I am given to understand that vacations are not completely extinct in some sectors of society.
Presumably, there are people who still travel for pleasure, and may even take their families along.
For writers, the challenges are many. It can be difficult to leave our characters at home, since they live in our heads.
The writer inside you will still be on. You’ll see people doing things and you will look for ways to incorporate or adapt some of those things into your writing. You’ll hear new words and phrases and possibly an interesting patois. There will be quirky mannerisms or speech tics. The scenery and settings will go into a mental file for later retrieval and use.
And, of course, the resort you go to will probably be run by a colony of vampires, or you will be drawn into some global political intrigue, or have to solve a murder case. The usual stuff.
Don’t worry too much about being torn away from your WIP. It’s an advantage that everything becomes fodder for a writer. Whether you come up with a notion for another book, get an idea that will make your current work sparkle just a bit more, or just refresh your soul, a vacation can be a great idea.
If you’re still in the planning phase, you might like to know the most popular places for writers to vacation. Here is a list of the top ten travel destinations for writers. Sadly, there was one glaring omission from this list.
No matter where you decide to go, you’ll want to take certain precautions for your safety. For instance, don’t believe everything the locals say. Dousing yourself with deer musk will not keep grizzly bears away. Here are some common sense tips for staying safe when you travel.
The other thing you must remember is to be wary of scams. However much money you have, there is always someone else who wants it. To be on the safe side, you could deposit all your money with me before you go. But, if you’re the kind of person who is going to want your money back in something other than Stevie Bucks, here is a list of vacation and travel scams.
Ultimately though, you’ll be worried about what to do with all the devices that contain the digitized files and social media that comprise your normal daily routine. Do you leave your gadgets and gizmos at home to get stolen while you are on vacation, or do you take them with you to get stolen while you are on vacation? Here are some ideas for helping secure your data when you travel.
There you have it – useful and practical advice to help make your vacation the best it can be. And, if you’re one of those people who hide a spare key in a plastic rock or under a doormat, don’t worry. I’ll put everything back just as I found it. Probably.
My vacations consist of a few hours babysitting. lol But baby babble is an interesting new speech pattern. I’m learning a lot, though I’m not sure my readers will ‘get it’.
Your vacations consist of a few hours of babysitting? I think maybe the word “vacation” does not mean what you think it means. 😉
Thank you Stephen. There is some very helpful advice here. I haven’ t traveled in some time, but I do have an upcoming overseas trip. Boy, have things changed from the good(?) old days. I will refer to this post and have a better trip I’m sure. Good information.
Yes, beneath the snark, there are some useful tidbits there. Thanks, Aron. 🙂
What’s a “vacation?” 😉
Indeed.
I totally forgot to put Hobo Valley on my bucket list. Thanks for the reminder!
🙂 Happy to help.
When I lived and worked in Sydney (Australia’s version of Big City) we would escape to a holiday house at ‘Sanctuary Point’ (down the coast, white sand, few people) for a long weekend once a month. Since semi-retiring to Tasmania, to follow my dreams (9 years now), we haven’t had a single vacation. Go figure! But I wouldn’t change it back for all the world.
Sounds to me like somebody needs a couple of weeks at Hobo Valley. 😉