khassandraWhy Can't We All Just Travel Write?
July 15th 2007 17:25
I recently found on my grandfather's coffee table a copy of "1000 Places to See Before You Die"-- I thought it was a little depressing to think of receiving such a book, as he undoubtedly did as a gift, when you're 80 years old, and by sheer logistics couldn't POSSIBLY see 1000 of anything before you die, unless it were 1000 grains of rice all in the same pot. But my grandfather doesn't even cook rice, so that is neither here nor there. But he claimed that he had learned so much about the countries in this book just by reading about them that he didn't need to travel there at all-- in fact, traveling there would be a waste of time. Now, I think that's a bit overkill, but I was nevertheless comforted that this bit of travel lit had been a learning experience for my grandfather and not a depressing reminder of what was probably unattainable. While, certainly, he is in at least good enough health to live out the remainder of his days globetrotting, it doesn't really fit with his personality.
Travel writing is a concept that has enamored me, as a traveler, for I can't even remember how long. I've always liked to check out both the travel literature and the native literature of countries I travel to, but I guess my reading of travel lit has always been a little tinged with jealousy. After all, I keep a journal, I diligently record my travel experiences-- so why does one person end up published and read by thousands of other travelers while another's thoughts remain private and unplumbed? Of course we, as writers, all know that this is a matter of business-- that the publishing industry is a tough business to crack just like any other entertainment industry, and that just because we don't have books with our names printed boldly on the cover doesn't mean we aren't talented-- but still, it's not a fun reality.
Not only this, but the travel writing industry is inundated (even moreso than the rest of the publishing industry) with vanity publishers-- publishing houses that will print your book no matter what it's quality for a fee that they charge you. Of course this is hardly even the same field as publishing quality books-- it won't have the same marketing success or sales as a book that is published legitimately, but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you're in print, which is something I suppose, and the reason why vanity publishing houses exist after all. But it seems almost rude that ever more vanity publishers are capitalizing on people who just want to share travel experiences-- especially when there are plenty of people out there who would love to read about the experiences of others.
And that goes for me too-- as much as I wish I could have the kind of success sharing my own experiences that published authors have enjoyed, I really do find reading about others' experiences to be a rewarding venture. Going outside of your everday experience to travel is more fun when you can further step outside yourself and share in someone else's experience in the same place, and reading up on travel lit for places you haven't traveled is a cool way to figure out where you'd like to go next, and where you know you'd rather not go. Maybe books that combine multiple perspectives of a variety of travelers, and even of the native citizens of a destination as well, would be an interesting step forward for travel lit, in a time when people are increasingly skeptical of not just traditional perspectives but any perspective that stands alone.
Share your thoughts on travel literature-- like it, love it, hate it? Have some travel snippets to share?
Travel writing is a concept that has enamored me, as a traveler, for I can't even remember how long. I've always liked to check out both the travel literature and the native literature of countries I travel to, but I guess my reading of travel lit has always been a little tinged with jealousy. After all, I keep a journal, I diligently record my travel experiences-- so why does one person end up published and read by thousands of other travelers while another's thoughts remain private and unplumbed? Of course we, as writers, all know that this is a matter of business-- that the publishing industry is a tough business to crack just like any other entertainment industry, and that just because we don't have books with our names printed boldly on the cover doesn't mean we aren't talented-- but still, it's not a fun reality.
Not only this, but the travel writing industry is inundated (even moreso than the rest of the publishing industry) with vanity publishers-- publishing houses that will print your book no matter what it's quality for a fee that they charge you. Of course this is hardly even the same field as publishing quality books-- it won't have the same marketing success or sales as a book that is published legitimately, but you have the satisfaction of knowing that you're in print, which is something I suppose, and the reason why vanity publishing houses exist after all. But it seems almost rude that ever more vanity publishers are capitalizing on people who just want to share travel experiences-- especially when there are plenty of people out there who would love to read about the experiences of others.
And that goes for me too-- as much as I wish I could have the kind of success sharing my own experiences that published authors have enjoyed, I really do find reading about others' experiences to be a rewarding venture. Going outside of your everday experience to travel is more fun when you can further step outside yourself and share in someone else's experience in the same place, and reading up on travel lit for places you haven't traveled is a cool way to figure out where you'd like to go next, and where you know you'd rather not go. Maybe books that combine multiple perspectives of a variety of travelers, and even of the native citizens of a destination as well, would be an interesting step forward for travel lit, in a time when people are increasingly skeptical of not just traditional perspectives but any perspective that stands alone.
Share your thoughts on travel literature-- like it, love it, hate it? Have some travel snippets to share?
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