Have you ever experienced the kind of writers block that gets overwhelming? For anyone who writes, when it strikes it can be debilitating.
Then there are moments of flow when everything just seems to ease out of my brain right onto the keyboard, and I know exactly what to say.
Whichever mode I’m in, there’s one thing that doesn’t change: deadlines.
It’s been a bit over a year since I committed to writing two blog posts per week. I only recently eliminated the required Friday post in the interest of putting longer, better content out there instead.
A good, thorough blog post usually takes hours between research, editing photos, writing, and then editing it. Some, like this monster post, took weeks. This all requires that I be pretty prolific.
My process is unorthodox, but it works like magic for me:
– Write it as it happens
– Speak it rather than write it whenever possible
– Edit with a heavy hand
Step one: In the moment
First, I write my travel blog posts as in the moment as possible. That way I don’t forget any details and it’s nicer to read too since I’m just writing the whole post as it flows.
That might be in the back of a moving car in my phone notes like when I wrote 25 promises for all the single ladies who travel, or in my tent like in Kyrgyzstan, or like right now, on an airplane after finishing up my posts about Switzerland in the Zurich airport.

Step two: speak it into your devices
How often do you feel like it sounds so great in your head and then once you sit down to write, it just doesn’t seem to sound as good?
This is why I just purge it all by speaking it, quick and dirty.
A good trick is to use the speech-to-text function on my phone or iPad. I can get my thoughts down more quickly. I even do this to reply to emails, speaking as clearly as possible, pronouncing things like, “comma”, and “question mark.”
I’ll do this anywhere and everywhere – when I can find a quiet place, or sometimes on a crowded train. DGAF.
It’s nice because then when I sit down to post, most of the work is already done and it didn’t even feel like work.
This alone has revolutionized my process. Before, I often felt like I couldn’t quite put what was in my mind on the page. This gets me much closer to that, though it’s important to check for mistakes, as there will be a lot of them!
Step 3 – Edit heavily
This process of pouring everything in your mind immediately into your notes will come out messy.
There are many times when the sentences look unrecognizable and I wonder how it could have gotten me so wrong. Definitely go through and edit soon after, while you can still remember what you said.
For the editing, I highly recommend finding a way to create an ergonomic environment rather than going through and manually doing all of the changes with your thumbs and index fingers.
A few months ago after some pain in my wrist, I realized I can’t just keep traveling and creating at this rate and not making my workplace ergonomic, even when on the go.
I bought a mouse, and partnered with ZAGG to test out their bluetooth keyboard that I could pair with all of my devices – iPad, computer, and even my iPhone.
It changes everything. Gone are the days of trying to edit by erasing and writing with my thumbs on my phone, while killing my wrist on my computer, or suffering because I can’t find a suitable desk. Seriously why didn’t I do this sooner?
By incorporating these tricks, in the past few hours I’ve been able to complete 3 blog posts all while in transit, working from notes I spoke into my phone during my trip and editing right after.
This process has helped me so much, and I hope that if you’re keen to try something new, that it helps you, too.
Remember, the best way to mitigate running into writers block is to jot down the words right as they come to you, using some clever tools at your disposal.
And as we travel writers know, there’s an endless supply of inspiration in this beautiful world.
*This post is brought to you in collaboration with ZAGG, who helped save my wrists. All thoughts and this process is entirely my own.
Ashley says
This is a great idea! I always struggle to keep a journal when I’m travelling, so I’m definitely going to try recording my thoughts next time.
Kristin says
So much quicker! Just edit heavily 😉
Jonny Singh says
Being a writer I can say that these step by step writing process means a lot to us. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Kristin says
Glad you found it helpful!
GG says
Enjoyed this post as I recall the olden days of dictation tape recorders (that worked only half the time and the recording was incoherent) and note pads all over the place when inspired! Now with all this great technology why waste time when inspired and get it down raw verbally in crisp digital sound! Certainly when you are traveling and see these great sites you will have thoughts that might escape moments later. Part of my job is problem solving and many solutions come to me when running (I imagine when you are hiking in these beautiful places it would do the same), in the shower, or right after I wake up so having phone apps and other cool things come in handy (especially if they are sweat and water-proof!)!
As for editing, definitely a must as you said Kristen. May I add these suggestions for everyone:
1. After completing a draft of your post/writing/article, walk away from it for 24 hours (if deadlines allow), forget about it, and come back to it. It is amazing how you catch things you would not have missed or find a better way to refine/organize your thoughts.
2. Look for typos that spell check misses like form/from, tied/tried, any words that are valid with and without an “e” ending (bite/bit, kite/kit, site/sit, note/not, her/here etc.). There are some that are humorous or accidentally offensive that they list online, but usually one catches those. Also, look out for sinister ones like his/is, if/is, and or/of/off!
3. This is the hardest: Pretend you are reading over someone else’s writing. That adds objectivity, but it is hard to do this, although it helps if don’t have others to proofread! I find when others critique my writing I might go “why are they so picky” and then look back and see I did the same thing to someone else’s! In the end the “pickiness” was for my benefit (although sometimes it is so subjective!) and you need to be “heavy handed” like Kristen recommends.
4. Lastly, I proofread material for my job in two phases, one for content, other for grammar/typos. Along the way you might find the other type during one phase which is great, in the end it is like a double layer of checks that way.
Hope this is helpful to someone! Feel free to add to these recommendations or refute them.
Kristin says
Thanks for adding some suggestions! I agree it’s good to go back after 24 hours or even a couple of weeks if you have the time. I find I proofread something and then go back months later (after I’ve hit publish, doh!) and catch mistakes.
Ali says
Smart tricks ! İ will use it. Thanks for sharing
Diane says
Hi Kristin! I dictate a lot of my posts as well. My head is clear when I’m out walking my dog and ideas come to me while I’m in the park so I just speak it into my phone. This also provides a bit of entertainment when I sit down at my computer to transcribe it and polish everything up. The dictation auto-corrects can be hilarious. 😉
You do a great job with sponsored content and write articles that are fun to read (with or without the sponsor)!
Kristin says
thank you so much! I’m never sure if I’m balancing well or not but I just choose products I really use and enjoy and this keyboard is one of them.
Rebecca says
I’ve never even thought of using that function on my phone! Not only are you getting it down at the time – but it’s got a more natural voice. Thank you for this post!!
Kristin says
Oh man I love that function! I have no shame either I just talk right into it in public all the time
Izy Berry says
Point 2 taken! Thank you technology 😉
Becky Breshears says
Thank you for sharing. I have the same struggles and this will help me get my thoughts down as they happen. The story always comes out better when I’m saying it rather than writing! Awesome!
Kristin says
Same!
Bhavesh Sondagar says
Thanks for the great suggestion about speaking on a mobile phone and using it as a reference so that we don’t forget any details while writing the post.
I am just switching my lifestyle to a travel blogger and hope your suggestion and experience will help me to be a travel blogger like you soon.