Writing seems a lot less fun and more like a chore when you realize how much of it involves sitting in a chair and staring at a blank screen. Luckily, I’m here to tell you that a lot of my best writing happens when I’m not in front of that screen. It happens in the shower, doing dishes, and—my favorite—when I’m out on a walk. Something about getting my body moving really helps my creativity come out and has gotten me out of countless funks.
I have taken hundreds of these “writing walks” and am able to share some tips and tricks when it comes to taking some of your own. Here’s how to walk and write at the same time.
Make a Playlist
I have discussed the importance of music in the creative process several times before on the blog. I really can’t express how much of an impact music has while I’m writing a book. It helps so much to get me into the headspace of a certain character, mood, or scene. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be musically inclined, I recommend you at least try making a playlist for your story. You may be surprised by how much it helps.
To make a playlist for your story, just spend some time listening to music that you like, and keep an ear out for music that feels like your book. It may remind you of a certain character, or seem like it should be in the background of a certain scene like a soundtrack in a film.
If you’re like me, you already have a huge playlist of your favorite music. But don’t worry if you don’t! If you find yourself running low on music to listen to, Spotify has a feature called “Discover Weekly” that will suggest a new bunch of songs each week based on your preferences. I have found plenty of songs for playlists listening to Discover Weekly. Once you have at least one playlist that covers a half hour or so of playtime, you can move on to the next step.
Be Sure You Have Everything
I can’t count the number of times I have left for a writing walk only to realize I forgot my headphones. Or worse, my keys or phone. The writerly state of mind is fragile, and forgetting something essential is likely to knock you right out of it.
So before you head off on your writing walk, do a mental checklist. Phone, check. Keys, check. Headphones, check. Make sure to check the weather so you know that you are dressed appropriately and have an umbrella if need be. It may seem a little boring or obvious to make sure you have these items, but it’s important to leave your mind free for creativity.
Let Your Mind Drift
Now you have left the house with your playlist blaring through your headphones. You may feel like you should be thinking hard about your story. But it’s actually best to let your story come to you. Instead of trying to force ideas for your book, you should just enjoy the music and the sunshine on your skin.
Let your mind drift to whatever seems interesting to you in the moment. Perhaps it’s a couple you see walking by—what are they talking about? Or maybe you’ll see a stray cat and wonder where it came from, what its life might be like.
You may feel like you’re wasting time letting your mind drift like this. But you’ll be surprised by how often your brain will make its way back around to your story without you expecting it. Maybe that couple will remind you of your protagonist and her love interest, or you’ll have the idea to include a cat like that stray in your book.
Shoot for Half an Hour
When I go on writing walks, it usually takes a little bit for my creativity to get going. If I were to stop after just 10 or 15 minutes, I doubt I would have any ideas at all. I know in our chronically distracted culture, it can be hard to take 30 minutes of merely walking and listening to music.
But I encourage you to try. If no ideas seem to be coming to mind, focus on the music and the memories you associate with it. Notice flowers and trees, maybe a nice-looking building that catches your eye. Give your imagination enough time to get going.
Snap Photos
When you see sights that get your creativity running, it’s good to snap a picture. Even if you don’t know how it might relate to your story now, take a photo of that beautiful tree or that creepy-looking house.
It’s possible that these photos won’t help you with your book. But they might help to spawn future ideas. Sometimes I’ve gone on a writerly walk to work on one story and ended up spending the whole time coming up with an entirely different one.
On one such walk, I snapped a photo of a gorgeous building I couldn’t figure out the purpose of, and that photo grew into my idea for Vita and the Monsters of Moorhouse. Another picture of a corrugated metal tunnel, along with a Django Reinhardt song, helped to inspire a different project.
Keep Your Expectations Low
One of the most important parts of a successful writing walk is to keep your expectations low. If you expect to come up with the perfect idea to fix your story on the walk, you probably won’t.
Instead, just think of the walk as a welcome break where you get to get out of the house and listen to some nice music. Leave yourself open to new ideas, but don’t force them. If you just listen to the music and get your body moving, you’ll be surprised how effortlessly ideas bubble to the surface.
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