New writers often have trouble figuring out the best way to approach this creative endeavor. The standard rule of writing at least a little each and every day still works for a truly committed author, to some extent, but more is needed. An author may find barriers to their creativity more easily lifted if their first literary work is a humorous adventure autobiography.

The best novels, whether fiction or nonfiction, were fueled by the actual experience of the writer. Imagination can only go so far in creating a believable story that people will be excited to read. Without getting out and experiencing the world, none of us would have a topic to write a letter about, let alone a whole novel.

Step one is figuring out just what kind of vacation is going to have the most impact on their life. It has to be filled with hilarity, but there need to be intense points that challenge views the author had always taken for granted. Such shocks to the system make for great reading material in a world where most people do not even try new routes to work let alone step out of their comfort zone.

It seems that a proper misadventure in which the writer will be unable to control the events of the day and night would provide him or her with the most stories to tell. Jumping a train is one such means of travel that is very likely to provide enough experience to fill the pages like water fills a bowl. There is a measure of danger to such a trip, so traveling in a group makes the most sense.

Taking off to an exotic corner of the globe is a great way to get out of a personal comfort zone. Changing hemispheres or traveling to visit a country with a culture ripe with Western misunderstanding is an excellent approach to shaking up personal perspectives. Avoiding tourist destinations is important, but over time any writer is going to pick up several languages.

It might even be fun to experience the area where the author has lived their whole life, but fully from the perspective of a tourist. Perhaps spending a week doing exactly that right before jumping the train would be all the structure needed in the beginning. It would give the author an opportunity to practice talking to people and learning their story, without making it look like they were being questioned.

Some writers are too conservative to put themselves in any real harm or discomfort for the sake of writing, but the notion that taking an exciting vacation in order to gain real life experience can still stand. Very little is truly learned if one stays at home. Truly life is intended to be experienced actively, not as a passive observer.

Journal writing is great for some, but modern technology does provide writers with additional tools of the trade. Most cellular phones have audio and video recording capability, and a good portion of the trip can be recorded, allowing more details about the setting to be captured in words. Laptop computers with wifi allow the novelist to start writing their book while still in the middle of the experience.