I may as well start from the beginning with this, my first, progress report. The idea for the book to assist Baby Boomers who want to travel came as a result of the hundreds of travelers we met on our 26-month ‘round the world trip (RTW).

Many people told us that they were in awe of our journey and asked us all sorts of questions about our travels in forty countries and how we were doing it. Through hundreds – and possibly thousands – of conversations with travelers we shared our experiences and provided advice while gathering information and learning from others. This on-the-ground exchange of tips provides an invaluable base for this book. So, it won’t be just my advice but that of many, many travelers who learned by doing.

Travelers in their forties, fifties and sixties often expressed the desire to undertake a journey similar to ours but said that they “simply wouldn’t know where to start”. They were the most avid listeners and asked hundreds of questions on, amongst other topics, how to make decisions, do research, find resources, get advice, book transportation and accommodations, etc. etc. etc.

Most of the Baby Boomers we met were traveling independently, many hoping to recapture the freedom they felt when they backpacked through Europe, the Hippy Trail in Asia or the Gringo Trail in Latin America. They wanted to know whether it was safe, affordable, accessible – in other words, doable. Many of them were on the road for several weeks or, occasionally, a month as a trial to see whether they could still do it. These were younger Boomers (45 to 55 years old) and all dreamed of the day when they could travel more when they fully or semi-retired from their jobs.

Other travelers we met were older Boomers who were on packaged tours and regretted the decision as they were now ‘stuck’ with a group of mostly seniors and couldn’t go off when they pleased. Many asked us how had we researched and planned our ‘RTW and the many sections of it as they couldn’t find information on many of the places they wanted to travel to and had been told “it can’t be done without a tour”.

We met many twenty-somethings on their gap year or a break before or after college. Even members of this difficult-to-impress group were astonished by our pluck and ingenuity. What we heard most often, though, was: “My parents could never do something like this. But they should! They need your book.” Their parents are, of course, the Baby Boomers who are beginning to travel more as their children and jobs take up less of their time and money.

Next week, I’ll let you know about the types of questions Baby Boomers asked and how they inspired us to think of our travels not only as a learning experience but also as an opportunity to teach.

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I discipline myself to write five hours a day and sometimes even manage eight hours – but by then my brain is complete mush and so it may not be my best work. On those days when only half my hours are dedicated to producing new material, I apply the rest to writing-related work.

You don’t want to know how many hours I’ve spent looking at other authors’ websites, reading Twitter and Facebook (although I make a point of limiting these two time-consuming pastimes), and researching topics on the craft of writing as well as content for my books.

When my eyes are bulging out of my head from too much computer work, I give them a rest by reading actual paper-and-ink books about the craft. Living abroad where English-language bookstores are few – and books on writing even fewer – I make a point of having every visitor from the USA or Canada bring me books I’ve ordered on line and had sent to them.

As we will be leaving Costa Rica for China (by way of Europe) in just a few weeks, I’ve had to hurry up and read all of my writing books, highlight them and I’m now scanning them into my computer to make them portable. “Why” you may be wondering “doesn’t she just buy electronic books?” I have a few of these but there aren’t that many titles on the craft of writing available electronically. One day…

At the top of my list of how-to-write books – and which I heartily recommend – are the following:

Zinsser, William: On Writing Well. This is a classic that I’ve read twice in the last six months. He writes clearly and in an entertaining manner. While the book is directed to non-fiction writers, a lot of what he advises applies to fiction as well. Many of the topics covered this book – simplicity, clutter, style, words, usage, unity – apply to all styles of writing.

Strunk, William: The Elements of Style. Another classic – this is my third copy as I keep losing mine to writing friends. I was introduced to it in journalism school twenty five years ago and still refer to it regularly when I’m faced with grammatical problems.

Katz, Christina: Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform. Great book dealing with how to market yourself using the Internet, community forums, local bookstores and publications. The idea is that having a following interested in what you are writing about will make it easier to sell your book to publishers. It contains a lot of great advice written simply and in an entertaining style.

Herman, Jeff and Deborah Levine: Write The Perfect Book Proposal. I’m using this as my guide to formulate a proposal for my how-to plan-your-travels book. The authors cover all aspects of the proposal – concept, title, overview, markets, competition, promotion, author background, outline, and sample chapter – in a clear, how-to format. I will be pitching the book in the spring of 2010 based on the advice contained in this book. It has become my proposal writing bible.

Kress, Nancy: Elements of Writing Fiction – Beginnings, Middles & Ends. Another great book written in simple language that makes its points very well. It is organized, interesting, well written – everything a good writing book should be.

There are many, many resources available to writers now but there is nothing quite like getting advice from people who’ve already been there, done that. These are great references every writer should have easy access to. Let me know if you’ve got others you’d like me to add to my list of resources for writers.

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That’s what sets off Jack Nicholson in “The Shinning” – okay, that and being cooped up with just two people, far from other living beings (lots of ghosts, though), and hemmed in by snow up to his eyeballs.

For me, the challenges come from the never-abating din of living in a large city with houses touching one another, no insulation whatsoever to block noise, neighbors who don’t understand or care that you can hear everything and streets busy with every kind of traffic imaginable.

Strident señora in the house to the left of us is always yelling at her kids, her husband, her neighbors, vendors, you name it. If I cared to listen I would probably know a lot more about the misery caused her by her ungrateful children, unfaithful husband, bothersome door-to-door salesmen, the Chinese grocer who may or may not have short-changed her and everyone else in the world.

American music-loving teens in the house on the right of us blast their stereo from noon every day until two in the afternoon. At that time, we get relief from Michael Jackson and Gloria Estefan and tune into ear-shatteringly loud Costa Rican music. Apparently, the adults in the household own only one CD. We’ve considered asking the neighbors to contribute to the purchase of a few more disks for variety.

The street in front is fairly active and, you guessed it, noisy: mostly with muffler-less cars, equally loud motorcycles and the occasional city bus in which the driver feels compelled to beep at every half block. The squealing tires as cars take the curves too fast are akin to fingernails on a blackboard. But these sounds come in waves with the worse being the afternoon rush hours and, by then, I’ve knocked off for the day.

Thankfully, soccer tournament days are on weekends as cheers and fireworks explode in the homes and yards surrounding us. When the game has been won, every driver will toot his horn at every pedestrian in a greeting of solidarity.

When all is quiet, I’ll hear a cat pitty-patting on the corrugated tin roof above me – a noise that I find pleasant but will get every dog in the neighborhood barking. Which gets the rooster crowing, at any time of the day. Which gets the hens clucking – a dissonance only because we are in the middle of a city of over a million people.

But I have two strategies for dealing with these constant interrupter of the creative flow.

Blocking out the music, cars, señora, dogs and roosters requires ear plugs, a fan running next to my desk, closing every door and window in the house and a degree of focus that is sure to make me sweat blood. The other way to block the noise is completely out of my control – but as regular as the day is long – heavy downpours every afternoon give me the quiet that sometimes manages to drown out all noise and allows me a quick nap in the short-lived and relative quiet.

The traffic squeals and honks. The music thumps, bumps and roars. The dogs bark. The roosters crow. The hens cluck. And all is washed away by the sounds of the afternoon rain pounding my tin roof.

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Canada has a good number of interesting locations from the east coast Maritimes to British Columbia in the west.

The Banff Center programs include the Playwrights Colony offered ever spring (deadline for admission in the preceding fall); the Literary Arts Self-directed Writing Residency; and In(ter)ventions Literary Practice at the Edge: A Gathering held for four days in February.

The Writers’ Haven offers workshops on Gabriola Island, British Columbia where 10 to 12 participants get together to write and discuss the craft as well as receive coaching. Personally-managed retreats are also available.

The Humber School for Writers in Toronto holds a seven-day creative writing workshop each summer as well as classes during the year.

More writing workshops in Canada are listed on the Yahoo! search link: Yahoo Directory

In the USA, you can choose between mountains or seaside, cities or countryside. A little of everything is available as far as locations, topics of instructions and lengths of workshops.

ASJA Conference (American Society for Journalists and Authors) holds workshops as part of its yearly conference and includes the opportunity for one-on-one time with an editor.

Exploritas (once known as Elderhostels) – not just for seniors – offers a number of learning vacations around the world including a memoir-writing workshop held in Ripley, West Virginia.

A large selection of classes and workshops are available at The John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. Topics cover children’s literature, writing your memoirs, ‘Writing True Stories’ and ‘Write Like a Genius.’

More resources are available at Info Hub which provides a listing of vacation schools and writers’ workshops.

Before signing on with any program or school, review their program information carefully and make sure you are clear on what is included in the price (e.g. accommodations, food, etc.).

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7 Day Wonder offers a number of week-long get-aways in Spain and France for vacationers to practice a number of the arts including writing, comedy (writing and performing), book groups, as well as singing and songwriting. The company has been operating for six years and operates out of Devon, England. (7 Day Wonder)

All Ways Spain offers travel writing holidays – what better way than to put what you are writing into practice as you learn? The six-day workshops take place in Alpujarra, Granada province. (All Ways Spain)

Write By The Sea offers writing holidays in Portugal on the island of Armona. Workshops are offered dealing with ‘Starting and Keeping Going’, ‘Poetry and Prose’, and ‘The Novel’. (Write By The Sea)

Lisa Elvidge also offers classes in Portugal in Algarve. Workshops and classes are offered in Lagos and Monchique. (Lisa Elvidge)

Before making your reservations with these or any travel service provider inquire about what the package includes. Some provide accommodations, food, activities, workshops/classes and may include transportation to the country. Other do not provide everything, so it’s a good idea to check before you book.

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