Walks and Writing

WorldPlanter · Jul 24, 2007

I'm just curious. I know I can't be the only one, but how many people here have to take walks, hikes, or go running regularly to maintain motivation as well as to allocate time for brain storming?

I find my best ideas come when I'm walking or running through a forest or on a mountain trail, especially when I'm away from other people.

What escapes do you guys find helpful to think about your writing?

WordGypsy · Jul 24, 2007

Me and the roomie are all about the late night drives. Sometimes we stop and look at eachother just knowing, and we're grabbing for the keys at 2am. We'll drive for an hour or 3 and work out plots, characters or just talk to get away from it for a moment. My car's not for driving, it's for getting me from one chapter to the next.

aadams73 · Jul 24, 2007

Yup, I get a lot of my best ideas while I'm walking my dog. We walk while it's still dark and the neighborhood is quiet.

CaroGirl · Jul 24, 2007

aadams73 said:
Yup, I get a lot of my best ideas while I'm walking my dog. We walk while it's still dark and the neighborhood is quiet.

Do you list your dog as co-author? It would be only fair. If I were him, I'd sue.

Harper K · Jul 24, 2007

I'm convinced that distance running and novel writing require the same mental stamina. When I tell people that I run between 20 and 30 miles a week, the responses of "ugh, why?" come from the same people who can't understand why I write long-form fiction. Why? Because I NEED to. I need to run AND to write. I get jittery when I haven't done either for too long. While there's a bit of mental and physical torture involved in both pursuits, the worse torture is not doing them at all. I know -- because I've tried to stay away.

(And 20 - 30 miles a week really isn't much compared to what habitual marathoners do. Sister of Satori probably logs about 50 miles a week. But she doesn't have time for any other hobbies. I used to enter races, but they were cutting into my novel-writing time.)

Besides running, I also walk with my dog several times a day. My morning walk with him gets my mind energized for my workday, and my evening walk with him (usually 30 - 35 minutes) gets me energized to do my fiction writing, which generally happens from about 9 - 11 PM.

Simon Woodhouse · Jul 24, 2007

I'm at the planning stage of a future project right now, and I find I come up with my best ideas when I'm sat at the computer with the equivalent of a blank piece of paper in front of me. Writing one idea down always leads me on to another and another. I don't seem to be able to brainstorm if I can't make notes.

aadams73 · Jul 24, 2007

CaroGirl said:
Do you list your dog as co-author? It would be only fair. If I were him, I'd sue.

She's quite happy with a nice bone to chew while I get down to the actual typing. And then she shows her appreciation afterwards by napping on my feet. It's a win-win situation for us both.

maestrowork · Jul 24, 2007

I take LONG drives. Really. Long. Drives.

scarletpeaches · Jul 24, 2007

To my house!

Danger Jane · Jul 24, 2007

I like to drive to the beach when I need to think. Running leaves me so exhausted that I basically have to will myself not to collapse for the next hour. But I like to drive.

Melanie Nilles · Jul 24, 2007

Yup, walking alone and driving. Always when I'm nowhere near the computer, but when I'm alone without any kids needing mommy. Quiet time. the lack of external stimuli allows the internal to kick in.

III · Jul 24, 2007

Yep. Bike riding at night, that's when the characters talk and the plotlines resolve themselves. Then I pedal home as fast as possible so I don't forget it all.

maestrowork · Jul 24, 2007

scarletpeaches said:
To my house!

I'd like to see how I can DRIVE all the way to your house. Even Google Maps says I have to "swim" part of the way.

WorldPlanter · Jul 24, 2007

satori said:
I'm convinced that distance running and novel writing require the same mental stamina. When I tell people that I run between 20 and 30 miles a week, the responses of "ugh, why?" come from the same people who can't understand why I write long-form fiction. Why? Because I NEED to. I need to run AND to write. I get jittery when I haven't done either for too long. While there's a bit of mental and physical torture involved in both pursuits, the worse torture is not doing them at all. I know -- because I've tried to stay away.

(And 20 - 30 miles a week really isn't much compared to what habitual marathoners do. Sister of Satori probably logs about 50 miles a week. But she doesn't have time for any other hobbies. I used to enter races, but they were cutting into my novel-writing time.)

Besides running, I also walk with my dog several times a day. My morning walk with him gets my mind energized for my workday, and my evening walk with him (usually 30 - 35 minutes) gets me energized to do my fiction writing, which generally happens from about 9 - 11 PM.

Yeah, I walk/run about 20-30 miles a week too, usually in 6-8 mile chunks. I used to do relay races, but don't have the time anymore, not to mention that I'm out of shape now that I'm working on video games. Crunch mode is finally over though so I'm down to a manageable 40 hours a week at last. At my previous job I worked 80-120 hours a week for months at a time. In the year 2006 I had a total of 11 days off. I'm never doing that again. Sorry, I'm getting off topic.

I also find it interesting that so many people cited driving as their escape. Driving is my second most common activity for sorting through thoughts and letting my mind run wild.

aadams73 · Jul 24, 2007

The shower is another fab place for plotting and coming up with good ideas.

Ab_Normal · Jul 24, 2007

Yet another reason to like using public transit for my commute -- I get to walk through the park every morning, and I usually arrive at work with some ideas to jot down. (Hrm, don't tell my manager, okay?)

Norma

hitchhiker · Jul 24, 2007

Usually cutting my grass and driving a company car on business give me the necessary time and solitude that I need.

III · Jul 24, 2007

aadams73 said:
The shower is another fab place for plotting and coming up with good ideas.

Just not in Nichola's shower. It gets too crowded.

maestrowork · Jul 24, 2007

III said:
Just not in Nichola's shower. It gets too crowded.

Get out. I drove ALL the way from here.

Jamesaritchie · Jul 24, 2007

Walks

I take a walk each day, usually three miles, but it's more to let my mind clear from the morning's writing session, than to brainstorm. I find it helps greatly.

I don't run. There's no place I want to get that fast. I hate running for distance.

pisqualie · Jul 24, 2007

I'm a runner as well and definitely do thinking on trails, but mostly its conversations with my husband that help me organize plots - but then I have to get the heck away from everyone else and write them out in a notebook - I can't think on a computer... funny, I guess. My number one place where ideas come to me? The shower!

johnzakour · Jul 24, 2007

I walk or hit and kick my punching bag or hit the showers to clear my mind so I write better.

CaroGirl · Jul 24, 2007

I love walking and hiking, but I don't do it every day. When I do, though, I often find my thoughts turning to my ms and I begin having conversations with my characters.

I can't afford to drive anywhere non-essential. The price of gas is prohibitive. Plus I'm very green these days and, as I'm sure you know, it's not easy being green.

Azraelsbane · Jul 24, 2007

I think I live in my fantasy world more than the real one. I daydream about plots, chars, etc while training, lying in bed, driving (probably not the safest), eating, sitting in a chair staring at a wall... you name it.

When I was little I'd sometimes freeze mid-movement while eating (fork halfway to my mouth), and stare into space thinking about something story oriented, or playing a scene in my mind. My parents would freak out something fierce and bang on the table or scream at me to snap me out of it.

And yes, I know I'm mental. :tongue

MidnightMuse · Jul 24, 2007

I only run when chased.

But walking on the beach motivates me greatly. As does walking in the woods, or working in the garage.

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