Wednesday, August 15, 2018
John Steinbeck and I Are Alike When A Ship's Whistle Blows, Or A Fog Horn Sounds
"Four hoarse blasts of a ship's whistle still raise the hair on my neck and set my feet to tapping."
- John Steinbeck
I know the feeling.
I grew up on the edge of Pensacola Bay in West Florida.
Some nights, I could hear fog horns from ships on the bay.
Boats wanting to pass under the Bayou Chico bridge, a quarter of a mile away, blew their horn. The train which passed my house daily, blew the horn for each driveway and road... and there were a lot of driveways.
I would walk down to the edge of the bay, look across the water, and images and stories would play through my head, and occasionally I would make up my own.
Sometimes I could see the ships... in the evening as the night drew down, I could see their lights, and hear the horns...
Trains, ships, stories, and horns... and a young man's imagination...
No wonder, like Steinbeck, some sounds, some memories, can raise the hair on the back of my neck... and make my foot start tapping...
- John Steinbeck
I know the feeling.
I grew up on the edge of Pensacola Bay in West Florida.
Some nights, I could hear fog horns from ships on the bay.
Boats wanting to pass under the Bayou Chico bridge, a quarter of a mile away, blew their horn. The train which passed my house daily, blew the horn for each driveway and road... and there were a lot of driveways.
I would walk down to the edge of the bay, look across the water, and images and stories would play through my head, and occasionally I would make up my own.
Sometimes I could see the ships... in the evening as the night drew down, I could see their lights, and hear the horns...
Trains, ships, stories, and horns... and a young man's imagination...
No wonder, like Steinbeck, some sounds, some memories, can raise the hair on the back of my neck... and make my foot start tapping...
Labels: boats, donovan baldwin, fog horns, John Steinbeck, Pensacola Bay, ships, stories, trains, travel
Wednesday, April 04, 2018
A Bit Of Travel
By: Donovan Baldwin
Traveled a bit recently. Nothing big, just a trip from Texas to Kentucky and back (about 1,000 miles each way).
Family thing I've mentioned elsewhere.
However, it brought back memories of other places I've been, things I've done (some I shouldn't have), and people I've met on my travels. Some memories were funny, some were sad, some scary...other stories?
Maybe sometime I'll tell them.
I have been through 46 of the 50 states in the U.S.
I lived in one "foreign" country for six years.
I speak three "foreign" languages (If you count Latin.).
I have traveled in six "foreign" countries.
I have read about travel and people and customs in innumerable other parts of the world that I have not yet visited.
I've reached one inescapable conclusion.
Once you get past the pseudo-barriers of customs, and language, of a person or group of people, human beings are the same, whether they are in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, or the Philippines; Alabama, or Albania; New Hebrides, or New Jersey.
People around the world desire health and happiness for themselves and their loved ones, and, while there are always "bad apples" everywhere, people, no matter their land or language, will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.
Just so you know, I think you're one of those people.
Family thing I've mentioned elsewhere.
However, it brought back memories of other places I've been, things I've done (some I shouldn't have), and people I've met on my travels. Some memories were funny, some were sad, some scary...other stories?
Maybe sometime I'll tell them.
I have been through 46 of the 50 states in the U.S.
I lived in one "foreign" country for six years.
I speak three "foreign" languages (If you count Latin.).
I have traveled in six "foreign" countries.
I have read about travel and people and customs in innumerable other parts of the world that I have not yet visited.
I've reached one inescapable conclusion.
Once you get past the pseudo-barriers of customs, and language, of a person or group of people, human beings are the same, whether they are in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, or the Philippines; Alabama, or Albania; New Hebrides, or New Jersey.
People around the world desire health and happiness for themselves and their loved ones, and, while there are always "bad apples" everywhere, people, no matter their land or language, will go out of their way to help a stranger in need.
Just so you know, I think you're one of those people.
Labels: Alabama, Albania, donovan baldwin, Kentucky, New Hebrides, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Philippines, travel
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
The Danger Of Not Knowing Where You Want To Go
By: Donovan Baldwin
Recently, I told a story elsewhere about myself, as a young soldier, on a train in Germany in the 1960's.
I made a mistake, got off at the wrong spot, but got back on in time. Two other young soldiers were not as lucky.
They were headed to Augsburg.
Unlike me, they did not speak any German.
They kept reading their orders, and repeating the word "Augsburg", reading every sign, seeking that word.
Suddenly, as the train stopped at a station, one grabbed the other's arm, said urgently, "This is it!", and they both jumped off the train just as it began to leave the station.
I knew we were not anywhere near Augsburg but, could not get to them in time to stop them.
As the train pulled out, I saw the sign the young soldier had seen. It said "Ausgang", which means "Exit", in German.
So, they exited into a strange place, stranger even than Augsburg, simply because it wasn't...Augsburg, that is.
I am sure they got where they were going eventually.
Many of us go through life so intent on getting somewhere, achieving something, focused so intently on our goal, that we overlook, or misread, the signs and symbols we really need to be looking for.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing." So's a lot of learning, if we apply it incorrectly.
Perhaps NOT knowing what we really want, and where we want to go, takes us to the wrong destination. When you're not really aware of those two things, you can get off a lot of wrong "exits", or "Ausgangs".
I made a mistake, got off at the wrong spot, but got back on in time. Two other young soldiers were not as lucky.
They were headed to Augsburg.
Unlike me, they did not speak any German.
They kept reading their orders, and repeating the word "Augsburg", reading every sign, seeking that word.
Suddenly, as the train stopped at a station, one grabbed the other's arm, said urgently, "This is it!", and they both jumped off the train just as it began to leave the station.
I knew we were not anywhere near Augsburg but, could not get to them in time to stop them.
As the train pulled out, I saw the sign the young soldier had seen. It said "Ausgang", which means "Exit", in German.
So, they exited into a strange place, stranger even than Augsburg, simply because it wasn't...Augsburg, that is.
I am sure they got where they were going eventually.
Many of us go through life so intent on getting somewhere, achieving something, focused so intently on our goal, that we overlook, or misread, the signs and symbols we really need to be looking for.
"A little learning is a dangerous thing." So's a lot of learning, if we apply it incorrectly.
Perhaps NOT knowing what we really want, and where we want to go, takes us to the wrong destination. When you're not really aware of those two things, you can get off a lot of wrong "exits", or "Ausgangs".
Labels: Augsburg, Ausgang, destination, donovan baldwin, Germany, railroad, soldiers, travel
Thursday, February 09, 2012
How to Become a Travel Writer
I love to travel. In 21 years in the army and eight more as a truck driver, I got to travel quite a bit. I am also a writer and love to write. In fact, I have combined the two a little bit and have a travel website myself!
If you love to travel, and love to write, what could be more natural than becoming a travel writer?
===================
How Can I Become a Travel Writer?
By Aurelio Jerrison
Travel. Write. Like chocolate and peanut butter, it's two great things that go great together. So how can you become a professional, and what kind of travel writer jobs are available? To begin with, know that the competition for positions is stiff. Many excellent writers compete for articles and travel writer jobs. Most of the work available will be freelance and commissioned pieces, rather than a salaried position, so you will need to sell yourself for each piece. By developing your unique voice as a writer, you can differentiate yourself from the competition for writing jobs.
To that end, one of the most effective tools is a good website. Having a website with your work on it, together with photos you've taken if available, is an excellent showcase for your portfolio. Although there are professional travel writing courses available, and they can help you refine your style, the most successful way to get more writing jobs is to do more writing. Demonstrating your talents is essential.
Your online portfolio should have several diverse articles on it, with a definite voice. A regularly updated blog is an asset to any site. Consider your strengths and how they can be emphasized in the writing. For example, if you are a chef or a foodie, perhaps an article comparing the cuisine in two neighboring countries (or the north and the south of a single country) can highlight how discerning you are. There is a large demand for adventure writing, so if you have participated in any daredevil expeditions, it is a good idea to include an article on them.
When you have established your portfolio, begin researching places to sell your work. Newspapers, books, magazines and online sources are all target markets for a travel writer. Most book work is reserved for established writers, so those new to the field should concentrate on the other areas. Online magazines publish the most work from unknown writers and can raise your name in searches. Research those sources that publish general travel writing, and also those with a niche: in the previous example of a chef travel writer comparing cuisines, a food-focused magazine would be a good target. Keep clear, detailed records of when and to whom you've pitched your work at each source. You should have a clear angle that you are suggesting to the editor and be confident that you have the time and resources to follow through.
Most travel publications will not advance money for expenses, so be prepared to support yourself while you conduct the research. With time and experience, a successful career in travel writing is possible.
Aurelio writes for Writing Jobs, a top online resource connecting qualified candidates with thousands of opportunities, like travel writer jobs.
Article Source: How Can I Become a Travel Writer?
=================
At Home Writing Jobs
If you love to travel, and love to write, what could be more natural than becoming a travel writer?
===================
How Can I Become a Travel Writer?
By Aurelio Jerrison
Travel. Write. Like chocolate and peanut butter, it's two great things that go great together. So how can you become a professional, and what kind of travel writer jobs are available? To begin with, know that the competition for positions is stiff. Many excellent writers compete for articles and travel writer jobs. Most of the work available will be freelance and commissioned pieces, rather than a salaried position, so you will need to sell yourself for each piece. By developing your unique voice as a writer, you can differentiate yourself from the competition for writing jobs.
To that end, one of the most effective tools is a good website. Having a website with your work on it, together with photos you've taken if available, is an excellent showcase for your portfolio. Although there are professional travel writing courses available, and they can help you refine your style, the most successful way to get more writing jobs is to do more writing. Demonstrating your talents is essential.
Your online portfolio should have several diverse articles on it, with a definite voice. A regularly updated blog is an asset to any site. Consider your strengths and how they can be emphasized in the writing. For example, if you are a chef or a foodie, perhaps an article comparing the cuisine in two neighboring countries (or the north and the south of a single country) can highlight how discerning you are. There is a large demand for adventure writing, so if you have participated in any daredevil expeditions, it is a good idea to include an article on them.
When you have established your portfolio, begin researching places to sell your work. Newspapers, books, magazines and online sources are all target markets for a travel writer. Most book work is reserved for established writers, so those new to the field should concentrate on the other areas. Online magazines publish the most work from unknown writers and can raise your name in searches. Research those sources that publish general travel writing, and also those with a niche: in the previous example of a chef travel writer comparing cuisines, a food-focused magazine would be a good target. Keep clear, detailed records of when and to whom you've pitched your work at each source. You should have a clear angle that you are suggesting to the editor and be confident that you have the time and resources to follow through.
Most travel publications will not advance money for expenses, so be prepared to support yourself while you conduct the research. With time and experience, a successful career in travel writing is possible.
Aurelio writes for Writing Jobs, a top online resource connecting qualified candidates with thousands of opportunities, like travel writer jobs.
Article Source: How Can I Become a Travel Writer?
=================
At Home Writing Jobs
Labels: travel, travel writer, writer, writing travel articles
