We are all travelers—without exception. Even the most steadfastly sedentary individuals travel with their imagination through television or literature, or, at the very least, through life itself, which is the grand journey of our existence. From our most distant origins, when our hominid ancestors left the protection of the forest and ventured into the African savannah in search of food, humans have been inherently mobile beings.
Nomadism is embedded in our DNA, despite civilization’s attempts to confine us within the blurred boundaries of cities, routines, and static jobs. The advent of language, echoing from the caves and natural shelters where prehistoric people spent their nights, was undoubtedly connected to the desire to communicate, beyond what gestures or grunts could convey, what had been done or seen during the day. The earliest narrated journeys were those of hunter-gatherer groups returning to their camps, recounting to their families and friends the day’s events, the locations of water sources, or that thicket brimming with red berries, or the valley teeming with mammoths…
It is even conceivable that language evolved to better convey detailed information essential for the survival of the group. Consequently, the relationship between travel and language or travel and narrative has been intertwined since the dawn of humanity. It is thus unsurprising that the earliest great stories of humanity were accounts of journeys, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and Homer’s Odyssey. Indeed, some of the most compelling stories emerge from travel, where cultures intersect, and where opposing poles may converge or be astounded and delighted by their differences.
“Thanks to travel we have the opportunity to see the world, to meet different people and to appreciate the diversity of our planet.”
Jordi Canal-Soler
Saint Augustine of Hippo once remarked, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” Through travel, we gain the chance to explore the world, meet diverse people, and appreciate our planet’s vast variety. Furthermore, as journalists and content creators, we have the unique opportunity to bring readers, viewers, and listeners closer to the multifaceted world we have the privilege of experiencing.
Our primary tool is storytelling, which can be found everywhere. Every destination, no matter how seemingly close or insignificant, offers a narrative worth sharing. This is the essence of travel journalism—the gift of discovering compelling stories through ubiquity. The world’s immense diversity and richness ensure that nearly any corner holds a narrative worth telling.
You just need to take into account some recommendations to achieve it:
- See everything from a fresh perspective, as if encountering it for the first time, and focus on details that may have always been present but previously unnoticed.
- It’s not just about seeing, but knowing where to look and what to observe. The essence of a great storyteller lies in the ability to notice what is visible to all yet overlooked by many.
- Present it with originality, for even the most familiar locations and well-trodden cities can reveal surprising elements when viewed from new angles.
- Seek out untold stories by finding new voices that add fresh insights to the narrative or offer a completely new perspective on the same story.
- Enhance the story with rich details, as a compelling narrative must be vividly told. A good story transports the reader to the destination, much like Morag Campbell’s observation that “the goal of any travel writer is to recreate the smells, sounds, flavors, and colors of a country so intensely that they leap off the page.”
- Incorporate scenes that provide a deeper understanding of the place. To truly know a destination, one should explore a market, a religious temple, a school, a museum, and a cemetery—each location offers unique insights and experiences, leading to new stories to share.
Every great story requires a unique quality: the power to transform. Claudio Magris notes, “The journey is always a return home, an adventure of the spirit that sets out to conquer the world and, through its encounter with the myriad and the unknown, unfolds its own latent possibilities to return, grown and matured, to a newly discovered home.” Indeed, the real journey, like truly moving stories, transforms both the traveler and the listener. A compelling narrative must have the capacity to transform, to inspire, and to deeply resonate with its audience. Through this transformative experience, readers or listeners may come to realize, as we did before them, that they too must embark on their own journeys to discover new and profound stories.
NARRATE
From the Latin narrare. Synonyms or related to narrate: Relate, tell, refer, story, expose, review.