How Traveling Can Make You a Better Writer

See the world, and enhance your creativity. Learn how traveling can make you a better writer, and explore strategies for incorporating writing into your itinerary.

A woman pointing at a map that's surrounded by a laptop, camera, passport, and coffee mug. — Learn how traveling can make you a better writer, and embark on a grand, creative journey.

So you’re a writer, but lately, you’ve noticed your words feel a bit repetitive, every story takes place in the same location, and your characters are basically interchangeable carbon copies of each other. Don’t worry. You aren’t losing your mojo. This type of fatigue happens to even the most talented writers.

What you might need is a change of scenery. Exposure to new people, places, and ways of life. You may have heard that traveling can enhance your creativity, and I’m here to tell you there’s some truth to that. Let’s delve into how traveling can make you a better writer, and explore strategies on incorporating writing into your vacation itinerary.

Does Traveling Make You a Better Writer?

Traveling does make you a better writer. Mostly because it forces you to disrupt your typical day-to-day routine, breaking the comfortable monotony you’ve settled into. While routine is important for writers, a strictly enforced routine that doesn’t allow for new experiences may stifle your inspiration. And when inspiration is stifled, crafting unique stories becomes very challenging.

But how does traveling make you a better writer, exactly? Well, let me tell you.

It Broadens Your Horizons

Travel helps with writing because it exposes you to new places and cultures you may not have visited or known about previously. It activates your senses, allowing you to see, smell, taste, and hear in a novel way, enhancing your vocabulary and descriptors. This experience may just spark an idea for a new story in a setting you never would’ve thought about otherwise.

It Helps You Meet New People

Many times, (but not always), writers base characters or certain personality traits on people they know. This means meeting new people could potentially inspire brand-new characters to enhance a story’s uniqueness and intrigue. Traveling to a foreign place surrounds you with strangers, each with their own distinct personalities, quirks, and life stories. Who knows what eccentric characters will emerge from this experience?

It Forces You Out of Your Comfort Zone

Do you tend to visit the same coffee shop or grocery store during your daily outings? It’s okay if you do. After all, human beings are creatures of habit. This may be good for your own personal comfort, but it’s detrimental to your creativity. When traveling, you’re forced to try new restaurants, visit unfamiliar stores, or seek out novel attractions. These experiences make great fodder for enhancing a story’s plot and switching up your character’s actions.

Tips for Writing While Traveling

A woman sitting in the grass and writing in a notebook. — Woman writing in a notebook while sitting in the grass.

Now that we’ve established traveling is good for writing, let’s explore how to incorporate writing into your busy travel itinerary. Visiting new places and seeking novel experiences on top of trying to write may seem like an impossible feat, but these tips may ease your concerns:

Bring a notebook: This is a must. You never know when creativity will strike, and being prepared is crucial. A small composition notebook easily slips into a bag or oversized pocket. You can also use the notes app on your phone to jot down ideas.
Write in public: If you find a cozy cafe or park and have the ability to write in public, then pull out your notebook, phone, or tablet, and have at it. Writing in public can be helpful if an idea occurs to you in the moment, urging you to immediately get it out so you don’t risk forgetting.
Slow down and watch: If you can’t write in public, then use your outings to simply observe your surroundings. Take note of interesting people, places, or things you encounter, and set aside time later to flesh out your discoveries.
Take pictures: Maybe don’t take pictures of people, especially without their permission, but of cool buildings, artwork, fountains, statues, or anything else of interest you see. Taking pictures allows you to live in the moment and save studying the details of your findings until you’re ready to enter hardcore writing mode.

What If I Can’t Afford to Travel?

If you can’t afford to travel, you’re not alone. Inflation has made this struggle a stark reality for many people. Alas, all hope is not lost. There are ways to gain new experiences close to home, such as:

Visiting new-to-you local coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants
Checking out local museums or art galleries
Joining a group, like a book club, to meet new people
Finding local volunteer opportunities
Attending community events or festivals
Learning a new hobby or skill (either on your own or by taking a class)
Reading new authors or genres outside your regular selections (check out your local library to save some 💵)

Broaden Your Horizons to Enhance Your Creativity

Throw out that old saying “write what you know,” and get out into the world to learn something new. If you only ever write what you know, your stories risk becoming repetitive, and you risk becoming consumed by boredom, deterring you from wanting to write at all.

Trying new things, visiting unfamiliar places, and striking up conversations with strangers are all effective ways to grow as a writer. You never know what details you might uncover. So pack a bag, and bon voyage. The world is waiting.

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The Enlightened Storyteller