Do You Need To Travel To Be A Good Writer?

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Most people know that the best writing comes when you have something to say. Having something to say is often defined by something you can relate to in life. For example, the best feminist literature is of course written by women. That’s not to say you can’t write or speak about anything that you’re interested in but don’t have first-hand experience with, but it may mean their viewpoint could be less textured than another.

When it comes to writing in general, having as much life experience as possible is often a good idea. But do you need to travel to be a good writer? Well, not necessarily. After all, some people with disabilities or limited means might not have the opportunity to, and does that mean their wiriting won’t have import or authority? Of course not.

But of course, in some circumstances, then it could be a great advantage. Here are some worthwhile examples:

Political Writing

Now, you don’t have to travel to write from a political lens. A disability advocate may not be able to leave their front door as often as they would like, but does this reduce the validity of their viewpoint? Quite the opposite. However, if you wish to cover political news, conduct investigative journalism, or cover specific events, then finding apartments near Capitol Hill DC, for instance, could be appropriate. While you might not cover national-level politics like this, situating yourself within a residential community or attending events could be nothing if not a fantastic advantage, as it puts you right where the action is and helps you begin networking in that space.

Travel Writing

This one might seem obvious, but you don't actually need to travel constantly to be a travel writer. Some of the best travel writing comes from people who stay in one place for months or years, really getting to know the local culture and daily rhythms of life. Think about writers like Peter Mayle, who wrote about his life in Provence. He wasn't hopping between destinations, he was living there, noticing small details that most tourists would miss. But if you want to write broad travel guides or comparison pieces, then yes, you'll need to move around. It’s wise to begin matching your travel style to the kind of writing you want to do.

Food Writing

Food writing is similar to travel writing in many ways, because people who travel tend to eat and have something to say about it. You don't need to visit every Michelin-starred restaurant in the world to write about food though. Some excellent food writers focus on home cooking, family recipes, or the restaurants in their own neighborhood. But if you want to write restaurant reviews or cover food trends across different regions, then being able to move around becomes important, because takeout isn’t quite the same. Local food writers often build strong relationships with chefs and restaurateurs in their area, which leads to deeper, more insightful writing than someone just passing through could produce.

With this advice, we hope you can see how to travel