Want to be the envy of your friends when you return from a BIG trip? Write a thrilling, evocative and captivating journal with these top tips from Wanderlust's Lyn Hughes
Follow these simple tips from the travellers behind award-winning Wanderlust magazine for a travel journal that will keep your memories alive for years to come.
Ask yourself Who’s the diary for? Is it just for you to read – or to share with your friends? This could influence what you put in or leave out! It will also influence the tone and style in the way you write.
A journal is a wonderful memoir When writing your notes think about what you’ll want to remember from the trip in ten, 20, or even 30 years time.
The beginning and the end Use the beginning and end of the journal to set the scene, as a reference.
Things you might want to include are: your itinerary; your route plotted on a map; a ‘cast list’ of people you meet en route (include brief descriptions or even photos to job your memory); contact details of the people you would like to keep in touch with (and do keep in touch with them!); lists of ‘top moments’ or ‘best bits’ from your trip – best sunset, view, meal, restaurant etc.
Bring your journal to life
Entries don’t have to be chronological Write whatever catches your imagination, whenever it occurs to you.
You don’t have to record everything What you leave out is as important as what you put in.
Use dialogue Funny things you’ve overheard, or as conversation with a camel driver, for example.
Use ALL your senses Write about the sounds, smells, tastes and even textures.
Avoid listing your activities/descriptions/surroundings 'And then I did this... and then I did that’, it’s a captivating story not a repetitive list.
Illustrate it The act of drawing a building, termite mound or character will help etch them in your memory.
Scrap it! Stick in tickets, bottle labels, snippets from local newspapers, receipts etc –use the pocket in the back of the journal to hold them or stick them in next to the day they refer to – leaving you with a thick, full memory to look back on.
The practicalities
Give a day and date for each new memory – or you’ll forget what happened when.
Leave gaps here and there – you’ll be able to add things in as/when you remember them.
Get it down on paper while it’s fresh – it will be much more vivid. If there’s not enough time for a full description, jot down a few key words, which will jog your memory and fill in the gaps later.
It’s your journal so stick to what interests YOU. If you want to record distance in miles covered, units of wine drunk, funny road signs, tacky souvenirs, or cute cats then great – that’s your prerogative.
Enjoy yourself! Your travels and trips are fun – and your journal should be too! For you – the writer – and for those who will later read it.
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