The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 19

January 26, 2021 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 5 Features Do this, not that — planning for your next road trip That time I… Self-published my first book PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY M. RINKA Take this time to plan for your next road trip when the option to travel for fun is safer and smarter. The last Tuesday in January marks National Plan For A Vacation Day, and while taking a cross-country trip just for fun might not be an option during a pandemic, there’s nothing wrong with planning a road trip now and implementing it later. Whether you’re an experienced traveler or you’ve never taken a trip beyond the county lines, here are some simple dos and don’ts to help get the ball — or wheels — rolling on your next road trip. Do: Know your car If you’re planning a road trip, there’s one element that’s inarguably crucial: having a mode of transportation. Whether you have a car, van or camper, getting your vehicle looked at by a mechanic before heading out might help you avoid a middle-of-nowhere call to AAA. Do: Budget ahead of time Road trips might be a cost-effective and fun way to reach a destination, but it’s easy to end up spending more than anticipated. Write down all of your expected costs for hotels, campsites, site-seeing and gas before you leave to ensure you have the funds ready. Additionally, if you’re planning on using a debit or credit card, consider checking in with your bank before you depart to avoid your card getting flagged. Do: Pack snacks To continue with the theme of budgeting, food can be expensive if you’re trying to buy it all while on the trip. Packing snacks or quick and easy meals like sandwiches, wraps or protein bars can help you avoid spending money on fast food. Flor Ana Mireles is a senior communication major with minors in English and marketing. She is also the copy editor and social media manager for The Current, and now, also an author and published poet. On Jan. 2, my first book, “Perspective (and other poems),” finally became available for purchase after having worked on it for about two years. I was overjoyed to know that something I had worked so hard on -- even hiring an illustrator -- was finally out in the world for others to enjoy. Given the publishing industry is hard to get into, I decided to self- publish my book via Kindle Direct Publishing by Amazon (KDP). “Perspective (and other poems)” is a collection of poetry I began writing as I transcended adolescence. The poems focus on finding yourself, connecting with nature and opening your eyes to many different perspectives. It was something I’d given much thought to share with the world and knew it was something I had to do. When I knew I wanted to publish a book, I looked on Fiverr for an illustrator and virtually met a young woman named Naomi who illustrated many poems in the book. When I hired her for the job, I told her to have complete creative freedom in interpreting the poems however she seemed fit, which is something I believe everyone should take into consideration when working on creative projects. As the finish line drew closer, I reached out to Naomi again to illustrate more poems. Given she lives in Romania, we struggled at times to talk because of the different time zones, but we made it work. Deciding to self-publish was not my first option, but it was the best choice to make. When I thought I had finished “Perspective (and other poems)” -- little did I know I Do not: Entirely wing it While having a spontaneous adventure can be fun, you might be able to avoid some unnecessary stress by planning an outline of your trip ahead of time. Some things, like certain hotels, campsites or attractions, might require advanced registration or reservations. If you have a goal other than just driving and seeing where the road takes you — and there’s nothing wrong with that — do a little research ahead of time to limit stress while on the road. Do not: Go past your limits Driving is a pretty unavoidable part of a road trip (unless you’re strictly a passenger), and while it might be tempting to try to push yourself to get to a destination, try to be realistic. Stay on the safe side and adjust your plans as necessary — it’s not worth it to push yourself and risk the dangers of fatigued or distracted driving. Do not: Drive straight through This may be a personal suggestion, but part of the fun of a road trip is the sense of adventure and seeing new places. If you’re driving along and spot a sign for something you’re interested in, if it’s realistic to stop, do so. Especially when you’re driving long distances, making little pit stops along the way might end up being some of your favorite parts of the trip. Planning is important, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the ride. still had lots of editing and rewriting to do -- I submitted it to publishing companies, but never heard back. After a year of waiting and COVID-19 keeping me home with more free time, I decided to self-publish the book instead -- and it’s a decision I plan to make again when I finish my second book, which I have begun writing. When I began the self-publishing process with KDP, I liked that they gave the author a lot of previews before the book was officially published. Given I am an editor, I was the one editing my own book, which made the process more affordable, too. I did have some professors look over some pieces for feedback, which is always a good thing to have, especially when you’re not publishing with a team at a publishing company. Before “Perspective (and other poems)” was officially published, I went through five different proof copies, fixing design elements and editing, removing and adding poems. I loved that KDP gives its authors the option to publish ebooks as well as physical books. When it came to the book cover and back cover, given my own digital design and Photoshop abilities, I did it myself, too. With the exception of the illustrations, I did everything for my book, and seeing it now being purchased and read makes me feel blessed and grateful. I know had I not decided to self-publish, my book would not be out right now, and for that, I am grateful for KDP giving up and coming authors a chance to self-publish. As I work on my second book, I know I will once more turn to self-publishing, even if that means I need to do most of the work myself. In fact, I think I like it better that way -- it gives me the creative freedom to make my books however I want. “Perspective (and other poems)” is now By: Madelyn Rinka Co-Editor-in-Chief PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY F. MIRELES Book orders can be made on Amazon available on Amazon, and if you enjoy reading poetry, I encourage you to give it a read. It’s available in paperback as well as ebook -- and I thank those in advance who decide to read it. By: Flor Ana Mireles Copy Editor