7 Tips for Writing While on the Go: author travel habits and productivity tips for writers

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You have packed everything: clothes, toiletries, a few travel essentials, a good book for waiting in line, plus your laptop and journal so you can keep working on your novel. Then you get to your destination and dive straight into sightseeing, trying new food, and exploring every corner of the city. Before you know it, the week is over, and you realize you have carried your laptop the entire time without opening it once. Your word count is still sitting at zero, just like the day you left.

Sound familiar?

I have ADHD, so this happens to me easily. The excitement of travel and the constant distractions can pull me away from writing before I even realize it. And then when I get back home, it is hard for me to regain my momentum. That is why I started looking for practical productivity tips for writers that actually work on the road. Over time, I have learned a few habits and tools that make it possible to actually write while traveling, instead of just packing the intention.

Productivity Tips for Writers

1. Plan for Writing Before You Leave

If you wait until you are already on the plane to figure out when you will write, chances are it will not happen. Look at your travel itinerary before you go and block off realistic writing windows. Maybe it is an early morning before the day’s activities, an hour during a layover, or a quiet evening on the balcony.

I like using a compact travel planner (this is the one I use) because it keeps my trip schedule and my writing blocks in the same place.

2. Pick the Same Time Every Day

When you are out of town, routine matters just as much as it does at home. Choose one time of day to dedicate to writing and stick to it, whether it is first thing in the morning before breakfast or just before bed. Your brain will start to expect it, and it becomes a small daily ritual that grounds you no matter where you are.

3. Keep Your Setup Simple and Portable

Dragging your full desk setup into a carry-on is not feasible. Instead, pare down to the essentials:

• A foldable Bluetooth keyboard (here’s my favorite one) that works with your tablet or phone, and it comes in different colors.

• A lightweight tablet or small laptop

• A notebook and pen for quick notes when tech is not practical

  
  

The lighter your gear, the more likely you will actually use it, whether you are in an airport lounge or wedged into a train seat.

4. Use Silent Timers to Stay on Track

When I am traveling, background noise is everywhere—boarding announcements, chatter, street music—and it is easy for my focus to wander. A silent timer (this one works perfectly for me) helps me stay grounded without an audible alarm going off in public. A little disclaimer, though, learning how to use it is a little tricky at first, so take a bit of time before your trip to learn how to set the different times. I like to work in 25-minute blocks (Pomodoro style), knowing I have a short burst of focus followed by a break to enjoy the scenery.

5. Lower Your Word Count Expectations

Travel days are unpredictable. Flights get delayed, meals run long, and adventures pop up out of nowhere. Instead of aiming for your usual daily goal, set a “travel goal” of 300–500 words. That is enough to keep your momentum without cutting into the trip itself.

6. Capture Inspiration in the Moment

Travel fills your senses in a way home life rarely does: the smell of fresh bread from a bakery, the way sunlight hits cobblestone streets, the sound of unfamiliar birds. Even if you do not have time for a full writing session, jot those details down right away. They make for authentic, vivid scenes later.

7. Protect Your Energy

Some days you will feel inspired and ready to write. Other days, the combination of travel and fatigue will make it hard to focus. On those days, work on lighter tasks like outlining, brainstorming, or revising. It still moves your project forward and frees up your energy to enjoy the trip itself.

Writing while traveling takes a little planning, a steady routine, and tools that make it easy to slip into a session anywhere. A silent timer, a foldable keyboard, and a compact travel planner have saved me more than once from coming home with an empty word count. With the right setup, you can enjoy the trip and still make progress on your story.

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