by Catherine L. Tully

Enjoying the view from the balcony? I would be too right now, but I have a lot of work to do…

Getting ready to do some travel writing means concentrating on the task at hand, and before I get to relax and unwind, there are several things that I must do. Here are some of them:

• Get an office area set up so that you don’t have to spend a lot of time finding things, arranging things and packing things when you get ready to go out. Make sure you have items such as a note pad to jot quick impressions or thoughts down, pen/pencil, your computer and all the goodies that go with it (cords, backup hard drive, etc.) and any literature you have been able to come up with on the area. I grabbed brochures from everywhere I went once I got to Florida–you never know what might be interesting.
• Get the local area layout down. Find out where the things you may need are located. See if you can find a local library, post office and office supply store. If you need to mail something, make copies or get a new power cord, you will be all set instead of scrambling around. I call this insurance. If you don’t do it–you are sure to need it right away.
• Unpack and organize. Get your clothes put away. Set up your toiletries. Get everything squared away instead of doing a little bit at a time. I’ve been here since Tuesday night and have spent the past days doing just that–and finishing up other work that I had on my plate. Now I’m ready to go.
• Get ready to scout the area. Spend time going through a local map, websites and other paperwork on the area. Find out the hot spots and figure out which ones you want to write about or visit. It’s likely you won’t be able to do it all, so hone in on what you are drawn to. Leave out the spots that have been done to death and try for a fresh angle. If you get stuck, go out for lunch and talk to the locals for ideas.

Once you are settled in, you will be ready to get to the fun stuff and explore. Just remember that you are on the job. If you notice, the picture above was taken in the evening, after I got all my work done for the day. You can have a good time, but do your work first–otherwise its called a vacation.