You’ve probably been there: staring at the blank page on your laptop screen and thinking, “I really want to start writing a novel… but where the hell do I find inspiration for writing?” Maybe you’ve scrolled Instagram, signed up for yet another course, ‘How to start writing a novel with no experience’, ordered a book on writing fiction, and… nada. This is what I’ve learned: writing inspiration doesn’t always come from books, courses, or endless mood boards. It comes from living. From experiencing. By leaving your familiar streets and getting that bump off your comfy couch at home. Yep, travel. That terrifying thing you think is for adventurers and extroverts, but could actually be your ultimate writing bootcamp. So, buckle up! I want to show you why hopping on a plane, train, or ferry could be precisely what you need to stop thinking about your novel and start writing it.
1. Travel wakes up your senses
When you immerse yourself in an unfamiliar environment, your senses wake up as if they’ve had a double shot of espresso. Other smells, colours, and sounds: they all feed your imagination and give you a lead to find inspiration for writing. The sound of noisy parrots at dawn, a café in a cobbled street of Edinburgh or the crunch of a red dirt road in the Australian outback (my personal favourite). All that sensory language becomes part of your writer’s toolbox. And let’s face it, the idea of Harry Potter might have never popped into J.K. Rowling’s brilliant mind if she hadn’t been on that train ride to London.
When you’re asking yourself “how to start writing a novel”, the first step in every new place is just noticing. What does it feel like? What do people do that’s different from your neighbourhood? These sensory details are pure gold for creating realistic, vivid scenes that pull your reader straight into your story. It’ll feel as if they are there because you can convey the experience from your own. Bring a small notebook or use your phone to jot down all the stories you’ll, without a doubt, suddenly notice live everywhere.
2. Breaking routine boosts inspiration for writing
Your day-to-day life is… well, predictable. You’re caught up with work, errands, laundry, and scrolling TikTok. Routine can lull your creativity and writing inspiration into hibernation. Travel disrupts that autopilot mode of daily life. You’re forced to navigate new environments, figuring out hectic transportation systems, and perhaps you even have to make yourself understood in another language. This constant novelty prompts your brain to use different functions. It sparks new ideas, plot twists, and fresh perspectives on your characters.
It’s incredible how much your creativity can flourish when it’s not competing with your to-do list. This is why writing retreats are often highly effective for those seeking to begin writing a novel. The biggest hurdle isn’t the words, but it’s the time and mental space to let stories take shape.
3. Finding real-life characters while travelling
One of the biggest hurdles when writing fiction is figuring out your characters. Who are they? What makes them tick? Travel hands you character research and development on a silver platter. And if you’ve ever enjoyed sitting on a terrace to watch people go by, you’ll love this! Every street corner, café, and market stall will be filled with potential protagonists, sidekicks, and eccentric supporting cast members. Watch an older man smile sinisterly and realise he might not be your average friendly senior, but a villain in the making. What could go on in his mind that tells you about his motivation? Or takes notes of two friends jabbering in a language that’s unfamiliar to you. Yet, their hand gestures tell you everything that’s truly going on. These little slices of life are writing inspiration for dialogue, character quirks, and backstory. Watch, fill your notebook and gain a deeper understanding of what drives humanity.
4. Travel drama gives you story conflict
Let’s be honest: a novel without tension is boring. But if you’re looking for writing inspiration, the real world spices up your experiences, which you’ll be able to convey into your stories and make them feel authentic. Travel coaxes you out of your comfort zone, and you’ll end up in the most unexpected situations. Missed trains, dodgy encounters with strangers, the time your luggage went missing or heartbreak over a travel romance. You’ll get all the opportunities to experience firsthand what it feels like to handle a crisis.
Every “oh no” moment you experience, or witness, is a mini case study in conflict. How do people react when stressed, annoyed, or scared? What do they likely feel? How do they cope with embarrassment or joy? You’re collecting realistic responses for your characters and plot twists you’ve been pondering. So, the next time you’re wondering how to start writing a novel, forget your desk. Put yourself in a situation where life throws a curveball and leads you, and you’ll surely find inspiration for writing that first chapter of your book.
5. Building your story world through travel
You can Google all about that one festival, ritual, or food in the world. But nothing beats experiencing it yourself and feeling what your characters would feel in that situation. I mean, Google is great for researching places you won’t be able to visit or learning more about the background and history. But culture seeps into your bones in ways that no online description or an informative book ever will. Architecture, food smells, music, rituals, even local slang and way of speaking. These are all details that make your story world come alive for you and your reader.
If you’re trying to figure out where to start writing a novel, the setting would be a great first stop. Building a fantasy world could be a character in itself, if not bigger. The streets, the climate, the local quirks, the social norms. It all affects your characters’ behaviour, choices, and conflicts. Your inspiration for writing is endless.
6. Discovering yourself and your inspiration for writing
We already saw that travel has this sneaky way of throwing you into uncomfortable, confusing, and exhilarating new situations. They’re juice for story conflict. But throughout, you’ll learn new things about yourself, too. This kind of experience is priceless for any writer. Characters need depth, perspective, and emotion, and you can’t fake that without living it yourself. If you’ve ever wanted to start writing a novel, live your story first. Travel gives you a repertoire of life lessons, self-discovery, and emotional insight that seeps through every page you write. You don’t even need to think about it. It’ll happen on a subconscious level and shape your unique writing voice that readers will come to love.
Besides, one of the best things about travel for writers is solitude. Even if you’re constantly surrounded by other people (in busy cities, or on the train), you’re out there on your own. When you’re alone in a new place, your brain makes connections, thinks, and develops ideas for your book. Travel gives you both a sensory overload that challenges you to grow and a calm space to process it.
7. Travel helps you start writing your novel
During your trip, you might even get those first desired words onto the page. But far more valuable than that, you’ll also head back home with clarity, and a bank of memories you’ll keep dipping into for months, maybe even years. My initial inspiration for writing my novel series came to life in Australia in 2012, and here I am today, creating an entire fantasy story world inspired by the Australian outback. You’ll know without a doubt that you can start and that, given the right space, you can keep going long after you unpack your bags.
Your novel won’t magically write itself, but travel gives you the unique material to get started. You’ll get ideas, dialogue snippets, settings, and insights that no course or book could ever do for you. So instead of staring at your screen, book a ticket, explore that place, and discover new ways to tell your story. I’ve learned not to find inspiration for writing in just theory. I found it through life and creative adventures, and my novel just followed.
Curious how you, too, can write a novel through travel? Read The Complete guide how to write a novel on your creative adventures.