Vacations Inspire Writing, Writing Pays for Trips

 

 Every business owner and employee knows that to avoid burn-out and stress, you need to take a break. You could take a short trip within your state, a staycation or you could spend the money to take a longer trip. My husband and I are celebrating a big event -- our 30th wedding anniversary, so we decided that this was going to be the year we traveled to Alaska, see our natural resources and the midnight sun. We were gone for a week in June. Many people were telling us that we wouldn't want to travel that distance or that it might be cold. We went anyway. It was not cold (80 degrees most days in Fairbanks), and the plane ride was long but nothing unbearable. We wanted to do this, so we did.

The point is if you work nonstop, you will quickly become stressed. You will be uninspired, and you will not want to do your job any more. Everyone needs time away from their writing and marketing. Although staycations can be helpful for some, I find that they are tempting to go back to my work because I am home and the computer is there. That is why I like to leave my house even if it is for a few days. Last year, we traveled to Kentucky and Indiana. Sometimes, we go to a place within Florida. Do what works for you but make sure you take that vacation and break from books.

If you plan your trips correctly, you might be able to let your writing pay for it. For our Alaska trip, I had gotten new clients and new money right before the trip. However, that is not the only way I will pay for the trip. Here are some options for you to let your writing pay for it.

1. Write for Publication -- When we went to Russia, I was working for an environmental newsletter. Before we traveled to Russia, I had an idea of when we would be in country, so I lined up interviews with key environmental officials. I wrote stories from those interviews when I returned and they were published stories. You could line up interviews wherever you go and have them published in an online publication or a magazine. You might not receive the entire cost of the trip, but you might offset some of it.

2. Use for Marketing -- I am writing about my trip to Alaska in my blog, which I use on my Web site to generate new content. This promotes my businesses. Therefore, this blog is a marketing tool. Because I am writing about Alaska in my marketing, it could pay for itself with new clients or at least people who are interested in my services. When you go on a trip, write about your experiences and use it in your marketing. It could pay off for you in your business and your future writing projects. 

3. Market to People You Meet -- On the Alaskan trip, I met a couple tour guides, plus bus drivers and hotel staff. I could market to them in the future. If I win their trust, I could get paid helping them market their businesses. This could pay me for going on the trip, or it might not, but it is worth leaving my comfort zone to go there and try.

4. Write Off Taxes -- We always find a way to conduct my business on any vacation we take so that I can write off many of the expenses on my taxes. In the case of Alaska, I edited two different books on the long flight to Alaska and the long flight home. I also wrote something for a client, answered some e-mails and answered my business line in Alaska. Each book was for a different company, so I can write off the trip from both companies. I also am writing my blog about Alaska, which means I can write off for that reason too. And, if you publish an article from your vacation, you could write off your trip from your taxes. If you are unsure, you might want to ask an attorney.

So, in conclusion, vacations do many things. They inspire your writing and help your business with new opportunities. They also can pay for themselves in several ways. Go take a vacation this summer or as you celebrate our freedoms. Your work will be there when you get back.