What a place to camp-among the mountains! Must be refreshing to be out of the city with foot following foot along your own path.
This is an interesting topic: walking helps me with writing-in nature mostly and where it’s familiar so I don’t have to focus too much on where I’m going. I’m free to look around and sometimes challenge myself…for example, ‘ How would you describe the way the light fell on those blackberries?’ Those thoughts - playing with words - occupy my mind for a few blocks.
Also love watching human interactions and how people do simple movements that speak so loudly. I try to remember those and write about them later.
There's an old Latin phrase: "Solvitur Ambulando" - meaning that it will be solved by walking. It was originally meant metaphorically as in walking = exploring, but I find that it works quite literally. You pump more blood and oxygen through your body and brain. You disconnect from the problem on the screen / page in front of you but your subconscious keeps working on it. It's kind of like the old disco dancing motto: Free your behind and your mind will follow :) cheers DG
Walking works for me too. I take my dogs out for two or three walks a day and I find it not only gets me away from the computer, it frees my mind to explore ideas. The fresh air helps as well. Too much indoor time is not good. I just finished Put One On The Moon and loved it by the way!!
Yes, I think you’re on to something big here. These repetitive activities you describe can leave the mind relatively free to do something else. And they don’t necessarily need to be exercise or outside. Long-distance driving is a good example, although I suppose there we still need to stay focused on driving for safety reasons.
I’ve been lap swimming this year and that’s a good one: no mind required to do laps, free to float away (so to speak) to somewhere else. It’s also aided, I think, by the muffling sounds of water and the sense of solitude.
You didn’t mention cycling, but that’s another great mindless solo activity.
Exercise-based activities require a certain level of fitness to do comfortably and mindlessly, but once that’s achieved they can feel effortless, particularly when the mind is elsewhere.
One risk with many of these is that we might end up writing about nature or something, descriptive stuff that’s ultimately kind of boring. We still have to go a level deeper, into the imagination, back to earlier ideas, but revisited now in a different context.
Yes, above, Shirley speaks to being inspired by nature, and the natural world speaks to creating... But I know that my own goal is to absorb nature on some level, but to wrestle or play with the work at hand. The senses becoming more open and aware make not so much for "nature" as for gleaning details of my story world, indoors or out, emotional or physical.
Your thoughts on the muffling effect of water, the greater solitude, of swimming--that resonates.
I'm currently sitting in the airport of Las Vegas, after a 24 hour visit here, and seeing Dead & Co.... and the ONSLAUGHT of banal noise in this place is dehumanizing. We need that silence or state-of-muffled!
There's something about stepping out of our in-doors to connect, yet to guard that state for creating.
Good show? I was never much of a Grateful Dead fan, but after recently watching Long Strange Trip (2017), currently on Prime Video (6 parts, 4 hours total), I’m in the process of changing my mind. Terrific documentary, with lots of great archive footage of performances from the 60s through the 90s. Shows not only how the band changed, but how the U.S. changed during that time.
I like how I’m now at a point in life where I can begin to re-evaluate everything I used to like or dislike or be indifferent to. Wrong about that? Well then, what about this? Etc.
I feel as if I missed something. My musician spouse was not only NOT a fan, but had some strong opinions about them... and after starting to listen and spend time--yes--I can't think why. I wish I could ask him! The whole concept of a jam band is fun and truly what music is about... and he would have agreed with that, if it was jazz! So... hmmm.
Good to be able to hear anew and ask those questions.
YES! It was a good evening. I loathe Las Vegas--really doubt I'll have some shift on that one!--but they played in a new venue called The Sphere, and it was quite perfect for this show. They played with visuals, including starting out on the street in San Francisco with the "Dead house," where they started out, then panning away, to come full circle visually in the end, returning to, with a voice over of an old newscast--one with a tone of "alerting the citizens of this disruptive force in music" - ha!
The crowd was a REAL mix in ages, which was good to see. Not just ageing Dead Heads, but a whole new younger group. Lots of enjoyment. Lots of people just happy to be there, with others. That's a good thing.
We'll have to check out that series. Thank you for that!
We watched this last night, and thoroughly enjoyed. What stood out, too, was Weir's sense of Call to music--that's really been the core of his life. Nice to see real gratitude for what life has brought him, alongside awareness of the personal cost. Humility, and a man who makes no excuses. It was a well-done doc. Loved the footage of diving!
I really liked the scene where Weir is giving his family a tour of the now-gentrified house where the Dead all lived together. “Here’s Jerry’s room.” Flash of photo showing what it looked like then. “And here’s the room I shared with Neal Cassady.” Of course, the daughters don’t really know who any of these historical figures were.
Every few months I find myself itching to travel long distance, away from the city and people. Those few days on the road or in nature are the most productive days for my writing as they make me feel fully connected with myself and my characters. This post just reminded me of the value in that! (And I love puzzles too; ironically I feel the most frustration and relaxation when doing puzzles!)
Very excited about this topic as I am about to go on a four day hiking trip in Wyoming (Bridger-Teton) and I'm 60 pages into my WIP, starting in March and kinda stopping around Memorial Day because summer is busy. I am looking forward to the head clearing space and wanted to reread some chapters and by current next few outlined chapters to get my head in the zone.
Heather! If you want and/or have time, might you consider sharing what comes of this? Maybe a Q&A exchange? I'd love to know how and if you prepare, and what comes of it. No pressure though--let it happen, and don't think about this request until you return... and of course "no" is always an option! :) I do hope though (whether or not you share with us!) that this is indeed a real time of clearing and energizing for you! Cheers--
Yes I would love to share! I have been meaning to write about my experience last year which was more about overcoming fears. This year I'm confident in my process (like you said with your rhythm and humming) so I'm hopeful I can let my mind wander into my story, or a new one!
I could go on about this at length - rambling in both senses of the word, maybe! But yes, absolutely. Nietzsche said, "It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth." But there are lots of mundane activities that help the creative process.
I literally write while walking. As I've said before, I write with dictation software, so as I wander along the beach or through the forest, I'm muttering away to myself, writing essays. Non-fiction, though. I've never tried working on a novel this way.
I write while kayaking. I write while driving. I write, to my wife's delight, while doing the dishes or the vacuuming. I've gotten so used to this that it's almost hard now to sit behind a desk.
And so interesting that this is the point it's reached--being hard to sit. Active writing.
When I read your essays, even as you weave in multiple layers, they leave me with a sense of being stilled--left with a thought to hold and turn over and examine. So to know that was borne of movement is a bit of wonder!
I loved this piece and had to read it in bits and think and go back and read over again. The interplay between hike and write. Being outside, in general and finding the quiet is when ideas flow. This resonates with me and definitely starts adventures on the page.
What a place to camp-among the mountains! Must be refreshing to be out of the city with foot following foot along your own path.
This is an interesting topic: walking helps me with writing-in nature mostly and where it’s familiar so I don’t have to focus too much on where I’m going. I’m free to look around and sometimes challenge myself…for example, ‘ How would you describe the way the light fell on those blackberries?’ Those thoughts - playing with words - occupy my mind for a few blocks.
Also love watching human interactions and how people do simple movements that speak so loudly. I try to remember those and write about them later.
Happy camping days!
Yes--to walk familiar terrain, and be able to see around while moving--a luxury!
There's an old Latin phrase: "Solvitur Ambulando" - meaning that it will be solved by walking. It was originally meant metaphorically as in walking = exploring, but I find that it works quite literally. You pump more blood and oxygen through your body and brain. You disconnect from the problem on the screen / page in front of you but your subconscious keeps working on it. It's kind of like the old disco dancing motto: Free your behind and your mind will follow :) cheers DG
Ha!! Love that! The caboose, the engine, and all in between gets moving! Writing is just another part of life, and works the same...
Thank you, David--
Walking works for me too. I take my dogs out for two or three walks a day and I find it not only gets me away from the computer, it frees my mind to explore ideas. The fresh air helps as well. Too much indoor time is not good. I just finished Put One On The Moon and loved it by the way!!
Oh! So glad you enjoyed, Darlene--thank you!
Yes, the air change alone is worthwhile.
Yes, I think you’re on to something big here. These repetitive activities you describe can leave the mind relatively free to do something else. And they don’t necessarily need to be exercise or outside. Long-distance driving is a good example, although I suppose there we still need to stay focused on driving for safety reasons.
I’ve been lap swimming this year and that’s a good one: no mind required to do laps, free to float away (so to speak) to somewhere else. It’s also aided, I think, by the muffling sounds of water and the sense of solitude.
You didn’t mention cycling, but that’s another great mindless solo activity.
Exercise-based activities require a certain level of fitness to do comfortably and mindlessly, but once that’s achieved they can feel effortless, particularly when the mind is elsewhere.
One risk with many of these is that we might end up writing about nature or something, descriptive stuff that’s ultimately kind of boring. We still have to go a level deeper, into the imagination, back to earlier ideas, but revisited now in a different context.
Yes, above, Shirley speaks to being inspired by nature, and the natural world speaks to creating... But I know that my own goal is to absorb nature on some level, but to wrestle or play with the work at hand. The senses becoming more open and aware make not so much for "nature" as for gleaning details of my story world, indoors or out, emotional or physical.
Your thoughts on the muffling effect of water, the greater solitude, of swimming--that resonates.
I'm currently sitting in the airport of Las Vegas, after a 24 hour visit here, and seeing Dead & Co.... and the ONSLAUGHT of banal noise in this place is dehumanizing. We need that silence or state-of-muffled!
There's something about stepping out of our in-doors to connect, yet to guard that state for creating.
Thanks, Frank!
Good show? I was never much of a Grateful Dead fan, but after recently watching Long Strange Trip (2017), currently on Prime Video (6 parts, 4 hours total), I’m in the process of changing my mind. Terrific documentary, with lots of great archive footage of performances from the 60s through the 90s. Shows not only how the band changed, but how the U.S. changed during that time.
I like how I’m now at a point in life where I can begin to re-evaluate everything I used to like or dislike or be indifferent to. Wrong about that? Well then, what about this? Etc.
I feel as if I missed something. My musician spouse was not only NOT a fan, but had some strong opinions about them... and after starting to listen and spend time--yes--I can't think why. I wish I could ask him! The whole concept of a jam band is fun and truly what music is about... and he would have agreed with that, if it was jazz! So... hmmm.
Good to be able to hear anew and ask those questions.
YES! It was a good evening. I loathe Las Vegas--really doubt I'll have some shift on that one!--but they played in a new venue called The Sphere, and it was quite perfect for this show. They played with visuals, including starting out on the street in San Francisco with the "Dead house," where they started out, then panning away, to come full circle visually in the end, returning to, with a voice over of an old newscast--one with a tone of "alerting the citizens of this disruptive force in music" - ha!
The crowd was a REAL mix in ages, which was good to see. Not just ageing Dead Heads, but a whole new younger group. Lots of enjoyment. Lots of people just happy to be there, with others. That's a good thing.
We'll have to check out that series. Thank you for that!
And Netflix is streaming The Other One: The Long, Strange Trip of Bob Weir, a doc from 2014. Also quite interesting.
And also good to know! Thank you!
We watched this last night, and thoroughly enjoyed. What stood out, too, was Weir's sense of Call to music--that's really been the core of his life. Nice to see real gratitude for what life has brought him, alongside awareness of the personal cost. Humility, and a man who makes no excuses. It was a well-done doc. Loved the footage of diving!
I really liked the scene where Weir is giving his family a tour of the now-gentrified house where the Dead all lived together. “Here’s Jerry’s room.” Flash of photo showing what it looked like then. “And here’s the room I shared with Neal Cassady.” Of course, the daughters don’t really know who any of these historical figures were.
Every few months I find myself itching to travel long distance, away from the city and people. Those few days on the road or in nature are the most productive days for my writing as they make me feel fully connected with myself and my characters. This post just reminded me of the value in that! (And I love puzzles too; ironically I feel the most frustration and relaxation when doing puzzles!)
Here's to the useful co-existence of frustration with relaxation!
So much about writing seems to be capturing such co-existences!
Disconnecting to connect. I find airports and time on planes to be some liminal creating space. Yes to that itch!
Thanks, Njamba!
Very excited about this topic as I am about to go on a four day hiking trip in Wyoming (Bridger-Teton) and I'm 60 pages into my WIP, starting in March and kinda stopping around Memorial Day because summer is busy. I am looking forward to the head clearing space and wanted to reread some chapters and by current next few outlined chapters to get my head in the zone.
Heather! If you want and/or have time, might you consider sharing what comes of this? Maybe a Q&A exchange? I'd love to know how and if you prepare, and what comes of it. No pressure though--let it happen, and don't think about this request until you return... and of course "no" is always an option! :) I do hope though (whether or not you share with us!) that this is indeed a real time of clearing and energizing for you! Cheers--
Yes I would love to share! I have been meaning to write about my experience last year which was more about overcoming fears. This year I'm confident in my process (like you said with your rhythm and humming) so I'm hopeful I can let my mind wander into my story, or a new one!
Let me/us know when you do, whether it's a Q&A we can share here, or by way of sharing your newsletter... or both. I look forward to hearing!
Hi Alison! I finished my very challenging hike and would love to do a Q&A if you're interested still.
Oh good!! I'll prep some questions and then should be able to message you here, I believe.
Thank you!
Thank you! Excited to share
I could go on about this at length - rambling in both senses of the word, maybe! But yes, absolutely. Nietzsche said, "It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth." But there are lots of mundane activities that help the creative process.
I literally write while walking. As I've said before, I write with dictation software, so as I wander along the beach or through the forest, I'm muttering away to myself, writing essays. Non-fiction, though. I've never tried working on a novel this way.
I write while kayaking. I write while driving. I write, to my wife's delight, while doing the dishes or the vacuuming. I've gotten so used to this that it's almost hard now to sit behind a desk.
Great quote!
And so interesting that this is the point it's reached--being hard to sit. Active writing.
When I read your essays, even as you weave in multiple layers, they leave me with a sense of being stilled--left with a thought to hold and turn over and examine. So to know that was borne of movement is a bit of wonder!
I loved this piece and had to read it in bits and think and go back and read over again. The interplay between hike and write. Being outside, in general and finding the quiet is when ideas flow. This resonates with me and definitely starts adventures on the page.
Nature and peace--yes.
Thank you for reading and taking time to share your thoughts.
Have a very good weekend, with time for a walk perhaps!