Travel is one of those incredibly personal things. Many of my clients hope to get a lot of writing done while traveling. And some do. But if they don’t know how they write/travel, they can easily burden themselves with unrealistic expectations. It’s much better to plan according to your style of travel than to lug all your writing materials with you and never crack open your laptop. I coach my clients to know their way so they can set themselves up for success whether they bring their writing along or take a break.
Are you a traveling writer? Some people can write easily while on the road. Others can’t. Neither is better; it’s only important to know what works for you.
One client of mine loved his airplane time. It was the only place where he didn’t have to respond to work demands. Where he wasn’t responsible for his family’s needs. Where he had uninterrupted time to write. He got a lot done while away from his routine. Others find that work trips, family trips or vacations are too disruptive to focus.
Don’t judge whether you can or can’t write while away from home. What’s damaging to your confidence is having unreasonable expectations for yourself. Bringing a lot of stuff with you to work on and not getting to it can add unnecessary stress. Remember, the main thing we need to guard and access is focus. Some people can focus more easily when away from home. Others find that they can’t get much writing done while traveling.
Decide which you are—a traveling writer or a home writer. Set your expectations accordingly.
Drop a note in the comments below to share your travel/writing mode. What works for you?
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