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When traveling, there’s certain gear every writer need.
Are you a writer planning to travel for either writing inspiration or research?
If you’re not, you should be; it’s the surest way to get those creative writing gears churning!
[Btw, are you signed up for my free bi-monthly travel writing prompts? If not, sign up here!]
Here’s a list of gear you need to bring along with you on your next trip, whether it’s for research or for a much-needed break from the “real world” on a quest for writing inspiration.
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[Voyage Scribe is an Amazon affiliate, meaning I may receive commission at no extra cost to you. That being said, I would never recommend something I haven’t or wouldn’t use myself.]
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Table of Contents
Journals:
Light, small and simple
This is the kind of journal every overpacker should aim for when buying a new travel journal.
Chances are you’ll already have issues with luggage weight and capacity, so you’ll be needing something super light.
I know this from experience, because I’m an overpacker myself. That’s why I usually choose to get these journals.
If you’re worried that you’ll run out of room in your journal, get a notebook in which you can add extra pages. These notebooks all are capable of this, and they’re also very elegant and sturdy for travel. Take your pick from one of these.
This travel journal is really awesome because it has a mini scratch-off map included! You can keep track of places you’ve traveled to in a unique way, while having a space to write in as well.
Organizers for the Creating Mind:
When writing, you want to be able to escape from reality and into a world of your own.
Travel can both advance and deter this.
While it’s much easier to imagine more creative worlds when traveling, you do have to at least somewhat stay in the real world. When navigating foreign places, you’ll need to devout extra attention to figuring out where to go and to avoid getting robbed.
Staying organized and knowing where all your belongings and valuables are at all times can help. And these organizers do that.
While writing in a notebook certainly has an aesthetic to it, it’s not feasible to write whole books in notebooks. You probably won’t have space in your luggage for all that paper, and it’s very time consuming.
Okay, so maybe it is feasible, as it has been done many times in the past.
But we’re living in the 21st century. Use the things that make life easier.
I had a tough time figuring out the lightest and best option to bring with me on my current Asia backpacking writing retreat. I did a lot of research on both tablets and laptops, and these are the best options I came up with.
So this is the option I chose for my writing travels. I have an old Macbook Pro 13 inch that weighs over 5 pounds, so I knew it wasn’t an option for a trip where every extra pound weighs my down.
I love Macbooks because they’re really reliable. I know mine won’t break down as I’m traveling and will last years and years. I got a used one and it works amazing.
So if you want:
the absolute most reliable electronic writing device
a device that will be able to accompany you for many trips over many years
something really light and portable
but something that won’t break the bank too much
Then you should get a used Macbook Air 11 inch like I did.
Tablets:
While laptops are ideal because of the bigger screens and keyboards, tablets have the benefit of being able to fit in small bags and weigh close to nothing.
If I hadn’t chosen the Macbook Air for its reliability and large, comfortable keyboard and screen, I would have chosen the Microsoft Surface Pro 6.
It’s crazy light, has a fast processor, lots of storage for your writing and even allows you to hand-write with the stylus.
If you do choose a tablet, you’re going to need a good keyboard and case to allow you to bring it on your travels and type easily.
Especially if you’re going somewhere where it might rain or near water, these will come in handy.
I’ve had so many notebooks that were destroyed by being in a backpack that got soaked in a canoe or when I got caught out in rain.
These small ones are great for protecting your notebooks.
If you’re taking a laptop or table with you to write on, you’re better off with bigger ones. You might not need them, but you can never be too safe about your writing.
Speaking of which, you should also be sure to back up your work. This is true always, but you should be extra careful about it when you’re traveling.
Your electronics are much more susceptible to theft or damage, so the extra weight of a hard drive is worth your peace of mind.
This 2 TB hard drive has got you covered for storing all of your writing. It’s also quite portable so you can take it with you on your travels.
Hotspot:
Writing sometimes involves online research, and Wi-Fi can often be hard to come by when you’re traveling. I have had this problem a lot recently while traveling Asia and working on my book.
And if you like to write in nature, like in city parks or beaches, a hotspot will be so useful.
The Skyroam Solis is your best option. Light, portable and good connection make this one perfect for travel.
A Little Help Writing About Your Travels:
While the sudden explosions of inspiration and creativity when traveling is great, it can sometimes be overwhelming.
Travel journals with specific writing prompts can help you specify what you need to focus on and record in writing.
Alternatively, you can use the free travel writing prompts created by Voyage Scribe here.
And if you’d like help with writing about your travels when you return back from your travels, you can sign up for the bi-monthly Voyage Scribe newsletter.
In it you will receive a new writing prompt designed to get you using your past travels as writing inspiration.
These are the basic gear that I think every traveling writer should have. Would you recommend any other gear a writer who’s traveling might need? Comment below!
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