In the past year, I’ve taken seven trips—five with planes, one with a train, and three international. I worked on my novel during every single one. Whether I was on a train slicing through fog-draped hills or tucked into the corner of a hotel room with questionable lighting, I kept writing. Not always a lot, and not always daily. But always something. Because for me, travel isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s essential to my writing process. I’d even go so far as to say it drives it.

My desk back home is neatly stocked with all my favorite tools, but the truth is, many of my best ideas never originate there. They happen when I’m 30,000 feet in the air with a notebook balanced on a tray table, or on a road trip to nowhere with my voice recorder catching thoughts as I drive.

Of course, traveling as a writer means packing like a writer—which is both an art and an ongoing struggle (chronic over-packer here). What I bring depends on where I’m going, how I’m getting there, and how much space I’ve got left after I’ve shoved in one-too-many pairs of shoes. Still, I’ve learned to prioritize the essentials.

My Non-Negotiables:

• Laptop – the obvious one, but absolutely necessary
• Headphones + Earbuds – for zoning in or tuning out, depending on the moment
• AI-powered Voice Recorder – captures ideas when I can’t type
• Reading Glasses – because squinting isn’t cute

My Nice-to-Haves:

• External Mouse – trackpads and cramped airplane hands don’t mix
• Wrist Compression Brace – carpal tunnel prevention/pain relief
• Fidget Spinners – for when I need to think with my hands
• Digital Notebook – when I want to jot without distractions
• Favorite Pens – because the right pen matters

My Situational Add-Ons:

• Road Atlas – if a rental car is involved
• Project Printouts – only if they’re essential to what I’m working on

And What I Skip:

• External Keyboards – no matter how many times I’ve tried, they’re never worth the hassle of lugging along

A Few Tips From the Road:

Keep a consistent schedule, but don’t cling to it. Sometimes, I write a lot while traveling. Other times, I record voice notes and revisit them when I’m back home. Either way, the outcome is the same: the travel fuels the story. It brings fresh air into the writing—literally and figuratively.

If you’ve never written on the go, I highly recommend trying it. Let the train sway you into a new rhythm. Use airport layovers as opportunities to observe humanity. Let the unfamiliar surroundings knock something loose in your imagination.

It’s worked for me every time.

And if you’re a writer too, I hope it becomes part of your routine—one suitcase, one scene, and one scribbled idea at a time.

Thanks for Reading!

Until next time, please…

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Brandie—an award-winning writer, poet, and storyteller—spills the literary tea with humor, heart, and a delightfully generous sprinkle of chaos. Each email is crafted to make you laugh, think, and feel inspired as she openly shares the ups and downs of her writing journey, inviting you to experience creative triumphs and comedic misadventures firsthand.

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