Inspiration comes from experiencing the world, not being reclusive
The image of a reclusive writer locked away in a little home office, pounding away at a keyboard while writing masterpiece after masterpiece is a very romantic image. And it is also a very cliched image. Writers have long been stereotyped as lonesome, reclusive, slightly unstable characters who don’t get out much.
That may have been true for a lot of famous writers in the past, but is it possible to be a reclusive writer in today’s uber-connected world? My guess is that it is probably not possible. More than that, however, I think to be a good writer, one needs to go out and experience the world.
I should clarify and say that I’m talking about writers of fiction (and maybe even poets – but they are an entirely different breed). Other writers, like those who write articles, by the very nature of their work, are forced out into the world to interact with it.
Yet when writing fiction, it is a very solitary activity. Most of the work goes on in the writer’s mind and then is ‘transcribed’ onto paper or screen. Not a whole lot of interaction is involved in the writing process itself. But that does not mean that a writer should stay locked up inside whether writing or not.
Get out and experience the world
I’m not saying you need to go climb Mt. Everest or go sky diving (although I’m sure those types of activities would be very inspiring). I’m talking about simple things like going for walks, going out with friends, or simply enjoying life. If you can afford it and have the time, travel is an excellent way to clear the cobwebs out of the mind. Traveling to different parts of the country, or the world, can be very inspiring.
If there is one thing I have learned over the years is that inspiration doesn’t come on-command. Inspiration comes when and where I least expect it. And inspiration never seems to come when I’m sitting at my desk, with red eyes, after a marathon writing session. No, it comes when I’m out of the house doing something. This is why I always advocate that writers carry around a little Moleskine Notebook
I have also found that long periods at home turn my brain into mush. As much as I love being home, I need to get out and do stuff, just to keep the mind fresh and the ideas flowing.
Do you think it’s important for a writer to get out and experience the world? Can a writer be reclusive in today’s world? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. I look forward to reading your answers.
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Nice post, Brad!
From this short fiction writer’s point of view, I agree totally with you about the need for inspiration.
I have found the following to work for me:
Dedicating regular periods in my La-Z-Boy recliner with my classical music washing over me like a sonic trip. I love other music forms, but classical provides the best mental pictures.
Meditation or deep-centered prayer in said La-Z-Boy.
Playing with my 4-year-old granddaughter.
Day trips to new locations and restaurants, just to people-watch.
Subscribing to Netflix to view some of the best in independent and foreign cinema, along with my subscription to The Independent Film Channel and Sundance Channel(it’s ALL about experiencing great screenwriting first-hand!)
And yes, whenever my wife gets one of her five vacation weeks off from her retail management job, we shoot out to the mountains of North Carolina or up to Wisconsin’s Door County for sensory rejuvenation.
Writer’s block is much too over-rated. It is a poor excuse for writers who try to go it alone, as if they themselves were the creators.
I say that training oneself to be a better “listener” to the “music of the spheres” that is constantly pouring out from our maker makes for the most inspired fiction writing.
And getting my regular recharging from the mighty Brad’s Reader blog goes a long way to make me inspired. Thank you for that, Brad!
Wayne C. Long
Writer/Editor/Internet Publisher
http://www.LongShortStories.com
Where the Short Story LIVES!
Hi Wayne!
Thank you for your comment and sharing your own way of becoming inspired. Music is also an integral part of what inspires me as well. I’ve been experimenting with meditation, but it’s too early to see what effect it will have on my writing.
Thanks again!
Brad