How Changing Your Environment Can Help Your Novel

Do you have a routine to your writing that’s feeling a bit stale? Sometimes all we need for a boost of writing inspiration is a change of scenery! Young Writers Program participant Brianna is with us today to share with us how switching up our routine—whether through travel or music—can benefit us as writers.

Picture this: You sit down at your desk for another day of writing. You click on the Google Doc (or grab that notebook) you’ve been working on/in diligently, and then it hits you: You have no clue what you are going to write.

If you’re like me, this has probably happened to you on more than one occasion. You don’t understand why—you always work in this place. What you see as comfort might just be what is causing your writer’s block.  

Sometimes all you need to do is change the environment you’ve been writing in. Going to a new place can help spark creativity. That single mother balancing a toddler on her hip could become inspiration for the daring mechanic repairing space ships to provide for her children. The charismatic librarian might find herself as the hero’s devoted mentor in a sci-fi story. 

Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the environments that we write in and the people we interact with. When I sat down at my laptop for the first day of NaNo last year, I was full of great ideas. I knew just where I wanted my story to go, but by day 15, I was lost. Turns out, all I needed was a small environment change and I was back to my usual writer self. Here are some ideas for how you can beat writer’s block with a few simple changes. 

1. Music

One of my favorite resources for inspiration is Spotify. I’ve created playlists for the books I’m working on and the places that I listen to music the most: I have a dance playlist for when I’m stretching, playlists broken up by genre, and of course a writing playlist with chill music. Now, you may be wondering how music has anything to do with environment. Music creates an environment in itself. We recognize generations by the music we listened to and certain songs bring back memories.

Try listening to a new playlist and write a short piece based off of the tone, genre, and message the song is sending. 

2. The Library

I volunteer at my local library by checking the books in and out and shelving returned titles, but when I’m not busy, it’s a great place to write. Sometimes I’ll just sit at the desk and describe the patrons that walk in and out. I also like to watch body language and the way people talk to one another. A fun challenge can be to go into your local library (if it’s currently open) and just listen to conversations. Not in a creepy, eavesdropping way! It doesn’t have to be a library either. Going into different stores and cafes can help get the creative juices flowing.  

3. Travel

Many authors travel to new places searching for inspiration. Writing in a new environment such as the beach or school can help defeat writer’s block and spark new ideas. Try visiting a new place and see the writing that could be born. 

If you can’t travel to a new place right now, try taking a trip to a different spot in your home. If you usually write at your desk, try writing at the kitchen table, in bed, or on the sofa. You could even try writing somewhere you normally wouldn’t sit, like on the stairs or in your dog’s bed. Do these new perspectives or locations inspire you to write something you normally wouldn’t think of?

Environments can play a huge part in writing and sometimes all a writer needs is a new place to spark creativity. I hope you enjoyed these tips and remember to write!

Brianna is a high school student with a passion for all things reading, writing, blogging, and Marvel. She enjoys reading anything from John Green to Sarah J. Maas, and aspires to one day publish a contemporary YA book. Brianna is the host of Brianna’s Books and Randomness, a blog where she reviews books, talks about writing, and discusses why Loki should be an Avenger.

Top photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash