One of my favorite parts about being a blogger is the opportunity to connect with other writers. This community is abounding with individuals who inspire me to become a better writer, photographer and blogger. They captivate me with their stories, insights and writing styles - and some of them have even become good friends along the way!
Recently I was nominated by Jessi of Two Feet, One World to participate in a blog hop about the writing process, and I thought it would be interesting to share a side of the blogging world that I don't normally discuss.
Jessi's stories and photos from her extensive travels always inspire me to explore new cities, countries and cultures. I think it's fair to say that her blog is a significant contributor to my ever-worsening case of wanderlust! You can read her post about the writing process here.
Writing has always been one of my greatest passions, and it's the very reason I started this blog. Since I've never really addressed the topic of writing here, this blog hop is meant to give you the inside scoop on what I'm working on and why. So here goes...
What am I working on?
Right now I'm finishing up some posts about last year's travels, as well as working on others that focus more on Madrid and expat life. In addition, I'm a contributing blogger for Utrip. Currently I'm continuing my "48 Hours In..." series, but you can find my other work here. I've also just started my internship running the social media for Madrid Food Tour!
How does my writing differ from others of its genre?
I'm not an expert, so I don't pretend to be. I try not to write things like "The 5 best blah blah blah you HAVE to do in _____", because if I was only in that city for three days, then who am I to tell you what to do? Do I definitively know what's "best"? Probably not. I try to make my posts more personal, because the internet doesn't really need another generic travel blog. I like to focus on imagery when I write, because I want my readers to envision themselves in the places I blog about. I use my photography to supplement this - but I still have a lot to learn!
Why do I write what I do?
Traveling is what I'm the most passionate about, and I want to inspire others to see the world. Also, writing about my adventures (as well as photographing them) is a way for me to digest my experiences and look back on it all. Writing is extremely cathartic for me, so I often feel the need to spill my words out onto paper (or in this case, a computer screen) to fully absorb it all.
How does my writing process work?
While most people assume that I'm an extrovert due to my social nature, I'm actually a huge introvert. This isn't totally conducive to being a teacher in a Spanish elementary school! When the school day is over, I'm incredibly drained and need a solid 2-3 hours of alone time to recharge before I can go out and do fun things with my friends again. This is usually when I get my blogging done, because writing in solitude is one of the most effective ways to replenish my energy.
I prefer to finish a post in one sitting rather than working on it a little at a time. Once I bunker down and get the draft of a post done, a lot of editing and re-writing comes into play, and then I mess around with the arrangement of my photos. I tend to proof read it about 15 times before I actually publish it, because I have an irrational fear of misspellings and simple grammar mistakes. (Blame it on the slight OCPD.)
While I would have never guessed what kind of doors writing would open, I'm excited to see where it will take me next. Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, but at the end of the day writing is a hobby that I've fallen irreversibly in love with.
So in the spirit of blog hopping, I've nominated three of my favorite bloggers to also share their insider tips on the writing process!
And thank you Jessi for nominating me for this blog hop!
Recently I was nominated by Jessi of Two Feet, One World to participate in a blog hop about the writing process, and I thought it would be interesting to share a side of the blogging world that I don't normally discuss.
Jessi's stories and photos from her extensive travels always inspire me to explore new cities, countries and cultures. I think it's fair to say that her blog is a significant contributor to my ever-worsening case of wanderlust! You can read her post about the writing process here.
Writing has always been one of my greatest passions, and it's the very reason I started this blog. Since I've never really addressed the topic of writing here, this blog hop is meant to give you the inside scoop on what I'm working on and why. So here goes...
What am I working on?
Right now I'm finishing up some posts about last year's travels, as well as working on others that focus more on Madrid and expat life. In addition, I'm a contributing blogger for Utrip. Currently I'm continuing my "48 Hours In..." series, but you can find my other work here. I've also just started my internship running the social media for Madrid Food Tour!
How does my writing differ from others of its genre?
I'm not an expert, so I don't pretend to be. I try not to write things like "The 5 best blah blah blah you HAVE to do in _____", because if I was only in that city for three days, then who am I to tell you what to do? Do I definitively know what's "best"? Probably not. I try to make my posts more personal, because the internet doesn't really need another generic travel blog. I like to focus on imagery when I write, because I want my readers to envision themselves in the places I blog about. I use my photography to supplement this - but I still have a lot to learn!
Why do I write what I do?
Traveling is what I'm the most passionate about, and I want to inspire others to see the world. Also, writing about my adventures (as well as photographing them) is a way for me to digest my experiences and look back on it all. Writing is extremely cathartic for me, so I often feel the need to spill my words out onto paper (or in this case, a computer screen) to fully absorb it all.
How does my writing process work?
While most people assume that I'm an extrovert due to my social nature, I'm actually a huge introvert. This isn't totally conducive to being a teacher in a Spanish elementary school! When the school day is over, I'm incredibly drained and need a solid 2-3 hours of alone time to recharge before I can go out and do fun things with my friends again. This is usually when I get my blogging done, because writing in solitude is one of the most effective ways to replenish my energy.
I prefer to finish a post in one sitting rather than working on it a little at a time. Once I bunker down and get the draft of a post done, a lot of editing and re-writing comes into play, and then I mess around with the arrangement of my photos. I tend to proof read it about 15 times before I actually publish it, because I have an irrational fear of misspellings and simple grammar mistakes. (Blame it on the slight OCPD.)
While I would have never guessed what kind of doors writing would open, I'm excited to see where it will take me next. Sometimes I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing, but at the end of the day writing is a hobby that I've fallen irreversibly in love with.
So in the spirit of blog hopping, I've nominated three of my favorite bloggers to also share their insider tips on the writing process!
Cassandra of Gee, Cassandra
After falling for Spain during a study abroad stint (typical!) Cassandra Gambill returned to call Madrid home in 2010. She loves tortilla, paseos, and Spanish reds (also typical). Her blog chronicles English classes gone awry, the nitty-gritty of living abroad, and trips around Europe and Latin America with her Colombian boyfriend. That last bit may not be very typical--she'll leave it for you to decide!
Jessica of Curiosity Travels
Jessica is a native Californian, over-thinker, spicy food lover and serial expat. She has studied and worked in South America, taught English in Korea, backpacked Asia and currently lives in Madrid, Spain. You can follow along as she calls different parts of the world home via her blog, Twitter and Facebook.
Lauren of laurenonlocation
Lauren is a native New Yorker starting her second year working as a language assistant in Madrid. Her new blog features expat life in Madrid, a sprinkling of travel stories, and other ramblings covering life's adventures.
And thank you Jessi for nominating me for this blog hop!
