If your summer is looking anything like mine, it’s packed full of trips, whether I’m going to other places or people are coming into town to visit. While I’m excited to see friends and family, I always struggle to write regularly during crazy times like this. But I’ve discovered a few things that make my writing life less haywire even when it seems like I’m traveling to a new place each week!
Take your music offline
Music is always a helpful tool to get in the “writing zone,” and it can become a crucial trigger to your creative mind when you’re forced out of your normal routine. Traveling often means a lack of wifi or a bad internet connection, so be sure to plan ahead and have a source of music you can use even if you’re disconnected. I use Spotify premium so I can download music, and they often have great deals during the summer if you just want to have it temporarily for this busy time. If you’re going on car rides, it might be time to break out some old CDs!
Create a portable routine
I’ve written about how routines are important to creativity before, but travel can leave those routines in pieces. It’s hard to light a candle or make a hot cup of tea if you’re stuck in an airport. This makes it a good time to practice being flexible in your ability to work in different settings without a routine, so don’t be afraid to try that! You can also try creating a new routine that’s more travel friendly. I’ve already mentioned keeping your music available. Maybe instead of making tea or coffee, you choose a certain flavor of gum or mint to chew while you write and keep a pack of it in your bag. Come up with a breathing routine or affirmations to repeat at the start of a session. There are any number of strategies like this that will help signal your brain that it’s time to write.
Download a writing app
Sometimes your laptop will die, or you’ll just decide to leave it at home or your hotel, only to find you’ve got some free time to write. Make sure you’ve got a notes app on your phone to take advantage of these times. I like using Evernote because it syncs with their website, so it’s easy to transfer to my full draft on my computer. If all else fails, you can always type it up in an email draft and send it to yourself!
Experiment with a new writing time
You might consider yourself a night owl writer or you might be part of the 5am write club or maybe you really rock writing just after lunch. In any case, traveling is likely going to make that ideal time hard to fill with writing each day like you normally would. Try out a new writing time of day, whether it’s staying up late after everyone else goes to bed or actually writing on that early morning flight instead of sleeping. You may end up going right back to your normal time after vacation, but even if you get a little bit of work done, it’s better than nothing. And hey, you might just find a new favorite time to write!
Bring a journal
Having a notebook with you serves two purposes: One, whether you’ve forgotten your charger or just don’t have access to a plug, the batteries of your devices will inevitably die. Having old fashion pen and paper will allow you to still get some writing done (and without all the distractions!) Two, think of traveling as research time! Journal your thoughts and emotions, the funny and crazy things that happen on your trip. It’s all fodder for some future story, so write down every detail you can.
It’s okay to take a break
Sometimes, things are so crazy, you need to take a break for a little bit. Instead of feeling guilty, plan accordingly and give yourself that space. If you can, get some extra work in the week before so you don’t feel like you’re behind. Set a definite ending—whether you decide not to write the whole summer, or just take the one week of vacation off. Having a clear end to your break helps prevent you from coming up with excuses to keep extending it! While not writing, let yourself relax and replenish your creativity. Last year, I spent two weeks in Italy and just decided I wouldn’t do any writing other than journaling about each day. And it was great—I came back full of ideas and itching to write.
Read more
If you decide to take a break, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep improving your writing! It’s the perfect time to immerse yourself in reading. Choose books that are a similar genre to what you write, or maybe even something totally different that will get you out of your comfort zone. Read them critically so you can study them with a writer’s eye. If you’re enjoying it, try to parse out what you like, whether it’s the characters, the writing style, or something else that you can emulate. Even if you don’t like it, try to pinpoint the cause of that as well, so you know what not to do!
Are you traveling anywhere this summer? What are your tips to keep writing even while you’re on the road? Let me know in the comments!
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Featured image by Kira auf der Heide