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116th out of 409 books
—
462 voters
Writing Away: A Creative Guide to Awakening the Journal-Writing Traveler
by
Lavinia Spalding (Goodreads Author)
Two major trends have recently swept the travel world: the first, an overwhelming desire (thanks to Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestseller, Eat, Pray, Love) to write one’s own memoir; the second, an explosion of social media, blogs, twitter and texts, which allow travelers to document and share their experiences instantaneously. Thus, the act of chronicling one’s journey has never...more
Paperback, 264 pages
Published
August 1st 2009
by Travelers' Tales
(first published May 1st 2009)
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I’m both an on-and-off journal writer and an avid traveler, so Writing Away seemed like it would be the perfect book for me. Well written, and scattered with travel journal excerpts and wonderful travel themed quotes, Writing Away was a pleasure to read and never turned into one of those dry boring “how to” books.
I immediately noticed that it got my creative juices flowing. Memories of my most recent travels came back with all their vivid details, and I itched to write down and document these m...more
I immediately noticed that it got my creative juices flowing. Memories of my most recent travels came back with all their vivid details, and I itched to write down and document these m...more
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I would have given this book 3.5 stars. This book is a smooth read. I enjoyed each and every section. The quotes are very inspiring. Keeping journals is not a new thing for me. I did it during high school and college. I pasted each and every stub of a cinema ticket, bus ticket, receipts and every possible piece of paper into my journal. Reading this book took me back to those days. One of the main inspirations for me to read this book is, I have never documented in a of my travels. The memory ke...more
A dear friend sent this to me as a gift. I recently discovered travel journal writing (okay, three years ago) when I kept a journal on my trip to London when I had my second rendezvous with Steve. I just adore that journal. Lots of memories of discovering London, Bath, Oxford, and falling in love.
Aug 24, 2009
Greg
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who enjoys traveling or journaling
Recommended to Greg by:
Picked it up at a National Park bookstore
“His journal was 33 black binders on the shelves of his personal study when President Spencer W. Kimball was called to be President of the Church in 1973. Since then, he has frequently counseled and exhorted members of the Church to keep personal journals…” As President Kimball once said, “What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, you...more
As a long-time daily journal-keeper, I could have done without SO much of the book being devoted to inspiring me to begin keeping a journal. Those chapters were non-specific to travel journals. But she has some amazing tips for creating a wonderful memory of your trip, much of which I am going to try to add to my own upcoming travel journal. Even though I'm going to be packing only one small bag, I guess I'm going to have to make room for an art kit of scissors, glue, tape, and other necessities...more
I wasn't expecting much in this book because, for one thing, I tend to think journal writing is solipsistic and boring. But WRITING AWAY was a very pleasant surprise. It is intelligent, witty, and engaging---full of wisdom of life, love, and beauty. Spalding makes the subject come alive and compelling (I'd love to read her journals). My guess is, this will become a classic. It's a book you can curl up with and, based on her brain alone, I wouldn't mind curling up with Spalding, either.
I'm the sort of traveler that has always committed everything to memory and relied in the scantiest notes for important details. While this book hasn't converted me into a rabid journal writer, it has convinced me that developing a consistent journal habit, before, during and after trips, is essential to getting the most out of the experience. I can't say I've used every suggestion in the book, but I have put many of them into my writer's bag of tricks.
Oct 12, 2012
Hikerdee
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2012,
craft-of-writing
When I finished reading the book, I gave it three stars because I thought it was a nice enough book but I did not see how it might improve the travel journals I already keep and I did not see why I might need an additional journal for the travel when I keep a daily one.
Well, I was wrong. I used some of her suggestions during a 17-day road trip and I can barely contain my extra journal within its rubber strap. I especially liked her suggestion for a three-column list with the headings of Date/De...more
Well, I was wrong. I used some of her suggestions during a 17-day road trip and I can barely contain my extra journal within its rubber strap. I especially liked her suggestion for a three-column list with the headings of Date/De...more
Wonderfully written and entertaining, This address not just travel writing, but Journal writing in general. The stories and comments are witty and amusing, the suggestions realistic and helpful. She tells you the ways to get the most out of your travels and not just out of Journaling, give reasons why certain things should and should not be written. Evaluates the difference between blogging and journaling with out faulting one of the other.
2 likes · like · see review
Writing Away begins with selecting a journal and a pen. Just as I was about to roll my eyes, Lavina threw out a few insightful considerations that had never occurred to me.
The chapters are as eclectic as the travelers who keep journals. She will go from practical writing exercises in one section to rhapsodizing about the creative spirit in the next. Every chapter is graced with inspiring quotes about travel and writing. I found myself getting swept up in some of the creative ideas in spite of my...more
The chapters are as eclectic as the travelers who keep journals. She will go from practical writing exercises in one section to rhapsodizing about the creative spirit in the next. Every chapter is graced with inspiring quotes about travel and writing. I found myself getting swept up in some of the creative ideas in spite of my...more
A refreshing and candid look at travel journals, this book was music to my ears like it was a kindred friend pulling thoughts out of my head and reading them out aloud to me. Lavinia Spalding takes us through the need to journal while travelling and how to journal effectively with a fantastic store of quotes and stories from her extensive research. Ultimately, it reads like a heartfelt conversation on a sunny day on a green lawn by a lake, and it left a big smile on my face by the time I was don...more
This book was a treat to read. It was witty, funny, and totally motivating. As inspiring as the book was, to have me dust off my journal and put pen to paper while abroad, it was just as inspiring, if not more so, to get my tokus on an airplane! I loved the sporadic quotes and journal entries from miscellaneous travelers. My copy is now underlined and highlighted, and just a bit beat up. One of my favorite quotes is by Ayn Rand, which starts out, "Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplacea...more
A good book with some great ideas on how to approach journal keeping. Spalding managed to allay my initial concern that the book might be a bit too ... esoteric to be of much use to me, making realistic, concrete points off-the-bat.
This book was GREAT! I love to travel and keep a journal about my travels. This book was fun to read and had so many good ideas on how to keep a good journal. I loved the writing prompts at the end of the book. If you love to journal, and not just while you are traveling this is a must read book!
Writing away was such an easy read and delightful too! I love the author and found myself reading for hours without realizing it. It's easy to put down and pick up. Occasionally, I'll just open it up to any page and start reading again. Great tips and inspiration for writing about my travels.
I love all the suggestions of ways to have a travel journal. I just finished my last journal (sob!) so this is a great impetus to get a new one!
This book was gorgeous--I might have to actually get a copy. The journal prompts and quotes are very evocative and the way that Lavinia Spalding writes makes you not only want to write too, but to travel to far away places while doing so! :o)
This book was gorgeous--I might have to actually get a copy. The journal prompts and quotes are very evocative and the way that Lavinia Spalding writes makes you not only want to write too, but to travel to far away places while doing so! :o)
What a great book, one of the few that I keep coming back to. I have been keeping a journal off and on for 60 years. This book has motivated me to keep on journaling for at lest the next 20 or so
If you don't keep a journal now you will want to after reading this book. Well thought out and great ideas to get you started!
liked it. helpful tips and encouragement to write. A bit cheeky at times, but still really enjoyable if you are into writing.
Lots of ideas for travel journaling and examples to illustrate them. Great read.
...dave
...dave
Great tone and offers so much in the way of ideas, prompts, and guidance. I read this as a long-time journaler looking for some fresh inspiration; I would recommend it to someone interested in starting a journal too. And you absolutely do not have to have globetrotting in your future, near or distant, for this book to be worth reading.
Lots of prompts and tips to start (and finish) a travel journal. I thought the writing a little tediously lengthy, but there are a lot of great ideas that are useful even for an everyday journal.
Mar 24, 2010
Honey
is currently reading it
*Daydreaming
This book contains many suggestions to help bring out our best journalistic talents. If the book's dictates are followed, travel journaling will turn into an adventure of creativity.
One of the chapters is "Travel is Stranger than Fiction"--and the chapter certainly shows that to be true!
I especially liked the long list of Journal Prompts to spice up a travel journal. 137 ways to take a creative leap!
This book can serve as an inspiration for deeper, more thoughtful travel journals.
One of the chapters is "Travel is Stranger than Fiction"--and the chapter certainly shows that to be true!
I especially liked the long list of Journal Prompts to spice up a travel journal. 137 ways to take a creative leap!
This book can serve as an inspiration for deeper, more thoughtful travel journals.
Not the book I wanted, but a good book nonetheless. A well-written, funny text on starting your own pen-and-paper journal of your travels, the author guides you from fledgling diary keeper to prose-crafting amateur. I personally was hoping for something more on travel writing for others, so this didn't satisfy me. However, I would recommend it for others.
Excellent. I highly recommend this to anyone involved in any kind of journalling.
This was a great book not just about travel journals, but also everyday journal writing. Reading it and using some of the suggestions have enhanced ny daily journal and well and the future travel journals (because I WILL travel sometime soon!)
Great engaging book about travel/vacation writing. However, although that is the focus, it's a great overall book on suggestions and ideas for writing great, readable, engaging content. Great ideas on making lists, getting details, and what to record.
I loved this and highly recommend it. Spalding sold me on the concept and execution of a travel journal. The second half seemed repetitive and less tactile than the first, but still enjoyable.
Excellent guide to keeping a travel journal with many ideas that I've carried over to my daily journal as well. I'm pretty sure I'll keep coming back to this book for new ideas in the future.
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Lavinia Spalding is author of Writing Away: A Creative Guide to Awakening the Journal-Writing Traveler (chosen one of the best travel books of 2009 by the L.A. Times) and With a Measure of Grace, the Story and Recipes of a Small Town Restaurant (now in its fourth printing). She is also the editor of Travelers' Tales' The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011 (a 2011 Book of the Year finalist) and The B...more
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