My travel obsession started when I was in grade four. An impressionable nine-year-old, I loved school and always paid close attention to my teacher, making me both a nerd and an A-student. Imagine my fascination when my teacher returned from Christmas break after a trip to Hawaii with slides! I could not even imagine how far Hawaii might be, but I knew I’d visit someday. It was at that moment that I started clipping travel advertisements from magazines.
Travel with my family generally involved a road trip from wherever we were living at the time (my father was an army officer, and I was an army brat) to visit my grandmother in the summer. By the time I was in high school, I was familiar with most of the eastern part of Canada and the northeastern part of the US, but I’d never even been on an airplane. When I was twenty, all that changed.
Fast forward to today when I can look at a map of the world and start chiming off all the places I’ve been: all over Canada and the US, England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Monte Negro, Morocco, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Japan, China, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Australia, so many Caribbean islands…and the list goes on. And yes, I’ve now been to Hawaii twice.
Last year, my husband and I spent an in-depth time in a part of Canada that I hadn’t had much chance to visit. We did a cross-island tour of Newfoundland. That tour is now the basis for a forthcoming book.
I’m just back from Brazil (Rio, Sao Paulo, Salvador, Recife and the Amazon River!), and I’m already inspired by that trip. (This is Copacabana Beach from our hotel in Rio.)
I already have a book idea that will be set in the Amazon. But setting a book in a specific place isn’t the only way travel inspires me. There are so many layers of richness that travel experiences can add to whatever you’re writing, whether nonfiction, fiction, short or long form.
As I mentioned, we know that travel exposes you to diverse landscapes, cultures, and cities that can serve as compelling settings for your writing. Whether it’s the bustling streets of Sao Paulo, the Amazon rainforest, or the historic towns of Europe (or even a city you can drive to in under an hour), each place has its own unique atmosphere and character that can spark your imagination and provide a vivid backdrop for your stories.
Travel also allows you to explore different cultures, allowing you to gain firsthand insights into customs, traditions, and ways of life. This cultural exposure can lend authenticity and depth to your writing, enabling you to portray characters and settings with greater nuance and realism.
Travel often involves stepping outside your comfort zone—sometimes just eating a bug—and encountering new challenges. These experiences can prompt personal growth, self-reflection, and transformation. Drawing from your own travel experiences can infuse your writing with authenticity and emotional depth.
No one can argue that travelling doesn’t expose you to new people who might be local residents or could even be fellow travellers. Each of them has a unique story if you only listen. Paying attention to these interactions provides a wealth of material for character development, dialogue, and plot inspiration.
As I mentioned, I’m just back from the Amazon River. There is no doubt in my mind that travel experiences that involve exploring new landscapes, from mountains and rainforests to oceans and deserts, can inspire in so many ways. Last summer in Newfoundland, I was inspired by the majestic fjords and the Tablelands of Gros Morne National Park, not to mention the puffins in Bonavista. Nature’s beauty can evoke powerful emotions and sensory impressions that can be expressed in your writing, whether through descriptive passages or thematic exploration.
Of course, travel often involves visiting historical sites. If you’ve ever travelled in Europe, you’ll probably have heard the familiar lament, “Not another church!” Well, sometimes it does get to be a bit much, but visiting historical sites and architectural marvels can spark curiosity about the past and inspire historical fiction or imaginative reinterpretations of historical events. Learning about local history can add depth and authenticity to your storytelling. Last summer in L’Anse aux Meadows, the site of the first European visitors to North America (the Vikings—over a thousand years ago), I could almost feel the thrum of history. And yes, the experience features in an upcoming book.
In general, travel provides a break from routine and everyday obligations. Travel can offer you a space for your creativity to flourish.
Remember, travel doesn’t have to mean getting on a plane and going a long distance from home. If you live in a city, I’d bet there are parts you’ve never visited. If you live in a rural area, get in the car and go into the city. And when you get there, open your eyes, ears, mind and heart. Then go home and write!
Patricia J. Parsons 