Summer is often the time for travel, when the urge to explore new places and break out of the monotony of day-to-day life seems strongest. Perhaps it’s a throwback to younger days, when summer vacation was a thing and we had long chunks of unoccupied time to explore the world around us or, if we were lucky, head to some far-flung location for a family trip.

Whatever the reason for traveling, it can spur the urgent desire to write about the experience—even if travel blogging isn’t your usual mode of expression. If you’re considering such an undertaking, you’ll be happy to know that there’s really no wrong way to do it. There are, however, a few things to keep in mind to ensure that your blog hooks readers and leaves them wanting more.

Prepare a reading list
Before you head off to whatever location you have in mind, it’s a great idea to first peruse the type of travel blogs you’re hoping to emulate. How do the writers address their readers? What are the most interesting parts of their posts to you personally?

And of course, there are plenty of travel writers out there that, while not blogs per se, offer great insight into the types of things that spark an audience’s interest. The incomparable Anthony Bourdain is a good place to start, as are Paul Theroux and Stephanie Elizondo Griest. The good news is that you can knock out a lot of your reading on the plane ride to wherever you’re headed!

Keep an eye out for the unexpected
Part of the allure of traveling to a new place is running into places, people, and situations that are unfamiliar to you. The basis for a compelling travel blog is recognizing that unfamiliarity and describing it to people who have never been (and may never get to go) to that location.

Does the coffee taste different there? Do people use an alternative mode of transportation to get around? Do leisure activities look different than where you’re from? Take the time to really see—and hear and taste and smell—what is going on around you to observe what is noteworthy in your mind. 

Write it down . . . now
As good as you think your memory is, I can almost guarantee that you’ll lose precious details if you wait and try to write about an experience weeks, days, or even hours after the fact. The best way to prevent that from happening is to keep a journal and take it with you everywhere. Then jot down the sights, sounds, and feelings of a place or event right when it happens.

That doesn’t mean you have to attempt to write your travel blog entry then and there. It just means that you should take quick shorthand notes to remind yourself of the highlights later. Yes, you’ll have to pack a small journal, and yes, it might feel unnatural at first to whip out your journal every time you see something of note. But it truly is the best way to capture both the big and small moments of your trip—and will likely prove invaluable when you actually sit down to write.

Keep it short and sweet
While travel writing can certainly take up whole pages and books, a travel blog should be kept on the shorter side. While blogs in general tend to vary from anything between 500 and 3,000 words, you might find it easier to err closer to the word count minimum, say 800–900 words, especially at the beginning. This word count should be plenty for you to briefly introduce your blog post—what locations will you be covering, how long were you there, et cetera?—and then discuss your trip.

Be sure to cover the intangible
I know, this is much easier said than done. But that’s what truly makes a travel blog unique: capturing the specific local feel of a place, not just which hotel you stayed at or the restaurant where you had dinner. Good travel blogging is about the experience, not the physical niceties that you may or may not have had.

Try to tap into the more visceral sensations that people who have never been there can experience by proxy (via you!). What were the location’s unique scents, scenery, flavors? Was there a feeling of comradery or did most locals tend to do their own thing? Tap into what lies below the surface, and you’ll be well on your way to writing a compelling travel blog.

And one more thing . . .
If possible, always include a photo of the place you’re talking about! People love to be able to match a visual to a written description.

Andrea Moran lives outside of Nashville with her husband and two kids. She’s a professional copywriter and editor who loves all things books. Find her on LinkedIn.