nerd’s eye view

Blogland: Roar Awards

January 13, 2008 – 9:36 am | by nerd's eye view

It’s always nice to get a little recognition with your coffee. Blogger Marilyn has passed on to me a “A Roar for Powerful Words” award saying that I’m her favorite travel writer. Flattery will get you everywhere, even enticing this meme-reluctant blogger to participate in the same. The “Roar” comes with the usual “pass it on” guidelines, but also, with a request to write three writing tips. I can do that.

Three tips for writers?

1. Writing is like exercise, the more you do it, the easier it gets. If you write regularly, you will not have as hard a time sitting down to write when you have to for some client or deadline or whatever.
2. Writer’s block is a self-fulfilling prophecy. What if, instead of freaking out, you just went to the movies or did some cooking or walked around your neighborhood instead? Give your brain the day off from time to time and it will be more relaxed when you’re back at the keyboard.
3. Shut up and listen. This is really hard for me because obviously, I can’t shut up. But stories live out in the world and in order to hear them, you have to shut up already. I am getting better at this - and at the art of the well placed, open ended question - but it’s still a challenge. If you listen, you will have a better chance of retelling stories the way they were told.

Now, the pass it on part - here are three travel related blogs.

• WriteAway! is a well written blog about writing, reading, travel, and other stuff.
• On the Road follows all my cardinal rules of blogging - easy on the eyes, interesting stories, and good stuff for travelers.
• Write to Travel might be the most useful blog ever for aspiring travel writers. I read it almost every day.

While we’re in travelblog land, there’s a new travelblog carnival up at Travel Rants. It includes a crazy post about the mundane yet critical subject of crossing the street. The video is more than a little alarming.

Yesterday, we breakfasted with friends who’d been to Vietnam - they gave us specific instructions about how to cross the street there. Be bold, make eye contact, use a stern expression, and go for it. I’m terrified. At least I won’t get lost because I’ll only be able to walk around the block!

ROAR, writing, travel writing, travelblogs