Fragrant Ink – Almost An Author

When the Love of Travel Takes On a New Meaning

There is no denying that February is the month of L-O-V-E so let’s do something a little different. Okay, a lot different.

“A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

As writers, our senses snap to attention when visiting a new place. We see things with fresh eyes and catch the aroma of foods never explored, but if we’re not careful those same senses can become dulled by the routine of life. We drive home the same way every night, listen to the same genre of music, and munch on Chinese food every Friday night without a second thought. Our senses gradually become accustomed to our day-to-day doings—taking them for granted—and if we’re not careful, the same can hold true for the people in our lives.

If you’re wondering if I mistakenly submitted this post to A3 instead of Psychology Today, rest assured this is no mistake. After all, is there any destination more traveled, more wondrous, awe-inspiring, or rewarding than that of the heart?

It’s for this reason I encourage you to consider traveling to that wondrous place through what you do best, writing. Below you’ll find a few ideas to try this month, but being the creative person that you are, I’m sure you’re already way ahead of me. (I hope to hear from you in the comment section!)

Take small slips of paper and on each slip, write one thing you love about that person, a favorite memory that you both share, or a specific way that person has impacted your life. Fill a container (I love Mason jars!) with the slips; tie a tag explaining how the recipient is to remove and read one slip each day for the month of February, or whatever length of time you choose. (For bonus points: Sprinkle a layer of rose petals on the bottom of the jar. As they begin to dry, the slips of paper will become immersed with their scent.) Okay, maybe I should have submitted this to Good Housekeeping, but let’s continue.

You’re a travel writer. Draw a map that includes your relationship milestones. Be as colorful and creative as possible. To top it off, plan a mini-getaway to a restaurant or particular place where one of your milestones took place, if possible.
You are a trained observer. Plan to travel to a place you both love, whether it’s just for an afternoon or for an entire weekend. The theme? Love, of course! Go on an expedition to find all the things you love about that place. Engage those five senses. Take pictures, journal about your time together.

If you’ve lived on this planet for any length of time you know that the heart of another is sometimes the most difficult destination of all to reach, making the journey all the more valuable.

This month, and every month, enjoy the greatest adventure of all—love.

How about you? Are you willing to try one of the above ideas, or do you have a love-related writing idea to share? I’d love to hear from you!

Photo courtesy of The Knot, one of the best sites around when it comes to love and marriage.

3 Questions to Ask When Setting Your 2016 Writing Goals

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible to the visible.” -Tony Robbins

Whether you’re a natural goal setter or not, the benefits of doing so are undeniable. Below are three questions to consider as you set your writing goals for 2016:

What is my why? Are you writing to earn money? To pursue a dream? Leave a legacy? Or simply for enjoyment? It’s different for everyone and thankfully, one is not better than another. Take some time in January to consider your why. It’s the foundation of your writing goals as it helps steer your expectations, time, and energy towards the results you truly desire. Write your why down and keep it visible wherever you choose to write.
How will I measure my goals? Once you’ve nailed down your why, focus on writing out specific goals to achieve it — but don’t stop there! Determine how you will measure your goals. Vague goals are useless ones. If you want to write more, what steps are you willing to take to make it happen? Do you need to set aside office hours in order to write “x” amount of hours per week? Do you need to decrease blog posts or other publications in order to pursue your why? Do you want to travel more? How could you begin saving money? Write it down!
Will you call yourself a writer? I admit it. The first time those four words—I am a writer—spilled from my lips I wasn’t sure whether to zig zag to avoid the lightening bolt or to choose to believe it myself, refusing to feel the pressure of validating my declaration. I chose the latter and it’s made all the difference. I’ll let this excerpt from Story Engineering, by Larry Brooks sum it up for us all:

We are lucky. Very lucky. We are writers.

Sometimes that may seem more curse than blessing, and others may not regard what we do with any more esteem or respect than mowing a lawn. To an outsider this can appear to be a hobby, or maybe a dream that eludes most.

But if that’s how they view you, they aren’t paying enough attention. If you are a writer–and you are if you actually write–you are already living the dream. Because the primary reward of writing comes from within, and you don’t need to get published or sell your screenplay to access it. …

Whatever we write, we are reaching out. We are declaring that we are not alone on this planet, and that we have something to share, something to say. Our writing survives us, even if nobody ever reads a word of it. Because we have given back, we have reflected our truth. We have mattered.

Now let’s go make 2016 one of our best…from one writer to another.

Which of the three questions will be your most challenging, and why?