Editor’s Note: I got to ask travel blogger, writer, conference organizer, and travel guru Matt Kepnes of Nomadic Matt some questions about travel, writing, and books (some of my favorite subjects, and, luckily, his too).

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• I read in a CNBC interview that you are working on a memoir, too. Is this true? If so, how’s it going? Can you give us any insight or tips about your writing process?

It is true! And it’s actually done — finally! I had wanted to write another travel book for a while, so I decided I would write about my experiences as a budget backpacker over the past decade. While sharing budget travel tips is something I love, I wanted to share my stories and create something more personal this time. So that’s where the idea for the book came about.

For the past year, I’ve been putting it together. It’s been a struggle to meet my publisher’s deadlines, but I recently submitted my final draft and the book is scheduled to be released in 2019. While some of the travel stories that will be in it have been shared on the blog, there are a ton that I’ve never shared so I’m really excited to see how people react. Of course, I’m nervous too, but that’s just part of being a travel writer.

Matt said that when it comes to being a travel writer (or just writing in general) the two biggest things, he finds helpful are:

1. Reading more books – The more you read, the more you will absorb about the writing process. Reading is a great way to understand how books flow and it’s incredibly helpful for stimulating ideas and improving your own writing. I think if you want to be a writer you have to start off by being a reader. That’s how you will build your foundation.
2. Actually writing – The only way you will get better at writing is by actually writing. You need to put in the time and constantly be working on your craft. You can’t just think about it. You can’t just read about it. You need to do it. Spend time writing every day, whether that’s in your journal or on a blog or as part of a book – it doesn’t matter. The more you write, the better you will get. It’s a slow process, but it’s a necessary one if you want to improve your travel writing.

Editor’s note: Matt has a slew of superb courses through his Superstar Blogging online school, from travel writing and blogging to SEO to photography.

• I noticed that you are as passionate about books as I am. Have you ever traveled to a city because you know they have a great bookstore?

While I’ve never traveled somewhere specifically for a bookstore, visiting bookstores is definitely something I do when I’m traveling. (In fact, I was just visiting Los Angeles and made sure to pop into The Last Bookstore, a famous bookstore in the city). I think visiting bookstores is a great way to experience the local culture while you browse and people watch. Even though I travel carryon only (with one of the best travel backpacks on the market, if you ask me!) I always travel with books — and I’m always on the hunt for more. While I appreciate the convenience of e-books, I love physical books so I’m always looking to buy books about travel when I’m browsing bookstores abroad. 

• Did you read any books as a kid that inspired you to travel to a certain place? Which books? Which places? Why?

I think reading grand travel adventures like The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings helped cement that desire to see distant places and have adventures, but more in a general sense. For specific travel books, the first one that comes to mind is The Beach. Every time I re-read the book (or re-watch the movie) that I want to go back to Thailand. There’s just something in the book that captures the essence of travel, and what backpacking Southeast Asiais like. It was definitely a book that sparked a desire to go backpacking in Thailand, and I wager it will continue to do so.

Another travel book that kindled a specific desire was On the Road. Ever since reading that, I wanted to go on a road trip across America — which I’ve since done! We always seem to travel to other countries before exploring our own backyard, yet the USA is one of the best countries in the world for a road trip. The freedom of life on the road is always something I enjoy, and On the Road was partly responsible for kindling that desire.

• Your site is loaded with resources for traveling, but you also have an emphasis on good writing, making your resource pages as satisfying to read as they are informative. Are there any particular writers (travel or otherwise) whose style, background, or story inspired your style of writing? 

I’ve had the opportunity to work with and meet tons of amazing and talented travel writers and bloggers over the years, which is definitely a huge perk of working in the travel industry! As for influences on my own writing and direction, I always wanted to try and be a mix of Anthony Bourdain and Bill Bryson. They both are incredibly skilled writers and travelers and have a knack for peeling back the layers of a destination to show their readers what life is like below the touristy surface. Their honesty and skill with their craft was humbling and inspiring.

When I first was starting a travel blog, they were my main influences. Back then, I had hoped to start a blog and work for Lonely Planet, traveling the world and writing travel guides. While I never did end up working for Lonely Planet, having a blog has let me develop my own voice and create my own content. But I likely wouldn’t be here without the work of those two men, who really showed me what great travel writing can do.

• I was recently in Beijing and spent some time in a huge bookstore downtown. Everything was in Mandarin, but I don’t read it. I still loved it, but I know it’s not for everyone. Do you ever go to foreign bookstores? Why or why not?

I think there is definitely something to be learned from visiting foreign bookstores. You get to see something so familiar, yet so different at the same time; you get to see their take on a universal experience. Is it relaxed and cozy or more organized and clinical? Do people browse or do they just come to get what they want? Are used books something people embrace or is it all about buying something new? These are mundane differences, but I think they’re fun to compare and shed some light on the culture.

• Can you tell me about a moment when you were overwhelmed with a travel experience and a particular local person helped you through it?

One experience that comes to mind is when I was traveling Iceland. I was hitchhiking around the country, and found myself in Brjánslækur in the West Fjords of Iceland. Unfortunately, the ferry and bus didn’t align and I arrived almost 8 hours early. I was stuck on the side of the road with absolutely nowhere to go. I was in the middle of nowhere, which, in Iceland, really means nowhere! I was mad at myself for not planning better, and disappointed that I would lose a whole day (not to mention that I was stuck on the side of the road with no escape in sight). 

After standing around for hours, finally a car passed. A local named Stefan offered to give me a ride, and it was a godsend. We spent the ride chatting and I learned all about his life in Iceland. Without his kindness, I would have been stuck on the curb in a bad mood, but his generosity really made my day and reminded me that there are still plenty of kind people out there! 

• Which place in your travels surprised you more than any other place (good or bad)?

There’s so many places that I’ve been to that absolutely blew me away. Recently, I was traveling in Azerbaijan, which was a great trip. It’s definitely an up and coming travel area and I had a great time exploring the country. Another favorite travel destination was Australia. Backpacking Australiais just one adventure after another, and my first trip there was far more amazing than I could have ever hoped. The country is an endless series of beaches and parties and perfect sunsets. You really can’t go wrong there!

Backpacking Vietnam was one of the few experiences that really put a bad taste in my mouth due to a lot of unfortunate experiences there. It was just travel scam after travel scam, and I found that I just couldn’t enjoy myself during my trip. But that was back in 2007, so maybe it’s time I give the place a second chance!

• I love the maps on nomadicmatt.com. They are a user-friendly feature and an element of great design. Do you recommend any maps, map apps, or other specific navigation tools for traveling? Do you ever use/browse paper maps? Why or why not?

Back when I first started traveling, smartphones weren’t a thing so you had to reply on travel guides and actual maps. It required more travel planning and you had to be a bit more of a savvy traveler. These days, I just have all my maps on Google where I can keep them offline, pin all my destinations onto them, and build itineraries and routes. It’s super convenient, and a great way to plan a trip.

When I’m visiting a city, I always make sure to visit the local tourism office and get a map from there. The maps are great for quick reference and often include some coupon codes for local businesses. On top of that, the tourism offices will always have the most up to date information. They know what’s happening and where the discounts are so they are a great resource when it comes to planning your trip and making an ideal itinerary. (And with a paper map on hand, they can show you everything in relation to one another, which makes navigating your destination much easier!)

Thank you, Matt, travel writer extraordinaire, course guru, and travel conference organizer!

Matt Kepnes is a travel writer and New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and founder of the Nomadic Matt travel website. He is also the creator of the Superstar Blogging course series.