We can Travel Again, Yipee by Wendy H. Jones

I'm going to be honest here and say I was fresh out of ideas for this month's blog. The more I searched my brain, the more it said, "Get lost, I'm having time off." No amount of cajoling would make it change its mind. So here I was with blank page syndrome on steroids. I thought I would turn to previous posts from my own blog - Bookaholic. This one from 2016 immediately leapt out at me and I just knew I had to riff off that. It's perfect as the world is just opening up to travel again.

Original Blog Post - The Joy of Constant Travel

I've been flying around the world recently as well as chasing around the UK. Life as a writer is so busy and often I think that I don't have time for any of this. It's getting in the way of me actually doing any writing. But on a number of occasions I have discovered that travelling can also broaden and enrich my abilities as a writer.

This morning I was on my way to The British Library. To get from where I was staying I had to change from the rail network to the London Underground. As Tower Bridge Station is undergoing renovation there is a long walk to get to the underground station. At a number of places along the route there are staff members guiding travellers in the right direction. Now this seems, to me, to be quintessentially British. It's like the tube are saying we have inconvenienced you but not that much because we are helping your commute to go well.

One of these staff members took it one step further. In fact I think they took it a whole heap further. He was saying, "It's Friday. leave work 15 minutes early. Relax, start your weekend well, go for a drink and take it easy."

Now how cool is that? It was sad that most of the commuters were paying him no notice. They were doing what they always do and putting one foot in front of the other. Intent only on getting to work they were unaware of what was happening around them. As I had no clue what I was doing I was taking everything in. I was able to notice the kindness of one stranger who was doing his best to make life more pleasant for commuters in the Capital.

How much do I often miss by not taking in my surroundings. As a writer I should be inquisitive and looking around. Looking for nuggets which could shape scenes, settings or characters. This has taught me a valuable lesson and I will certainly be paying more attention in the future.

My exhortation to you today is to do the same. Look around you, take stock and really take life in. Don't let it pass you by.

Today's Thoughts

How much has changed in the last eight years? In some ways, not much. In others, a lot. Over the last two years I was beginning to think travel was a thing of the past. Now that it is opening up again I am hopeful that life is beginning to return to what we consider to be normal, or the new normal. I have been down to London again to do research. I have been through to Edinburgh twice to do research and have also visited Chatham Dockyard. Soon I will be flying off to Antigua to do some historical research for a series of books I was writing. This helps enormously as the research is vital and it has been delayed for so long. Yet, life is so much different. The paperwork and bureaucracy required for this trip can be overwhelming at times. Masks will be worn on all transport and life is not as carefree. Always lurking at the back of your mind is the fear you may contact covid putting an end to your research due to isolating. Despite this I am looking forward to the trip and to undertaking the research. One thing still stands true, even though this blog is not coming out on a Friday

"It's Friday. leave work 15 minutes early. Relax, start your weekend well, go for a drink and take it easy."

Now, more than ever, we know the value of enjoying life as we never know what lies ahead of us. Make the most of the day you are reading this blog and enjoy every single moment of it. Happy writing.

About the Author

Wendy H. Jones is an award-winning, international best-selling author who writes adult crime books, young adult mysteries, children's picture books and non-fiction books for writers. She is also a writing and marketing coach, runs the Writing Matters Online School and is the CEO of Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy, The president of the Scottish Association of Writers and hosts The Writing and Marketing Show podcast. She is currently writing a series of historical fiction novels based around the life of a 19th Century Surgeon in the Royal Navy. 


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