The words can flow easily when you
find your perfect writing spot whether it’s a recliner in the living room, an
office with a window or a gazebo in the back yard. Some writers have turned backyard
sheds in elaborate writing cottages, others use walk-in closets as the
cornerstone of their home office. Finding that one spot where you feel
comfortable and open is a terrific way to be productive.
Some writers feel most comfortable
in well-organized and quiet writing rooms, others seem to fare best when there’s
lots of noise and activity around. Each person is different and the only way to
tell what is best for you is when the words come. Sometimes though, even when
your regular place has been good to you there may be times when you have to
connect with your muse. Maybe you find yourself blocked and a change of scenery
will help.
Places where you can people-watch
can give a healthy jolt to your imagination. Casual cafes, friendly taverns, a
park or beach, or even the local shopping mall will let you watch interaction
and put your own words to everything you see, or maybe you’ll innocently
overhear a few snippets of conversation and play fill-in-the-blanks. These are
places where you can let your imagination free… but o try not to let the
strangers catch you gawking, lol.
Travel is another wonderful way to
put a spark into your writing. Anything from a cross country train ride to a
weekend getaway to a small out of the way motel will help jolt your muse awake.
Formal writing conferences provide you with lots of opportunities for seminars
and meeting other writers which may help fuel your writing energy, but most writers
don’t find a whole lot of writing time during the actual conference.
Professionally run writing retreats offer more personal writing time along with
food and other comforts but can be on the costly side. An inexpensive version
of a writing retreat is to offer to house-sit for a friend, even a day trip to
a new library can give you a fresh perspective.
Sometimes you might just need to
walk away from your computer altogether, or there are times you can bring along
a tablet or notebook on a hike, a ferry ride, a commuter bus to your nearest
city, r just a scenic stop on the highway. Don’t forget to give your mind a
break now and then and visit the gym, sing in the shower or just spend some
time watching the birds. When you feed your imagination and take the time to
meet up with your muse you’ll truly enjoy your writing even more.
Writing Exercise: Take a composition book and a couple of pens
to a comfortable people-watching spot. Pick out any two people and write a one
page story about their plans for the day; imagine what their plans are using
the way they are dressed, how they do or don’t interact with each other and
make up the story.
Writing prompt: Pick any three elements (for example, a
person, a setting, and an action) and write a sentence using all three
elements. Try to do this up to ten times using a different combination for
each.
Challenge
Assignment: Write a one page story about
an author and his/her favorite spot to write. Describe the setting and any
other elements that might affect the writing process.
