How to Turn Travel Into Storytelling Gold

Travel is full of unforgettable moments. So why do we forget them?

You step off a plane, hear the chaos of a new city, smell something unfamiliar, meet someone who lingers in your memory — and then, it all fades.

I was 21 when I moved to Japan and I was walking through the backstreets of Kyoto when I saw her.

A geisha — or maybe a maiko — in full traditional dress. White-painted face. A red and gold kimono. She turned the corner just ahead of me, gliding past with quiet precision before vanishing down a side street.

It lasted maybe five seconds. And then she was gone.

I thought I’d write it down later. But I didn’t. And like so many fleeting travel moments, the intensity of it slipped away.

That’s when I realized: if I didn’t create a system to capture the stories travel gives me, I’d lose them. And so I did.

Why You Should Start Travel Journaling — Even if You’re Not a “Writer”

You don’t need to be an author to start journaling your travels.You just need a way to remember what mattered.

A 2022 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that expressive writing tied to personal experience boosts memory and emotional clarity. That’s huge.

But beyond that, travel journaling helps you tell better stories — whether in a blog, a letter, a photo caption, or even a future novel.

I’ve created a 5-Part Notebook System that makes it simple

Over years of living abroad — in Japan, Italy, the UK, the UAE, and now the U.S. — I’ve used this system to turn lived moments into award-winning novels and essays that resonate.

It’s not complicated. It just helps you catch stories before they disappear.

🔹 Tune in to sensory details

🔹 Capture moments with strangers

🔹 Ask deeper questions

🔹 Collect overheard dialogue

🔹 Reflect on photos and objects in your travel bag

📥 Want a Free Printable Travel Journal Page?

As part of my latest post, I’m sharing a beautifully designed Storytelling Daily Journal Page you can print, pack, and use on your next trip.

➡️ Read the full article + download the journal page here →

Your Next Trip Could Spark Your Next Story

Whether you're planning a solo adventure, a family holiday, or just a long weekend away — this is your chance to start capturing the moments that could one day become stories.

You don’t need to write every day.You just need a way to remember the good stuff.

Pack a pen. The stories are waiting.