Traveling In-Place Fuels My Writing

Finding story inspiration in day trips and brief excursions close to home.

For fiction writers, perspective, and state of mind are essential tools we use every day. But I’ve found that without diversity, those tools grow dull.

Travel has proven to be one of the best ways to spark new perspectives and shape new mindsets. But what if your circumstances don’t allow for extensive travel, as is the case with me?

Traveling in-place is the next best thing

When I first strategized this concept, I wasn’t sure how effective it would be. Turns out, it was way better than anything I imagined.

While I couldn’t travel far, I could travel a 25-mile radius from my home with ease, comfort, and minimal planning and cost. For me, that was like traveling in-place.

For some of you, traveling in-place may mean just using the internet. That is an option, but please don’t limit yourself. If possible, explore the world face-to-face.

When I see, hear, and breathe something new, I explode with ideas and emotions that take me to new heights of imagination. What a treasure trove for a fiction writer like myself!

So let me show you my travel itinerary. You can adapt this plan to fit your personal preferences and circumstances.

Travel in-place itinerary

I want to share two very important things to do as you travel in-place.

When alone, don’t rush the experience. Soak it in. Immerse yourself in time and place. BE PRESENT!

When surrounded by people, don’t rush the experience. Strike up conversations. Tactfully ask lots of questions to learn as much as you can about their background, culture, career, family, hopes, dreams, etc.

I’ve found it amazing how eager people are to share these things with someone who is friendly, non-threatening, and interested in them.

Seek out natural wooded areas like parks, walking trails, and nearby forested areas. Like the above photo, those areas can inspire and invigorate my soul. I could sit for hours with my back against the stone wall and dream up poems dripping with hope, discovery, and contentment.

Seek out street food vendors or food trucks at different events in my area. This not only satisfies my adventurous nature with new foods, but it also sparks ideas for narrative setting and description. And I pick up on cultural nuances that would otherwise escape me.

If you’re fortunate enough to have areas where street busking is popular, seek it out. Listen attentively and imagine characters or scenarios where such a scene would add luster and depth to your narrative. Don’t rush! Talk to the performers. Find out how they started busking and why. There is a wealth of inspiration in the real lives of people you meet.

A few more things on my itinerary

• Prepare international meals and don’t forget to seek out international shops and markets. In my area, Asian and Mexican food shops are available.
• Seek out the ‘Taste of ( A city name here)’ events in towns within my radius. Again, I love foraging out new foods, but mostly I love the opportunity to meet new people, and of course, ask lots of questions.
• Seek out museums, antique shops, artisan shops, farmer’s markets, local festivals, etc. There are 5 diverse festivals each year within my 25-mile radius. Some of these festivals are The Azalea Trails, The Dogwood Trails, The Yamboree, and the Jefferson Heritage Days.
• This one’s unique but fun. Visit a local assisted living facility and ask if you can interview any of their clients who would volunteer. The older generation can be a treasure of hilarious, unbelievable, and enlightening stories.
• Try house or pet-sitting. Then, practice building a story using just the clues that are revealed in that environment.

These are just a few ways to travel in-place without actually traveling any distance. With a little creativity and imagination, you can add many more travel opportunities to this list.