Travel stories are like hidden treasures waiting to be shared. But sadly, the memories fade into oblivion if we don’t take the time to reflect on our adventures and document the untold stories. Yes, we may collate our photos, either digitally or in photograph albums, but without the narrative – the who, what, why, when, where and how, the stories and the feelings associated with them, are lost. Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve your unique experiences; the characters you met along the way, the joyful moments, the mishaps, the adventures, the tastes and smells, the scenery and the impact these had on you at the time. In essence, capturing these memories gives the writer a sense of fulfilment achievement that can be cherished for a lifetime.
There are four basic components to consider if you are keen to capture your travel stories.
- The Planning Phase
- The Reality of the Trip – the adventure
- Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document.
- Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story
The Planning Phase
Most of us spend considerable time planning the details for our trips. This includes but is not limited to:
- Who we’ll travel with
- Where we’ll go and why
- What we’ll do on route and when we get to our destination
- When we’ll go on this trip and why
- Transport options/choices
- Accommodation
- Budget
- Luggage – what we’ll take with us and what we’ll bring back
- Travel insurance
If travelling with others there are likely to be countless discussions to refine the details. What is the story behind your trip? Reflecting on the planning stage, what were your expectations once you’d made the arrangements?
The Reality of the Trip – the adventure
What took place? Refer to the memorabilia you would have collated along the way e.g., postcards, maps, tickets, photos etc. Chart your experience.
Reflection on the Trip – what you’ll document
Be selective when choosing what you’ll write about. Consider the plan versus the reality of the trip. Focus on the highlights, the enjoyable moments, the mishaps, and the unexpected. What was interesting, funny, frightening, surprising? Include geographical details, the customs the practices, and the historical background if relevant. Incorporate your personal insights – what you experienced, how you felt, lessons learned, and the impact your travel adventure and the characters you met along the way have had on you. Bring your story to life with colourful examples, dialogue, photos and other pertinent memorabilia.
Tips on Structuring Your Travel Story
Like structuring a speech, a story can be divided into three distinct parts.
- The Introduction. This is where you set the scene providing a sense of time, place, situation, and where you determine the focus of your story.
- The Body of Your Story (the content). This is where you share your adventures, your personal experiences. The reality of the trip based on your personal insights, reflections and reactions. Capture the essence of your unique experiences using examples and photos. Be sure to eliminate irrelevant and unnecessary information so the narrative is engaging and doesn’t read like a train timetable.
- The Conclusion. Conclude with a summary of the highlights of trip, reflections on the lessons learned, and key takeaways – what you’d do the same or differently next time around.
Documenting your travel stories helps to preserve memories of your globetrotting experiences that can be cherished for a lifetime. The purposeful process provides an opportunity to recount the sights, sounds, and the adventures you encountered. It also creates a huge sense of perspective and personal achievement and enables you to share your travel experiences with family, friends and the wider community.
Life is short. Don’t let your travel experiences go untold.
Angela Robertson is a writer, inspirational speaker, and workshop facilitator. Her non-fiction books are available in paperback, Kindle, and eBook formats from online bookstores. Amazon.com: Angela Robertson: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle