Journal With Impact: Travel Research

Workshop: Six Conversations for Writing Creative Journals

“What we see less of and what we need more of these days is travel journalism, people in a new place deliberately seeking out stories of interest and of import.”

                                                                                                                  James Durston

Preparation for Planned Trip

(Also works for organizing material re memoir locations only going backwards into memory.)

Carve out your niche.

Read ahead with travel books. Particularly notice what is missing. What do you want to read information on that’s not there? Study maps. Look at online photos. If possible read some local newspapers or journalists who blog for that region to get a flavor for the community. Begin to focus on your destination from the inside out instead of as an observer to get a deeper insight.

Don’t just describe, Durston says. “Give me its stories, reveal its spirit, cut open its gut.” Look for the connective details that will influence your curiosity and search.

Consider a simple diary outline that matches your personal goals to briefly fill in key words as a reminder to keep the days from blending together when they might overlap. For example: places to eat, specific locations, bits of history, the unexpected, music heard, a conversation.

Decide how while on location you will keep mementos of each day’s outing such as ticket stubs, or menus, any free giveaways. If you take several photographs, will each day’s content go into its own folder or another category? Later when you review, you will be reminded of which day the weather changed, or you might notice repeating themes through each day.

Prepare for the active logistics: currency, timetables for transportation, safety measures, phone numbers in case of emergency, basic language translations for any country you visit. And although the new tech apps now available are compact and helpful, keep a paper copy as well—both for yourself and another copy for someone at your home base in case of loss.

  

Action Steps:

1. Return now to your dream journey questions and let them become your foundation for organizing your logistics and itinerary.

2. Pare all the common details down to the simplest format so that it will be as ordinary as a daily commute for you.

3. Choose how to copy or send your daily adventures into a backup file while traveling.

Share: What preparation had you not considered before your research but will include on your trip?

            Or what specific advice has been helpful to you on one of your previous journeys?

Read deep, marcy

Overview Nonfiction: Topic Research

Workshop: An Introduction to Writing for Children and Young Adults

“Creative research is made up of four parts: intuitive guesses, detective work, chutzpah, and just plain luck.” Jane Yolen

Out of your research can come more ideas for biographies, history, travel, special events, occasions, and unexpected questions, both related to your primary focus and as additional subjects to set aside for later consideration.

Perhaps your initial intention is to write a magazine article, but the more you research the more interested you become and begin to explore the idea for a book. As you sweep-read for initial research, write down those odd gleanings as they pop up. Keep a separate list folder for the curiosities that don’t seem to fit anywhere but do catch your interest.

For your immediate topic/article, choose a record keeping method that works in tune with your personal process of thinking. Some writers need visual aids: perhaps a map with small sticky images or photos. Others prefer detailed outlines or tables and graphs. Don’t make the research stage difficult and confusing but easy access. Headings, color codes, tabs, and icons, can help separate categories.

A combination of at-hand and online folders will keep duplicate copies in case anything goes missing, but be sure to use the same categories to avoid confusion. Consider trying out both a virtual binder system and an online technology one to see which you find most effective.

Action Steps:

Set-up your immediate topic files, then keep all the extra material under another heading for future reference or for a potential second book.

1. Write down the broad strokes of a wide overview of your topic.

2. Keep a diary of where major incidents or details happen.

3. Also record the references when you use library material, especially when borrowed.

4. Note when your sources are primary or secondary.

5. Set goals and time management for your research as well as your writing, so the writing gets your priority.

Share: Did you discover a surprise in your research? How?

Read deep, marcy

Strategy # 6 Homespun Locale: Connect

Build Your Story: 8 Strategies for Writing Innovative Setting with Impact

Travel Writing

Whether you do your research from the armchair comfort of your home or are able to venture into onsite research, consider doing it as if you are writing a travel piece. (You might consider using portions for blog spots later as well.) Think of what a tourist might want to know. Immediately you have a built in interest connection.  For example, in addition to their feature stories, the magazine Via always has at least four smaller columns that include places to eat, must see locations, bits of history, and often the unexpected. Their readers expect to see these categories.

Look for a local magazine within the geographic habitat area you’re interested in developing.  And/or go online and check for popular columnists. Merrie Destefano shared in an interview that she followed a few New Orleans blogs when she began researching her novel to catch the ‘voice’ of the city. San Francisco had columnist Herb Caen for decades. He became know nationally as the voice of the city. If anyone needs to know what the local population thought important thirty years ago, reading his archived columns would give a good representation.

Choose a city, type in the name and columnists. Then pick the largest paper first and scroll through the column categories. Then go back and pick one of the smaller papers. Compare subject choices.

If you are using a place that is local and familiar, take a day trip from another perspective. If you usually go with friends or family—go alone. Or reverse—if you usually visit some place alone next time travel with a friend or two who have never been there before and see it through their eyes.

Here’s an exercise on finding a travel idea close to home from L. Peat O’Neil in his book Travel Writing.

“Here are the kinds of questions to ask yourself: Is there a nearby college campus with historical buildings? Does the community have a park featuring a nature center or wildlife preserve? Have any famous people lived in the area—writers, artists, performers, political notables? Are their former homes open to visitors? Perhaps there is a nearby shopping district or local crafts or antiques. What is the history of that statue in front of the civic center? Why are all the Italian restaurants in a certain neighborhood? What is it about the river that attracts all the kayakers in spring? Why is that art gallery named after certain family?”

Share: What is the first thing you look for when you visit any new locale? My children were amazed that I would always spot the bookstores immediately. : )

Read deep, marcy