BootsnAll Travel Community

Hello everyone. I've started writing my RTW travelog on Bootsnall and it's been great fun to do. Sometimes in conversation I'd mention to people what I was doing, and in America the response was always interest and positive. Now I'm in Mexico however, the two people I mentioned it to didn't seem so positive - conversation kind of halted. I'm not sure whether to stop telling people about my diary or just work out a less inept way of talking about it.

How much do you guys tell people you are writing about your experiences? Do you ask people's permission to write events / conversations up?

Cheers,

Daniel

I've never had a problem telling people that I write up some of the stories of my travels, but since it's clear that I only write up some of the stories I guess they all assume I'm writing the ones that don't include them. Also, I don't call the notes I keep a "diary" (a word which often makes people think of deep personal secrets).

If you're going to tell people that you're a blogger then you might need to reassure some people that you don't record everything or that you can omit them if they like, or in some way convince them that you have some discression. After all, a public record of your life is at root a very odd idea to some of us. Maybe if you showed them a sample of your writing (keep a printout of the front page of your blog in your bag) they'd realize that it's no big deal.

I generally don't ask people for permission to include them in stories, but I always read over my stories and wonder if I would mind the people involved reading them. If I'm still comfortable with the story after doing this then I keep it as is. If not then I try to figure out what makes it so iffy - am I being mean? intrusive? Having a New Englanders emotional reserve and a good imagination, I consider my internal censor at least as sensitive as that of any potential victim of my stories. Also, I rarely give enough information for a reader to track a person down - you can describe a person well enough for the reader to picture them, without having to give their full name or their mailing address.

Finally, you'd be surprised how flattered some people are to be appear in a story or song. Whenever possible, be kind. When that's not possible, only give as much identifying information as necessary.

He's a writer? Get him!! Burn him at the stake!!!

AIM: Livenomadic
MSN: chrisalbon@hotmail.com

Most of the people I've talked to have been pretty cool about it, some of them even made jokes about being famous by having their picture on the internet.

I guess you just have to take every case differently, I believe you don't need permission to write about someone as long as you don't fully identify them. Some people you can joke about it with, others you can keep it hush hush.

_____________________
A new writer seeksthe Write Path.

I wouldnt worry to much about it.

I mean, if you meet someone for example, half the experiance is yours (and half is theres) so feel free to write about your half within reason.

**My Admin options are broken so don't try any funny business!!!**

In most of the stories that I have written for BNA I have relied upon real incidents but used fictious names or initials. This works fine even with the most sensitive of friends.

Like Dustyshoes, al my articles are based on real incidents. In most cases I try to use the real names of the people I write about, however, having said that, there are times when a ficticious name is preferrable. Especially if the people you are writing about give you 'The look' or start sending our neg vibes.

It seems that wherever you are, as soon as the notebook comes into sight then there is an instant interest in your motives.

Wombat Wanderer

Barrie Lie-Birchall

I've noticed in someone like Paul Theroux's work, he identifies some characters right down to full names, employment and family history, whereas other times he gives only vague allusions. Both he and Bill Bryson are notorious for eavesdropping or being just nosy enough to get enough info for a book.

I'm sure over the eons that travel writing's been around, there have always been unsuspecting subjects. To me, at least, it's harmless - much more so than a posted picture. I'll usually ask about taking a picture - but I doubt I'll ask too many people if I can quote them...

Walk. Love. Dive. Live. Get off the hamster wheel, open the cage, and breathe in a new existence.

I don't really think it's too big an issue; unless you are making stuff up and/or putting words in their mouth. You are merely recording true events.

But I also try and put myself in their shoes, reading what I've written. If there is any issue of awkwardness, then I change their name.

e.

http://www.theglobaltrip.com

"And then I said to Erik R. Trinidad "No you silly, that itchy burning sensation you feel between your legs isnt just a heat rash..."

heheh, THAT is the type of things you dont put in a story...

But now its all over the world...

**My Admin options are broken so don't try any funny business!!!**

Only once have I really regretted putting an experience in print - something I saw moved me very much and I wanted to write about it, but the 'main characters', whom I barely knew beyond living in the same neighborhood, who were living through something truly horrible (and gripping as the best fiction) felt that it was their story to tell and I had told it wrong. i have to agree that they were right - because of the horrible circumstances. Like the last thing they needed was a virtual stranger making them feel worse.

but unless someone's dealing with a dying loved one or their own brutal... well, let's just say if you're writing up a nasty bus trip in calcutta when the couple behind you was not so successfully keeping it a secret that they were having sex under the rain ponchos spread in their laps - that's a story you should feel free to tell! just change their names.

Good luck from Ayun
(who didn't go to her 20th high school reunion to avoid the boyfriend she wrote about in the 'sex' chapter of her first book.)

Thanks everyone, much appreciated.

Daniel