em or make ‘em? If they’re a local thing, and they make the vacation for you, that’s a great story. As well, two-family vacations could be a rich subject –from a service perspective, there are so many questions: your first two family vacation, solving conflicts, what happens when you don’t want to do it anymore? Do you ever need a vacation from your vacation? If you are more inclined towards the essay format, I’d think about how these vacations got started, what you get out of them, and also mull over any conflict or tension points, since that often yields good material.
Jenn: I am working on a book project in Alaska now,and have spent more time in that state than is reasonable for a New Yorker over the past few months! I’m sure you’ll have a great time. The opportunity wrapped in a challenge for you is that most people who visit Alaska do so over the summer, and do it on a cruise ship, AND do many of the things that you’re doing on your vacation. So the good news is that there’s natural interest in your itinerary, and the challenge is that the basics have been well-covered already. You’ll need to uncover the lesser known aspects of your trip. So what you’ll want to do is keep your focus soft, and let your eyes and mind wander when you’re on your ports of call. What questions pop into your mind? Stories begin with questions. Also, I am a huge fan of small museums; I’ve found lots of story ideas on small exhibit placards, and in the gift shop where there are often small-press books by local authors which contain hidden gems.
Kayleen: yeah, barf humor can be hard to execute well! Still, ‘d revist your seasick story attempts before you go, so that you can keep an eye out for new material on your trip. With Key West, you face the similar challenge to Jenn in Alaska –well known destination, basics well covered– so my advice to you is the same. Look for the smaller angles. Sounds like you’re interested in history, so you might want to read up a bit before you go, maybe track down a historian through the help of the local CVB that can show you the smaller and quieter bits of Key West history.
As far as your question on American Heritage’s policies are, I’m not sure of their exact policies, but I am on assignment now for the History Channel Magazine and am not and have never been a history professor! My hunch is that you wouldn’t need to be a professor, but it’s easy enough to find out –grab a current issue and check out the writer bios. (If it’s just bylines, with no bio graf, Google is your friend.)
We’re having a FAMILY REUNION/70th BIRTHDAY PARTY (for Uncle)/SHRIMP BASH on Tybee Island, Georgia in June… My grandfather is reported to have spent his summers there so we are going to gather together and spend a week in his memory (or something like that). We have to search out reasons to get together now that the grandparents are no longer with us. Traveling with a 1-year-old should be great fun(ahem), and figuring out how we’re paying for the condo will be…interesting. So many situations to write about… how DO I choose just one?
My husband and I are going to Halifax at the end of May. He’s speaking on a panel at a conference and I’m renting a car to poke about. Destination Halifax keeps promising to get back to me with some ideas for off the beaten track things to do, and then the agent disappears. Google turns up the same results all the time. I love Halifax but am Peggy’s Cove and the highlights have been done to death.
Any and all suggestions are welcomed!
Thanks.
Charmian
I don’t know why I had never considered the two-family vacation angle before. You got the ball rolling for me and I’ve been able to come up with a long list of ideas. Thanks so much!
Hi Chrystine: Yup, you’ve got a ton of possible story ideas already, and that’s great. Ideally, travel writers want to get more than one story from any given trip. And no need to settle on anything now, you’ll know what you want to do after you get back. Some of the stories will pan out, and some of them won’t. I suggest you go armed with a list of questions to consider, ranging from the lyrical: how are we going to evoke grandpa’s memory? to the practical: how are we going to pay for this condo? That will “prime” your brain, then, perhaps you go to sleep at night, perhaps when you first wake up in the morning, grab your list and your preferred journaling media and take down notes, the more the better.
Hi Charmian: you’ve definitely taken the first logical steps towards making the most of this Halifax trip. It’s annoying to come up empty, but it’s also really good news, because now you know you’ve got an opportunity on your hands. You’ll work a little harder to build your itinerary, but the chances are better that you’ll find hidden, and highly salable gems. So what now? First, tap your imagination: ideally, if this elusive CVB person were to ever give you off-the-track suggestions, what would really excite you? What would make you say, omg, I am so glad I’m going to be able to research THAT? Use that list to get a better picture of what you’re looking for, and to inform the next step, which is: work the phone. If you’re looking for outdoorsy ideas, you might want to have a little chat with a good local outfitter , if you’re looking for food ideas, a chef, and so on.
Oh, and even thought it sounds like you’re all set with accommodations, you might want to give a few B&B owners or innkeepers a call. They often have an inside track on off-the-beaten path activities.
And hi again Megan! I’m so glad this was helpful!
Am just back from a holiday to Mumbai/Goa, India and am catching up on my blog reading – not sure if this post is still being replied to
Both Mumbai and Goa are favorite tourist destinations and have been done to death. Any new ideas you can think of? We’re likely to be going back soon, so it should be easy following up on leads.
Thanks in advance!
Chryselle
Hi Chryselle, I’ll turn the question back to you and ask, what did you find on your holiday that was off-the-beaten track a bit? What did you just LOVE in either city? What were your favorite moments? What are you dying to go back and see? With a well-covered destination, your best ally is your own unique perspective and passion!
OK, my husband and I are leaving next month for an 8-day trip to Budapest, Hungary and the surrounding towns, a region known as the Danube Bend.
We’re going because we went to Prague and Vienna last year and we had no idea we’d love Eastern Europe so much. Budapest seems to have a good mix of European culture and relaxation, with non-Euro prices! We’re looking forward to the thermal baths and the cafe culture, but also the Terror Museum and old Communist icons put out to pasture in Statue Park. Also, the food sounds like an interesting mix of Paris and peasant, with that unique Hungarian accent, paprika, in all things.
I’ve always wondered if I could enjoy my vacation *and* use it for writing fodder, so I am definitely interested in any ideas on how to do both without compromising either. Thank you for any and all suggestions!
My fiance and I love to travel. I’m a teacher, so we get plenty of time for short and longer trips in the summer. This year we are going to Costa Rica in June for 6 days for our honeymoon. I requested someplace we could relax on the beach and also find some adventure and that is what my almost-husband came up with.
We are also toying around with the idea of a tour of “The Great American West.” We just bought a small camping trailer. My fiance has to go to Colorado Springs for business, so we will start there. We really want to see Utah, especially Arches National Park/Moab.
We also tend to get in the car on Friday afternoons and just go, with no specific plan in mind and see where we end up. Three weeks ago it was a scenic drive through Oklahoma and Arkansas. Last weekend it was shopping in Jefferson, Texas. (We live in Texas).
My biggest thing is just how to come home and write it all up into something cohesive and usable. And what kinds of notes to take, brochures to pick up, people to talk to, etc. along the way.
So, ideas in any direction would be great!