Writing, Thinking, Walking

I thoroughly enjoy writing, but I have come to know that writing is hard work in a way that I have previously not known. When I am trying to write for fun and still write something well thought out, and additionally trying to live my life, I can get overwhelmed.

Going back through the archived Writing Excuses podcasts, I stumbled on the suggestion of one of the authors that taking a walk was how he cleared his mind and generated ideas.

This struck me as odd.

I have been making my mind work on the complications of writing my current story, have been thinking about principles of writing and how to do so. But I have not necessarily been allowing my mind to work on writing.

By "allowing my mind to work on writing," I mean that I have not given it downtime in which it can allow ideas to bounce around in a secondary space in my mind. Taking a walk sounded like a good idea.

I did not do it, because the sky grew overcast and flurries started falling, one by one. However, I feel that the free association is something that I could use.

While walking, I do not know if the author carried a pen and a notepad with. In my case, I believe I will. In case any stunning insight strikes.

The point here is that I have thought about how to write and have a sense of what the essential elements of fiction writing are. I have even written and seen these elements come together in some form.

While working on my second project, there is a time to plan and think through what is happening, who people are, and what I am going to do with the plot. There is also a time to let my mind wander in search of unrefined ideas that I can bring in and use.

Without a problem to solve, my mind will not be working on anything--hence the need for structure. But, with characters and a basic plot established, my mind has material to work with.

Part of what I need is time. Another part is variety of activity. Which is what I think the walk was supposed to accomplish.

Anyway, I guess I could better tend to this blog.

Perhaps I will make that one of my projects.