How to write an adventure travel book
How to write an adventure travel book
Everything I learned writing my book: finding a publisher, the editing process, deciding what to include, the hardest parts
I wanted to write a book long before I wanted to go on an adventure. Apparently I first told my mum I was going to write one when I was five years old and, frankly, I still feel pretty chuffed it only took me another 24 years to realise that dream.
Writing a book is the second best thing I’ve ever done (after the adventure itself). Coasting was published in July 2021 and, without wanting to over-egg it, it did kind of change my life. I want to write more about the experience as a whole and figured it might be helpful to start by covering the nuts and bolts of book writing (or how I found it at least). I asked for some questions on Instagram and these are what I’ll be answering today, a comprehensive guide to everything from finding a publisher, how I planned my book, deciding what to cut out and leave in, how long it took to write, pacing the story, the editing process and dealing with the fact that some people won’t like your work.
My answers are based on my experience writing Coasting, an adventure travel memoir about my 5,000 mile around the British coast. When I eventually finish my car-free adventures book I’ll do a separate post about guidebook writing as I’m finding that a very different experience. I’m also running a virtual How To Get Into Adventure Writing workshop on June 19th if you’d like more on this topic.
This is a bit of a beast of a post so grab a cup of tea and I guess we’ll get started…