Writing while travelling...

[bts111]

I am heading overseas next month and have decided to write about what I do for a content site that I own.

What would be more efficient - writing on paper while I am there or sending emails from one account to another? or...

Also, should I complete most articles straight away and revise when I get home or jot down bits and pieces and then write when I return?

Cheers
bts111

[jeffb]

I did something like that recently. Although my situation pretty well dictated that I go the write-it-on-paper route, it worked well for me.

I jotted notes as I had free time and posted them once I got back. The only problem was that it felt kind of overwhelming pulling all the notes and half-written articles together once I got back.

But if you're not one to let the time commitment of typing everything in once you get back lead you into terminal procrastination, it works, and I'd likely do it that way again if I had a similar situation.

Getting away from the keyboard for a week was actually refreshing.

[monkeythumpa]

I have a Treo Smartphone that I type into. Then I can either email my notes to myself or sync it when I get home. For those rare occasions that I actually finish an article I can log into my database and cut and paste the article into it. All from the road. Remember to spell check it when you get home. The Treo has a dictionary but it slows me down when I am writing.

[emodo]

It depends on how long you are travelling and where.

I did the backpacking europe thing, and brought one of those alphasmart 3000s so I could write articles on them.

I had a very hard time finding internet cafes with WORKING usb plugs so I could transfer files and in the end it was stolen with about 10 articles on it.

Pen and papers are cheap, dont break in water, and rugged.

[rogerd]

bts111, I think it's a combination of your personal style and your equipment. If you are going to travel with a laptop, or at lease a device with a decent keyboard, then I'd suggest doing drafts as you go. Perhaps you won't want to take the time to write polished copy, but you'll be able to record fairly complete thoughts. If you are pressed for time, write in outline form.

If you choice is paper or a fairly clumsy text device, like a PDA, I guess I'd lean toward paper, with the thought of getting observations and thoughts recorded with as much detail as possible; trying to write finished copy in longhand would probably be a waste of time unless you have an excess of time, e.g., a boring train ride or a lengthy airport delay. I've found PDA handwriting recognition and stylus typing to be fine for brief notes, but painfully slow to write any lengthy text.

[mblair]

There are some fairly nice portable keyboards that can be paired with a PDA -- I have a folding one for my Axim that is about the same size as the PDA itself when folded. Aside from the number keys sharing the letter keys it works pretty well for usage and portability.

I'm also getting a little PDA mouse to so that I'll be setup for "micro" working environments.

[monkeythumpa]

Typing on my Treo with my two thumbs is faster than I can write on paper. Of course I can type even faster on a regular keyboard but since you brought up paper. . . I agree, the grafitti was innovative but far from practical.

[Matt Probert]

Pen and papers are cheap, dont break in water, and rugged.

I couldn't agree more. As a writer, and former traveller, I always work on paper with a pen/pencil. And then upon returning to the office write things up properly.

Matt

[engine]

While on the move I find it's convenient to use paper and pen almost anywhere. Whereas a laptop or pda can't be seen very well in bright sunlight, and you're limited with battery power.

I do prefer to use a proper keyboard when sitting in a hotel room or when on holiday.

As far as comletion is concerened, in your instance, I would prefer to use the paper method so that I had all of it conveniently to hand and could better follow the flow of the whole document.

[maccas]

We just brought a el-cheapo compaq armada m300 for travel writing. It is only 1.5kg without the docking station and we just backup our work on a CF card. If it gets stolen, dies or takes a hard knock, oh well, it just cost a couple of hundred dollars.

[mblair]

maccas,
How are you finding the battery life on those? I've heard they only get about an hour or so. Or do you mostly use it plugged in?

[maccas]

About a hour and a half, so yeah mostly power.

[Tigrou]

Most places outside of USA/CAn have lots of cybercafes. great place to chill out during summer months while writing some articles.

and if your site is about travel, heck what a great way to add to it!

[bts111]

Thank you to everybody for their great advice.

Pen and paper looks like the winner :)

I am also going to photocopy, then send back home, whatever I have written.

I am going to be taking my own photos and have decided I will dump full cards on to two disks. I will send one copy home and keep one with me.

Cheers
BTS111