How long is too loooooong ?
 

I'm writing up a trip report on a recent visit to Peru, and I'm up to 5,000 words already - will people read something that comes in at say 7,000 words (that's about 10 pages of single spaced A4) ?

comments appreciated.
cheers

If it is a good read, many people would.

More importantly, put it -all- down, since you will be re-reading it yourself years down the road http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I agree, write the report as a souvenir for yourself. Being able to post it here is merely a nice side-effect...

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truly yours. airOli.

I find when I know that I’m going to write about a trip that I’m more “present”, and with my traveling antenna fully extended, I notice small, quirky things, making the trip a little richer. Somehow, while I won’t take the time to write in a journal, an audience is a nice push to sit down and put a trip down on paper.

I've enjoyed going back and looking at what I have written, although I cringe at some of my grammer.

Stewie Mac,

I'll be definaltely interested in reading your report, as I'm planning to do another trip to Peru (mainly outside of Lima) this fall and I'm looking for ideas for this journey.

Let me know, thanks

thanks for all input.

I am going to finish it (however long it ends up) - I was just wondering if I shoud post it or not http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I think that I will post a long and short version....

by the end of the week (nothing like a deadline to make you do things !)

I've posted reports where I kept a long journal probably three or four times. I post it in segments, separated by 18-36 hours, to assist readers in tackling long passages. Also adds suspense http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif!

Or you could divide it up into parts.

Part 1, Part 2, or outbound and then a return, etc. That way it kinda gives everyone a break, including yourself.

tvlfree,

Great minds think alike http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif.

Can you post a pdf?

I'm definitely interested in long (& short) reports.

agreed.

I always appreciate the details/pace/flavor of the actual place visited vrs. what was served for dinner on the plane!

My Asia trip reports.

- Pat

Write on, Stewie!

I've submitted a few reports that were pretty wordy about boring stuff like flying First Class around the US on domestic airlines compared to traveling around Peru. From the responses I got, at least a few people seemed to enjoy reading them. I've never submitted anything in parts, either. Somehow, people struggled through regardless! I'll look forward to your report however long it may be.

P.S. Most reports here would take up no more print than you'd find in your average pamphlet. The longer ones are usually no longer than your average short story, so really, I think it'd be kinda hard to make a report toooooo long http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by Seat 2A (edited 05-01-2003).]

My first MR/Trip report was nearly 4000 words long. I think I had as much fun writing it as actually doing it. Well, almost!

goodo

7,000 words? A recent report I wrote came to 16,786 words. Fear not, I shall not post any trip reports here, mainly because they are primarily intended for an audience whose interests are not those of the Flyertalk community.

johan

thanks to all for opinions - the report is taking shape here, and I hope that everyone enjoys it.

And I can only hope that it bears comparison with Seat 2A's....

Stewie

Same here.
I find it helps, when the report has paragraphs and some important words, places are highlighted. Some links would be nice too.
Travel Report
Corrected link

[This message has been edited by USAFAN (edited 05-01-2003).]

johan,

what do you mean?

willie

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Visit FlyerTalk Dining http://flyertalk.com/diningfr.shtml

Yes, please keep these long trip reports coming! I just love them, there are some absolutly excellent writers online here, better than most novels I read recently! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Can a trip report be too long?
 

I've just come back from Venezuela, staying as far from the beaten track as possible without having to make sacrifices with regards to usual comforts. Since I was travelling alone and badly needed a way of killing some time, I thought I'd do something useful and write a trip report on my PDA as I go along. It turned out more of a diary than a trip report: it details feelings and ideas along with the usual trip events and reviews of service providers....Total length is just under 15000 words, which is more than what I had to write for my dissertation! Can/should I post it, or will I get threatened by fellow FTers and inundated by e-mails from moderators wanting to ban me?
Thank you. :D

"too long" is subjective, and if it was 15,000 words i would read it... it would just take me longer to read than it did for you to write ;)

It is all a matter of personal taste. Personally I detest trip reports that go into too many details, I for one have no need to know the tail number of flights.

What makes or breaks a report for me is photos; it is a shame to see a 4 page report and have to settle for 2 or 3 crappy pictures.

But as I said, it is all a matter of personal taste.

Split them out by day, with multiple postings or replies to each of your own posts. I wrote some pretty lengthy reports in the past, and people have replied to them. One actually mentioned that he printed them out at his hotel room to read on his own plan trip!

- Pat

I've tried hard to ensure the details in mine aren't that annoying!

My report will disappoint you then. I purposefully don't do photos, as I want to have exclusivity on how I interpret what I see. :D

That's what I was planning to do, actually it's already split by flight/airport/hotel/place etc.


It's on its way...some minor tidying up left to do. :cool:

I asked a similar question a while ago - can't you use search ? ;) ;)

That report ended up coming in at about 12,500 words, also without pictures, and plenty of people read it.

I look forward to hearing about Venezuela - it's on my list of 'go-to's.

In my opinion...
 

Post it!

I definitely gobble up every word of trip reports, and often read them two or three times. Usually I print them up to read on the plane. If you haven't noticed I really like photos, too ;). If your TR is too long to read at once I'll split it up and read it over several days. My favorite authors are Carfield, CMK10, fgbdavidson and Seat 2A, plus whoever posts photos, especially of food!!

Also, remember that you are in a way writing this for yourself, to look back and enjoy many years from now. One of the great things about FT is the diversity of members and how they express themselves!

I'd say it doesn't really matter how long it presuming it is interesting! Having said that there was a Concorde trip report posted by Jetinder that was so long (and grammatically tough to read) I gave up on it pretty fast. I didn't need a dialogue of his conversation with the sales guy in Dixons...

I'd be very interested in your report since it likely to be rather unique!

Yes, Jetinder's was a toughy, which was a shame as I think he should have re-edited it down to 4-5,000 words with better spelling as it had some good parts...

I say post it, in sections within the same thread, every few days. I think the thread boxes only hold a certain amount of text anyway.

What was the name of that guy who posted to airliners.net on some Asian airline - Singapore I think - who kept saying everythnig was very "acceptable" or some such, and went to the nth degree of detail???

That little task should keep you out of trouble this afternoon mr fbg - ps could you check the vs forum as I have a question for you there....the devil makes work for idle hands....

Each person should publish the trip report that THEY want to publish. Since you are posting it on FT as opposed to trying to sell it, commercial interests are not a top priority.

I personally do not like piece meal trip reports if, for no other reason, many posters never get around to finishing the narrative.

When I wrtie a trip report, I treat it as though I am telling a story. It is not about providing practical information (although I try to add that when possible). I often don't get around the writing them until well after the fact and work on them offline. After a report is fully drafted and spell checked, I post it in its entirety, in smaller sections so people can a read a bit at a time (like chapters). I much prefer to get them all posted before someone makes a comment as, while very much appreciated, they break-up my flow if they come mid narrative (as such, I try to post reports late at night when there are fewer users). I don't include pcitures as I don't take photos on the planes, but if the new insert your photo into the report feature lasts, I may give that a try next time.

I am currently working on one master report covering all 20 flight segments and hotel stays on an Around the World ticket I did last year. I am about 2/3 of the way done, and it is already 150 pages. I am hoping to have it posted by the end of the summer.

Y'know I hadn't really thought about this, the recent trip report I wrote is now up to 14,000 words with 3 flights (MEL-LAX on QF F, LAX-SEA and SEA-DCA on AS F) and 1 hotel to go!

I probably owe an apology to some folks, or at least there are a whole bunch of FTers that have chosen not to read it!

I'm also up to 98 pictures in the trip report as well. :eek:

150 pages?? Ryan that sounds like a travel novel! I am looking forward to reading it, though. I second what people have said about breaking it down into chapters. A lot of times I'm writing reports months or years after I've traveled and can't even remember many things. For my ongoing Japan trip I've tried a different tack-- writing up each day that evening so that I can remember more things!

P.S. Does anyone have any feedback on the TR format used on my website with a column of text and a column of highlighted pictures with more linked pictures in the text? Do people actually look at the linked pictures?

Let the Fters decide if the report is too long or not.
As for myself, I shall read it and if I fall asleep in the middle, well, I won't read the 12000 words but if it is as good as Seat 2A reports, then, yes, I'll relish every single word. :)

I just read your report. It is refreshing and entertaining. It isn't the lenght, it is the content. Please continue to follow in the footsteps of the great "2A" and provide us with your insightful comments.

One question: How can you travel to Venezuela with just a Greek ID card?

I think I am going to go ahead and merge the two threads and make the combined entity a sticky topic since it comes up periodically.

Thanks
Sean (B747-437B)
Moderator
Trip Reports

Thanks!
I didn't use my ID card to/from Venezuela- I had a passport for that. I only use the ID card (and nothing else) within Europe! :cool:

It was too long and badly written :( Shame as the guy had loads of enthusiasm and took him over a year to write!

Singapore_Air. This is the report in question...sanitary towel abosorbency test and all :eek:

I went to LYS in Feb (MEL-LAX-JFK-FRA-LYS-FRA-JNB-SYD-MEL) for a college friend's wedding. I made a trip report (7000+ words) and posted it to a yahoo group that another college friend set up, so everyone could keep in touch. I posted it in parts, so everyone gave feedback and could read it at their own pace. Personally, I'd read a trip report if the topic sounds interesting, no matter how long it is.

goodo

I don't think a trip report can be too long but I do try to break mine up into sections even if I post all at once. I use bolding and italics to help readers find pertinent information. Some people want the juicy details others just want to know how the in flight service was so I try to make the relevant information easy to find. I am very excited that trip reports now have images enabled because I am a picture lover and take lots of photos and sometimes a photo describes things soo much better than I ever could.