We’re kicking off a new feature this week at The Traveler’s Notebook: every other Monday, we’ll give you a prompt, exercise, or topic to get your pen moving.

Photo: tnarik

You’ll send us whatever you come up with: a story, a description, a ramble, a collage, a limerick, a review—no restrictions on form, as long as you stick to the prompt of the week and, of course, the overall theme of travel.

The following Monday we’ll publish some of our favorite sentences, paragraphs, observations, or turns of phrase, so you can get a taste of what your fellow Matadorians are up to.

Aaaaand this week’s topic is…FOOD.

Photo: Flydime Feature Photo: Ginnerobot

So open your notebook (or laptop) and run with it. What do you have to say about food and travel?

The taste of barbequed goat, or the time you lived on Ramen noodles for 3 weeks straight, or when you first realized that apples, pears, and oranges are not the only fruits in the world, a review of your favorite taqueria in Chicago…

Paste your writing (up to 250 words) in the body of your email, along with your Matador community ID. Please put “FOOD” in the subject line and send to teresa@matadornetwork.com.

We look forward to reading your words!

Tagged under: get your pen moving, Travel Writing, writing, writing exercise

Filed under: how to write

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About the Author

Teresa Ponikvar

Teresa Ponikvar lives with her husband in Oaxaca, where she co-edits Traveler's Notebook and trades English classes for handmade rugs, cooking lessons, and occasionally money.

More By This Author

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• Get Your Pen Moving: MISUNDERSTANDINGS (4 comments)
• You Got Your Pens Moving: Stories of Travel Terror from the Matador Community (2 comments)

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Related Posts

• You Got Your Pens Moving: Stories of Misunderstandings from the Matador Community (9 comments)
• Get Your Pen Moving: MISUNDERSTANDINGS (4 comments)
• You Got Your Pens Moving: Stories of Travel Terror from the Matador Community (2 comments)

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8 Comments... join the discussion!

• 
  Carlo replied on June 23, 2009

  Wicked idea! Looking forward to reading these.

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• 
  Joel Runyon replied on June 23, 2009

  I love this idea. It will be a good way to push myself to keep writing.

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• 
  Travellohr replied on June 23, 2009

  This is a good writing exercise. Great idea.

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• 
  Dave and Deb replied on June 23, 2009

  haha, I just wrote about my favorite foods of the world last week on my blog. But I think I still have some ideas in my mind. There are so many to choose from. Cheers.

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• 
  Hal replied on June 23, 2009

  Great concept, Teresa. A little motivation like this is just what some writers (like me) need to practice their craft more regularly.

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• 
  Marissa replied on June 23, 2009

  What a fun idea. It will definitely keep me writing more regularly and it should be fun to read many different takes on the same prompt.

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• 
  Turner replied on June 23, 2009

  Good idea, but might I suggest making it a type of “Twitter tracker” post, so people can send in their ideas more easily.

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• 
  Jonathan | EnlightenYourDay.com replied on June 25, 2009

  Amazing idea for writers. Thanks, I will write about it and get back to you.

  First thought Pizza… from Costa Rica to New Orleans. I have tasted some of the best.

  Consider this stumbled and tweeted.

  Cheers

  Jonathan

  ↵ Reply