By Emma Scattergood 

https://darmatravels.com

 

The Myth of the Travel Writer

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Contrary to popular belief, most people who become travel writers (or bloggers) did not study journalism at university or decide at an early age that this was what they would do. Instead, they travelled first — and the writing came second. Whatever the reason for this travel — work, illness, retirement, relocation, or a long trip being the most common examples — the end result was often a story worth telling.

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And how I became one

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Although I did briefly study journalism at university, I only lasted three months. I am definitely an example of someone who undertook a journey and later realised they had something to share.

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In 2017, six years after my husband’s life-altering motorbike accident, we embarked on a worldwide adventure. The aim was twofold : to seek health and to tick off items from a thirty-year-old bucket list. The journey lasted seven months, encompassed nineteen countries, and was completely self-organised.

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On our return to Australia — and back to what felt like a very mundane existence — I began to realise that what we had done was unique. Initially, I was hesitant. Who would want to read a book about us? But I persevered, and Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks came into being.

 

Travel Blogging Versus Travel Book Writing

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Whether they have taken the time to consider it or not, most readers do not realise there is a significant difference between the two.

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To explain:

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• Blogs are snapshots of your travels. Accompanied by captivating photos, their aim is to draw the reader in and inform quickly and decisively.

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• Travel books are fully developed narratives. Like a seed, your blog can grow into a fully grown tree. A book takes the germ of an idea and nurtures it into a mature story.

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And why I do both

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Wanting to keep friends and family updated during that initial adventure, I explored my options and eventually decided to create a personal blog using the WordPress platform. While time-consuming, it proved easier than expected and surprisingly enjoyable.

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At each destination, I created short blog posts covering the where, what, and how. What this ultimately resulted in was a valuable store of reference material when I later began writing my book. In this way, blogging and book writing became naturally connected — one capturing the journey as it unfolded, the other allowing me to step back and tell the fuller story.

 

What I Have Learnt Along the Way

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What you learn depends largely on the type of travel writing you undertake.

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If your aim is to maintain a blog, these are the things I have found important:

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     1. You must have reliable internet access.

     2. Nothing beats a good cover image to draw readers in.

     3. Break posts into easily readable segments.

     4. Use plenty of personal photos — and, if possible, learn how to compress them.

     5. Write as though you are telling one interested person about your experience, not trying to impress an audience.

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If the end result of your travel writing is a book, this is what has helped me most:

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     1. Keep notes as you travel. They do not need to be detailed — I simply use the Notes app on my phone to jot down what catches my interest.

     2. Refer back to your photos; they are excellent memory prompts.

     3. Accept that the first draft is for you, not the reader.

 

An Unexpected Outcome

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One thing that surprised me along the way was how writing changed the way I travelled — and how each journey eventually became its own book. Bucket Lists and Walking Sticks grew from our first long adventure, written largely in hindsight. Itchy Feet & Bucket Lists followed, shaped by experience and a growing confidence in my voice. By the time I wrote Next Chapter Travel, the writing itself had become an integral part of the journey. Keeping notes made me more observant, while writing forced me to slow down, question my assumptions, and reflect more deeply. Travel writing, I learnt, is not just about places — it is about noticing how those places affect you, and being honest enough to record that impact.

 

Things to Think About

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Not every journey needs to be extraordinary to be worth writing about. Much of our travel involves long hours sitting on trains or recording what we ate for dinner — moments that may seem nondescript, but which are still worth capturing.

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Most importantly, do not be afraid. Whether it is creating a blog site, embarking on a journey, or writing about your experiences, do not let fear hold you back.

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