4 Productivity Tips for the Traveling Writer

Whether you’re headed to a writers’ retreat, author convention, family vacation or a work trip to another state or country, one of the most important skillsets to refine as a writer is the ability to create while traveling. As your writing career gains traction, you’ll often be presented with opportunities and invitations to various events that take place in other locations—and if a deadline approaches or you’re writing part-time or full-time, you’ll need to learn how to work on your book while in transit. Midnight Publishing is a writing and editing company based in Phoenix, Arizona, and we’ve been working with authors and entrepreneurs for nearly a decade to edit, refine, strengthen, and streamline their manuscripts in preparation for publication. We understand the importance of writing on the go, and want to share some of our tried-and-true tricks for the traveling writer:

1. Consider Power Sources and Outlets

This is especially important if you’re traveling internationally, as many countries use different outlets than the ones in the United States. Your computer, phone, iPad or any other writing device will require an adapter if it’s to be plugged in and charged, which you’ll certainly need if you’re traveling overseas for a considerable amount of time. For a list of various types of outlets and adapters required by country, go here.

2. Bring Earbuds/Noise-Cancelling Headphones

Airports, planes, coffee shops, busy hotel lobbies, buses, noisy hostels—there’s a plethora of distractions to be found when you’re attempting to work on your manuscript during travel. Earbuds and noise-cancelling headphones can be the ticket to blocking out a majority of the distractions found in high-traffic areas, and this TechRadar article offers some of the best and most affordable options on the market today. Just be sure never to wear any sets of earbuds, earplugs or headphones if you’re not in a familiar area and/or a populated place while traveling—it’s important that you are able to hear and react to everything around you to prevent dangerous situations.

3. Create a Playlist and Listen to it Every Time You Write

Everyone’s heard of Pavlov’s dog experiments, and how they identified the brain’s ability to respond in a conditioned way to a familiar stimulus. By creating a playlist of songs that inspire your current work-in-progress, you’re able to condition yourself to fall into writing mode every time you begin to listen to it. This is especially useful as the surroundings around you change so that there remains an element of routine that can be accessed immediately as you write.

4. #Wordsprint With Your Fellow Authors to Hit Word Count Goals

Traveling presents you with the perfect opportunity for #wordsprints: blocks of time (typically 30 minutes) that are devoted solely to writing, and oftentimes shared on Twitter with the hashtag to encourage comradery and friendly competition between one another. Hold yourself accountable by posting your word count at the end of each wordsprint and schedule times to meet up again with your fellow sprinters the next day. This is a great way to get the words down quickly and efficiently so that you can go and explore your new location afterward!

Whether you’ve finished a manuscript and want a developmental edit, copyedit or final proofread before publication or querying agents, Midnight Publishing is the editing and ghostwriting company for you! Our award-winning staff of editors, writers, and marketers can assist you in all ways to publish the books you dream of, and fast. Contact us today to discuss your vision, and receive a spot on our schedule!