What A Writer Needs, Part 4 – Adventures

The days of the writers toiling forever alone in a cold attic room have ended for most of us.  Being alone in endless solitude and often isolation is not enough.  To keep the fires of inspiration rolling, we seek adventures, romances, quests, and explorations.  In this age, we are blessed with myriad opportunities that range from extensive traveling to day journaling journeys.  We even have worlds at our finger tips to explore.

Here are a few examples:

1. Vacation–Have your cake and eat it too.  Go on a vacation and find at least three fascinating places or things that can be part of a story.

2. Day Trip–Go to a nearby location you've never been before and then record the details of the place, any particularly fascinating history, or interesting people associated at the place.  You might also meet people you might include in a story.

3. Experience Trip–White water rafting, lace making class, chocolate festival, going to a spa, etc.  are experiences that enliven the senses.   Here you are creating memories that your characters will later embrace as their own.

4. Reference Trip–Visit different libraries and take out books on interlibrary loan.  Visit art shows and museums.  Sometimes a novel can be found in the single viewing of a painting.

5. Virtual World Trip–Use your computer and visit some place you've never been.  Role play a game and make your character like one of your book characters and try them out.  A test drive as it were.

Adventures enliven and awaken parts of us we didn't know existed.  And we bring all of this wonder into the tales we weave.   Enjoy, explore, and let us know how you did.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

Filed under: Helping Other Writers, romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, What A Writer Needs