Coming up with a travel book idea before you hit the road

Justin from Missouri (who posts comments to this blog from time to time) wrote me at the Vagabonding.net Q&A to ask the following question:

"How important do you think it is to travel with a concept in mind if you plan on writing a travel book? I have an extended solo journey planned that I want to write about, but I�m lacking a concept. Should I postpone my trip until I have found a concept that will lend itself to enjoyable reading?"

This is what I told him:

"Don�t postpone your travels waiting for a writing concept to occur to you -- just get out there and travel. For starters, you will learn so much on the road that any pre-vagabonding concept you dream up will probably seem kind of silly once you�re amassing your actual travel experiences. Moreover, it�s doubtful your concept will attract the attention of an agent or editor unless you already have some travel and publication credits under your belt. And, finally, trying to adhere to a rigid 'concept' on the road can sometimes get in the way of your wandering � and simple wandering is one of the best things you can do on the road.

"In the end, travel and writing are both processes that you get better at with time and experience. I should know, since at age 23 I tried to write a book about my 8-month North American vagabonding experience � and failed. But that failed book was a great exercise in finding my voice and learning persistence. It wasn�t until five more years and many more travels that I finally started getting my travel stories published � and the experience I accumulated in the meantime made all the difference.

"Hence, my advice is this: Throw yourself into your travels, and let your travels change the way you see the world. Have fun, and seek out new places, people and ideas. Take copious notes, and start writing stories. Submit those stories to online or print magazines. Laugh off the rejections, and celebrate the successes. Don�t be afraid to fail (as a writer or a traveler), and learn from those failures. Be patient. Read voraciously. Get a job (or volunteer) overseas. Fall in love with someone from a distant land. Write letters home regularly. Learn new languages. Become an expatriate for awhile. The deeper these travel experiences, the better equipped you will be to write about your travels, and the better your chances of finding a personally meaningful concept for a travel book.

"And, of course, even if these travels never lead to a book, you will at least have had the pleasure of living them � and living life richly is more important than publishing books about it."