Refreshing the Wells

I’m starting a series here today I’m going to call ‘Refreshing the Wells’.

 

The writer Thornton Wilder coined this phrase to describe the trip to the desert he took, wanting to escape attention and ‘refresh the wells’ of his creativity.

 

I love the term, and think it perfectly describes something I’ve been seeking words for. We write; outpour; disgorge, on a daily basis, but how do we refill our creativity? How do we refresh the wells?

 

I try to read something new every day. Or watch, or listen, or observe in some way.

 

So I’m going to post each day what I’m using to refresh my wells of inspiration.

 

I’d love to hear from others, too. If you post in the comments, I’ll post your source of refreshment the next day.

Today:

The Smithsonian Magazine, July 09. This carries the article about Thornton Wilder as well as a story about the terracotta soldiers.