on-writing-well

A Writer's Decisions 269
Besides explaining the genesis of the trip, that paragraph
does one other job: it establishes the writers personality and
voice. In travel writing you should never forget that you are the
guide. Its not enough just to take your readers on a trip; you
must take them on your trip. Make them identify with you—
with your hopes and apprehensions. This means giving them
some idea of who you are. The phrase "bright enough or dumb
enough" calls up a familiar figure in travel literature: the tourist
as a possible patsy or buffoon. Another throwaway phrase is the
line about beating the crowd. I put it in just to amuse myself.
Strictly, that fourth paragraph is too late to say where Timbuktu
is. But I couldn't find a way to mention it earlier without pulling
apart the fabric of the lead.
Here's paragraph five:
"It s your opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime
extravaganza—the annual Azalai Salt Caravan to Timbuktu!"
the brochure began. "Picture this: Hundreds of camels carrying
huge slabs of precious salt ('white gold' to the natives of
land-locked West Africa) make their triumphant entry into
Timbuktu, an ancient and mystical part desert/part city of
some 7,000 inhabitants. The colorful nomads who drive the
caravans have traveled 1,000 miles across the Sahara to celebrate
the end of their trek with outdoor feasts and traditional
tribal dances. Spend the night in a desert tent as guest of the
tribal chief."
That's a typical example of how a writer can get other people
to do helpful work for him—in their words, which are usually
more revealing than the writers words. In this case the brochure
not only tells the reader what kind of trip has been promised; its
language is an amusement in itself and a window into the
grandiosity of the promoters. Be on the watch for funny or self-