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Text Version
By CHRISTOPHER GRONLUND
If, like many writers, you juggle a day job with writing
time, when vacation finally rolls around at work, you're faced with a
dilemma: Take the week off to write, or take a vacation? Sure, an entire,
uninterrupted week to work on that book is appealing, but so is a week
relaxing on S the beach. What's a writer to do? Try combining the two
by taking a writing vacation.
If it's inspiration you're seeking, few things are more
inspiring than traveling in the footsteps of your favorite author. It
doesn't matter if you're vacationing in the states or abroad; chances
are, wherever you're going, you won't be too far from the stomping grounds
of a writer you admire.
Even if friends and family couldn't care less about which
bar Hemingway frequented, it's not too hard convincing them that the Florida
Keys are an ideal vacation spot.
Is the change of colors in New England each autumn more
your style? New Eng England was home to so many great American authors,
both classic and contemporary, that you'll have trouble deciding which
writer to follow. No matter who your favorite writers are, after walking
a couple of miles in their shoes, you'll return from vacation with a renewed
vigor to pile up the pages.
How many times have you read a novel and thought to yourself,
It's like I'm right there? It's understandable when an author's writing
about events and places in his own backyard, but I'm always amazed by
those writers who bring other places to life as though they were locals.
How do they do this? By going where their stories are set.
Is your story set in Chicago, Paris or in the middle of
nowhere? Go there! Listen to the way the locals talk and don't be afraid
to chat with them; you may be surprised at how willing people are to talk
with you when you tell them you're working on a book set in their hometown.
In no time, you'll be directed to the places tourists rarely see-the kinds
of places characters in your stories might frequent.
Take pictures and detailed notes so you have specific references
for a later date. If you're pressed for time, find the tours of the area
most suited to your needs. And don't forget to visit the local library.
Thoreau wasn't the last writer to seek a place away from
the hurried pace of everyday life to write. While your love for the Internet,
computers and Starbucks will likely keep you from leaving it all behind
and finding your own Walden, solitude is often much closer than you think.
Many state and national parks offer affordable cabins with
at least some of the amenities you're probably accustomed to. While everyone
back home is busy fighting traffic, you'll be hiking scenic trails with
only a walking stick and your thoughts for companionship. Without ringing
phones, horns and blaring TV noise, you'll find the words falling into
place and return home not only relaxed, but also on your way to completing
that next big project.
Travel writing relies on a sense of putting a reader right
there in the place. If you're interested in travel writing, a week-long
vacation is the perfect way to test your mettle. Whether you stay close
to home or head overseas, a little research and planning can land an assignment
or two that may help offset the cost of your writing vacation.
Travel editors at regional publications and newspapers are
often willing to consider a story written by a nonseasoned pro. With tight
budgets, they rely on freelancers to write about places they can't afford
to send staff. Research your angle, pitch the idea and be open to suggestions.
Having a hard time finding the perfect writing retreat?
Pool your resources with other writers and create your own retreat. It's
not too hard to convince a few like-minded writers to pitch in and book
a bed-and-breakfast or a small resort. Let someone else take care of the
cooking and cleaning while you enjoy the camaraderie and the uninterrupted
time to write. If money's an issue, rent several cabins at a campground
where you and other writers can hike, bike, hit the lake and write.
Hitting the open road offers all the benefits of a perfect
writing vacation. You may find inspiration in the footsteps of your favorite
writers and add local color to your writing with each stop. Then there's
the solitude that comes with the endless march of mile markers. You can
find a quiet place at the end of each day to write before sleeping and
doing it all over again.
Road trips, like writing, are often full of surprises. Sometimes
letting go and following your instincts on the unplanned etour brings
the biggest rewards.
If you've exhausted your vacation time and are unable to
get away for a week, consider a long weekend alone in a hotel. Maya Angelou
keeps a hotel room when writing, a place where she can write without interruption.
Try renting a simple room without a television and take the phone off
the hook to avoid distractions.
The reality for most writers is that until the big break
comes along, you have to balance your writing time with a day job and
your family. The hustle and bustle of everyday tasks often puts writing
on the back burner. After a week of living the writer's life, you may
not be quite ready to return to work, but you'll know if you've got what
it takes to make your writing dream a reality.
Christopher Gronlund, (Christophergronlund.com) is a special contributor
to the Dallas Morning News Travel section.
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