Revealing the Naked Travel Stories

Travel stories and travel writing to make you smile

Are you here because you like writing, travel or stories? If so I can help.

You like all three? Then it’s a match made in heaven.

But in the unlikely event you really want to see me naked you’re in for a disappointment.

While I never can resist an innuendo-laden blog headline, my aims are innocent. I just want to help us improve our writing and storytelling skills.

Writer Bares All to Make You Smile

To lead by example I’m going to share my travel writing and personal stories in a new series called Naked Travel Stories.

It’s slightly nerve-racking because I set up this blog to overcome a fear of having my writing read and being judged. An irrational fear because back then no one was even visiting my blog, let alone reading it.

But my blog has evolved and the changes aren’t just cosmetic. This month over 23,000 people visited my blog and many of you do read every word.

Get In the Hot Spot has grown from one woman facing her fears and insecurities into a thriving community of creative, adventurous writers, travellers and bloggers. For that I’m very grateful because together we make a seriously hot team.

If I Show You Mine Will You Show Me Yours?

Naked Travel Stories will continue our evolution from hesitant writers to confident storytellers. It’s modelled on that old childhood game – but without any rude bits.

I hope my Personal Writing Series will give you tips on the nuts and bolts of writing and that the Naked Travel Stories will inspire you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and share your own stories with us, either on your own blog or here.

I’m up for guest posts and I’d also love to host some travel writing and personal writing competitions to get us fired up because creativity and courage should be rewarded. A generous travel-minded sponsor would be great.

To get things started I’m going to share the story that inspired the name for my series. My inner critic is saying it’s not perfect, I should spend another 20 years editing and polishing it before I hit publish.

But together we’re learning to silence that little voice and ship our creative products so here goes.

Many thanks for joining me and reading my travel stories. I hope you enjoy them.

The Most Embarrassing Travel Story Ever

I’ll start with my most embarrassing travel story ever in which I accidentally bare all while travelling in Greece.

It’s coming here VERY soon so please stay tuned by email or RSS.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

30 Comments

  1. Suellen March 31, 2011 at 9:00 pm - Reply

    Annabel,
    You are too cheeky :)

    I love the idea of your Personal Writing Series. You write so well and are so engaging. I’d love to watch and learn (that sounds a little peeping Tomish), not sure I’m quite ready to reveal all just yet though.

    Looking forward to your embarrassing story.

    • Annabel Candy March 31, 2011 at 9:07 pm - Reply

      Hi Suellen, lol. Thanks for being the first to comment. It’s time for our fun injection. You’re welcome to peep in on us anytime. You don’t need to reveal all. Just a little bit is perfect to tease us and make us wish we knew more:)

  2. Alex Blackwell April 1, 2011 at 2:20 am - Reply

    I can’t wait to see it, er read it!

    Alex

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 9:55 am - Reply

      :) Alex, thank you. The way you shared your poem was wonderful – definitely bared your soul in that one:)

  3. I love travel, writing, and stories. I’m a writer with lots of stories that I share on my blog and can’t wait to read yours! I’m moving to Moldova in four days and at this moment I am waiting for the packers who are now 5 minutes late ;)

    Good luck with your Naked Travel Stories. I’m sure the series will be a success!

    Still no packers…

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 9:56 am - Reply

      Hi Miss Footloose, looks like we’re each other’s ideal readers:) I know Sonia @GutsyWriter loves you too. Moldova, oh dear, now I need to check Google Maps! Good luck with that move and look forward to sharing our adventures with each other!

  4. Steve C Thomas April 1, 2011 at 3:45 am - Reply

    It seems you are evolving again! Nothing wrong with that! I have certainly enjoyed watching the changes. Maybe I’ll write up an adventure of my own!

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 9:56 am - Reply

      Hi Steve, I hope so! There’s definitely no moss gathering here:)

  5. Sally Foley-Lewis April 1, 2011 at 6:20 am - Reply

    I don’t quite know where to look ;-)

    I really enjoy your writing, it’s a regular conversation that I look forward to regularly. Your writing inspires me to write… ‘the naked manager’ is a l–o–n–g long way off ;-)

    I see you have been mentioning that you/your focus/business evolving … this is a great thing that keeps things fresh!

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 9:59 am - Reply

      Hi Sally, the naked manager whooo hoooo. No need to bare all straight away, a little bit of ankle is a start! In fact I think there’s a lot to be learnt from the whole strip tease thing – the art is in the tease, not really baring all but baring some and making wanting people to see more!

      Thanks so much for being a lovely, loyal and luscious reader:)

  6. Linda ~ Journey Jottings April 1, 2011 at 8:40 am - Reply

    I’m definitely going to be showing you a bit of mine in the coming weeks LOL
    I’m adding a peppering of Travellers Tales to my blog focusing on some of my experiences on the road ~ I think its fun sharing personal stories so readers can get a little more intimate with you ;)
    Looking forward to get up close and personal Annabel :)

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 10:01 am - Reply

      Hi Linda, I look forward to seeing that! I agree, I think the personal stories can be fun for readers and allow us bloggers to be creative too:)

  7. Catherine White April 1, 2011 at 8:52 am - Reply

    Let the dance of the seven veils begin :-)

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 10:01 am - Reply

      Hi Catherine, love that. Thinking maybe 77 veils though;) Lol, thanks so much!

  8. GutsyWriter April 1, 2011 at 1:50 pm - Reply

    If I can write a naked story and get 23,000 hits like you, I’m in.
    As you said, I’m a huge fan of Miss Footloose and we’re speaking tomorrow before she leaves for Moldova. I still don’t know where that is, however, it reminds me of an old TV show, something like a Dynasty, where there was a beautiful rich (Princess) or ( Duchess) of Moldova. Am I making this up? I don’t think so. I have travel stories, but the only embarrassing one I can think of wasn’t about travel, but about a speech I made at my school when I was 13.

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 5:29 pm - Reply

      Hi there, it’s been a lucky month:) Any stories are fine!

  9. Emiel April 1, 2011 at 5:09 pm - Reply

    Hi Annabel!
    I am in! I love writing, stories and traveling. And I know how you felt when you talk about the fear of writing, being judged…getting naked :) I crossed that bridge in 2010 and now I am fully confident in sharing my travel stories. Mine are not so much about itineraries when traveling other countries, but I seem to develop more a writing style where I express the background of traveling. Serendipity, poverty, traditions, family travel, etc. Those were the subjects of my latest posts.

    So I would love to join you and share stories sitting around our digital fire!
    Emiel

    • Annabel Candy April 1, 2011 at 5:31 pm - Reply

      Hi Emiel, that’s fabulous. my face is glowing in the firelight;)

  10. Leanne Berry April 1, 2011 at 6:03 pm - Reply

    Hi Annabel

    Cant wait to hear your travel stories – I love writing, at the moment Im writing MYOB training manuals (very technical but I do enjoy the challenge) but hope to let my creative juices flow in the near future

    Enjoy your holiday in the UK – another place I absolutely love!!

    Leanne

    • Annabel Candy April 3, 2011 at 8:52 am - Reply

      Hi Leanne, good on you, getting the business stuff done first. I really should do that too but I’m just not happy unless I let loose with the creative stuff to:)

      Thanks so much for commenting. Yes, I’m off to my homeland (England) for first time in 5 yrs. Might be a few tales to tell, we’ll see:)

  11. Jane | Find All Answers April 4, 2011 at 12:40 am - Reply

    Hey Annabel,

    Seriously, can’t wait to read the stories. BTW, how did you take this picture? Naked? Just curious.

    Cheers,
    Jane.

    • Annabel Candy April 4, 2011 at 8:44 am - Reply

      Hi Jane, thanks for swinging by. Lol, maybe, maybe not;) You’d probably call it half-naked….

  12. Riley Harrison April 5, 2011 at 5:56 am - Reply

    Hey Annabel,
    Well here is my favorite story about a friend who is a writer (well known children’s book author ) being naked and embarrassed at the same time. She was at a nudist beach and being rather adventurous she took off her clothes and dove in. She came out a mile down the beach without a clue as to where she was or her clothes.
    Riley

    • Annabel Candy April 5, 2011 at 1:12 pm - Reply

      Hi Riley, lol, that’s a classic thank you:) Will share mine soon;)

  13. Penelope J. April 5, 2011 at 6:17 am - Reply

    Annabel, Sounds like a great plan. Congrats on increasing your audience to 23,000. Takes perseverance, good writing, and learning how to blog/about the blogging world plus that cheeky attitude that makes your posts so enjoyable.
    I have embarrassing travel stories galore though many happened years ago when I was in England working as PR for an independent airline and taking people on jaunts all over Europe and North Africa. Also, a few with my ex who was nuts and a couple that may be too embarrassing for publication.

    • Annabel Candy April 5, 2011 at 1:19 pm - Reply

      Hi Penelope, that’s 23,000 unique blog readers last month, NOT subscribers:) Sorry if I confused you. I know it will dip down again but there is real growth and I’m so happy about that.

      I so want to hear those stories. Nutty exes always make for good tales and the more embarassing the better;)

  14. Eddie Gear April 6, 2011 at 1:40 am - Reply

    To be honest with you, I did have a smile on my face as I read this article. It sure did get my attention. Lovely read.

    • Annabel Candy April 6, 2011 at 9:15 am - Reply

      Thanks Eddie, lovely to see you here again. I always love coming up with the headlines and titles:)

  15. Anna Stone April 7, 2011 at 8:42 am - Reply

    I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog. I’ve been looking for a good juicy one to follow for a while now. I was almost about to give up! Thank you for your juicy blog!

  16. Valerie Hamer February 24, 2012 at 10:28 am - Reply

    Great post and idea. My friend has a book blog with the word naked in the title. She gets to see which search terms brought people to her site, which is endlessly amusing!

    I’d love to stay in touch with you and maybe guest post. Getting over exposing yourself online is a worthwhile goal. :)

    Val

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