Seein’ things that I may never see again, And I can’t wait to get on the road again -Willie Nelson
You call it wanderlust or someone having itchy feet, but there is nothing so thrilling and exuberating than unravelling the mystery of the world. Like Edward Cullen said, “You’re like my own personal brand of heroin.” This is what travelling is for backpackers and vacationers. They want to live every moment of it.
If you do not feel the same, it’s time for you to read a travelogue. If you want to write one then go for it. but what exactly is a travelogue and how is it different from other forms of literary writing?
We have all the answers if you want to record your experiences as a traveller and post it online for others. You may even write a book, but not from the fear of not being tech-savvy. A company providing data center services such as Alterum Technologies must be able to help you start your domain and website.
What is the meaning of a Travelogue?
Malayalam writer Rajan has rather put the essence of a journey intriguingly. According to him, “Man’s advancement into future through the time-past and the time present and also the belief regarding ‘rebirth’ or resurrection and the constant passage of mankind through generations can be referred to as journeys.”
Essentially, he says that life is itself as a journey thus, every piece of literature is some sort of travelogue. That should be the romantic definition for us. It is different for different people. But the essence of it can be wound up as: –
- It is a literal representation of every detail and every experience attached to it without any judgement.
- It is an introspection of the moments worth remembering in the journey completed by the author. The details must come to life in the objective documentation of the travel.
- The travelogue is a piece of literature that piques the curiosity of a reader till the end. It is good for fitting every detail and happening in a narrative. It may also be written in anecdotal style.
- Some factual travelogues must satisfy the query of a reader who seeks to find information about a place which is he is yet to explore, including all the challenges and luxuries.
How to write a travelogue?
Here are some general guidelines to start with if you have never attempted to write a travelogue before.
- First of all, identify the place where it will be published such as a magazine, personal diary or a club. It will determine your writing style.
- You may take little notes about what we see, the name of the places you visit, people of your acquaintance, or any exquisite local cuisine that you have tasted. You may also record these on your phone. You do not want to forget the names while writing it. It will be good if you click pictures and add voice notes for them for better organisation.
- The human brain relates to pictures more and processes them 60,000 faster than text. Therefore, do not forget to click general trivia photos from the place that you are travelling to reflect on people’s lifestyles and culture there. Try to portray something new because people can see HD pictures of a landmark. Photos of people crowding the market, signboards, local cafés etc. move people more than any glossy picture that they have already seen.
- The next step is to organise the recordings or diary entries with photos by date, significance, and budget. Photographs highlighting the best part of the journey must be included. You may sort these into sub-sections like culture, food, clothes. Jewellery, and other things. For instance, if you have gone for some adventure sport, mention the place from where people can book a slot of themselves with prices.
- While writing it, first create a skeleton. Break it into parts and subparts depending on the length and writing style. Try to elaborate on the points and fill in the details for creating the flow. Do not shy away from mentioning anecdotes that moved you emotionally. A little romanticism doesn’t hurt, after all!
- Do not forget to mention factual information and special events such as if you visit Malaysia, people can only visit temples if they are inappropriate dress. Some places prohibit the entry of women as a religious belief. You must always include details of their tradition and culture.
A travelogue must not be too factual to make it boring for the reader. Include any local lore that you might have picked from a local guide to make things more fascinating and indulging. Imbibe the ambience around yourself for a mesmeric experience. Include both positive and negative things that you might have come across in a balanced manner.
