Shut Up & Write! Around the World: A Conversation with A Traveling Writer
Travel doesn’t have to mean leaving your writing behind. For many writers, staying consistent with their practice while on the move can be both a challenge and an adventure. In this interview, we sit down with Tom, a traveling writer who has managed to set aside time for writing while exploring new cities, countries, and cultures. From seasoned travelers to those just trying to keep their writing on track while balancing a busy schedule, this conversation shows how Shut Up & Write! can help writers stay connected, inspired, and accountable wherever they are.
Tom in front of the Parthenon in Athens, Greece
Hi Tom, could you introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Tom Damoth, and there’s a little town in northern Michigan called Gaylord that I call home. I will have been traveling for three years in February. I retired almost three years ago and decided to downsize. I travel with a backpack and a roller bag, and I have a small storage unit in the Grand Rapids area, but otherwise I've learned how to travel light. I typically stay a month or so in each city, peppering my travels with visits to family and friends along the way. I've made new friends all over the world, so there's no shortage of places to go.
Currently I’m in Saranda, Albania, which is right across from the island of Corfu, Greece. It's the second winter I've spent here. It's a resort town, and in winter there’s hardly anybody, mostly just locals around. There's a nice community of expats that I hang out with. It's great. It's not too cold, certainly not Michigan.
How did you find out about Shut Up & Write?
I believe the first writing event I went to was in Richmond, Virginia. The hardest thing about traveling is making friends, especially if I'm in a city for a month and I don't know anyone there.
I actually had been on Meetup for quite a while. I started noticing there was this Shut Up & Write! meeting for writers, and started going. I loved it and I loved the format. There's no pressure to talk out loud, read what you've written, or anything like that. It's just focused time to write. I really like that.
What role do Shut Up & Write! events play in helping you find community while traveling?
It's my go-to. Sometimes I've even decided to go to a city just because there was a Shut Up & Write! event there. Now it's one of the first things I do, I always check there’s an event before I go.
I was recently in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. They actually have two Shut Up & Write! events. I went to both of them, and it's just a great way to meet people and make connections. I've made a few friends, so that's been really nice.
What writing projects are you currently working on?
I focus on two things. I have a blog where I write short stories about my travels and the people I meet. The other thing I'm working on is a screenplay.
I've written my whole life. As a high school student, I was really interested in fiction. I was always dabbling with it throughout my life, but I never really focused on it. When I retired, I decided that I'm just going to work really hard on my writing. So a lot of what I've been doing the last three years is practicing and learning all about screenwriting.
What’s the best part about going to Shut Up & Write! events while traveling?
Definitely the camaraderie. I really love the format of Shut Up & Write!. I like that we introduce ourselves, talk about what we're going to do, our goals for the writing session, and then we sit down and write. It’s nice to share what I'm working on, what I've done, and so forth. I really like the format and how it fits together. I like that there's an opportunity to talk to other writers and see what project they're working on. Some of the more experienced writers will give other people advice if they ask for it, which is nice.
Sometimes I'll meet somebody that will actually take me on a tour around the city. At one of the events I went to, there was a writer who needed some help on a project, and so I helped out with that. You never know what you're going to run into, who might need a hand or who might be able to help you. It's a nice community for that.
In what ways do writing groups help you with your own writing?
It helps me with that discipline of sitting down and writing. I think, especially as a new writer, we're all trying to understand how to get words on a page. It seems so simple, just sit there and write, but it's easy to get lost in your thoughts. I also like that in Shut Up & Write!, if you do get stuck, people will start doodling or doing free association, so they're always making use of their time. They're developing the muscle and the discipline to sit down and write.
For me, it's really helped. It’s helped me get comfortable with just sitting down and writing. That's how you put words on a page. You just start with sitting down and doing it.
Tom’s experience shows just how powerful a supportive writing community can be, even when on the move. Whether it’s making new friends or finding inspiration in unexpected places, Shut Up & Write! can help writers stay connected and motivated wherever they are. Tom’s story is a reminder that writing doesn’t have to wait for the “perfect” moment. Sometimes all it takes is simply showing up.
You can follow along with Tom’s adventures by checking out his blog here: https://tomdamoth.com/
If you have a Shut Up & Write! journey you’re excited to share, email our team at questions@shutupwrite.com or use the #shutupandwrite hashtag on social media.
