‘People Are Always Telling Me to Put Down My Notepad and Enjoy the Experience’

Travel Blog  •  Jim Benning  •  02.13.07 | 12:54 PM ET

So says Concierge.com editor Peter J. Frank, who discusses his work in the Frequent Flier column of today’s New York Times. Call me crazy, but I have to agree with those people: Peter, please, put down the stupid notepad and enjoy the experience. 

Tags: Life of a Travel Writer


2 Comments for ‘People Are Always Telling Me to Put Down My Notepad and Enjoy the Experience’

ben 02.13.07 | 3:47 PM ET

Jim, you really can’t relate to this? I can relate somewhat, as my memory is so bad that I have to take a ton of notes. And don’t even get me started on the “if you go” box. I can only imagine what guidebook writers feel like. I would never want that job.

Jim 02.13.07 | 4:50 PM ET

I can definitely relate, Ben. I think all travel writers can relate.

In large part, of course, your experience depends on the kind of writing you’re doing. If you’re doing service-oriented writing, telling readers where to stay and what to eat, you have to get down all those mundane but important details: phone numbers, whether the hotel offers room service, whether the paella has crab or lobster, etc.

At a certain point, however, if you’re trying to write an even vaguely interesting story, you have to have at least vaguely interesting experiences, and those usually don’t come when your head is buried in your notebook. I think it’s important to work toward some kind of balance.

Again, it just depends on the kind of writing you’re doing. If you’re a guidebook writer, you aren’t getting paid to have interesting experiences. You’re getting paid to get the details right, and that has to be your focus.

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