Since our blog's name is "Our running words" it was about the time to mention one of the writing techniques - or writing lifestyles, perhaps? - which many famous writers are known to love; writing while walking.
I mentioned it in one of the past posts already, but spending time outside really gives us a blast of inspiration and often we find new, captivating ideas there. Additionally, psychology found that standing position makes us feel better than alternatives. We don't even have to leave the house; if we're a huge homebody even pacing around the room can inspire us.
Henry David Thoreau, known for his work "Walden", put it beautifully into words: "Methinks that the moment my legs begin to move, my thoughts begin to flow.”
First, let's see the science behind the link between creativity and walking.
It has to do with brain's default mode network. We did mention it already in the past because of its importance for imagination, memory and daydreaming. Walking (especially at a comfortable pace) helps activate that network.
There was a study in 2014 which showed people who walked came up with more creative uses for objects than those who sat still.
"Stanford researchers found that walking boosts creative inspiration. They examined creativity levels of people while they walked versus while they sat. A person's creative output increased by an average of 60 percent when walking" - news.stanford.edu
So, which famous writers used walking for their writing?
CHARLES DICKENS famously walked up to 20 miles a day through London, often by night.
VIRGINIA WOOLF often wrote about the psychological landscapes uncovered through physical motion.
WILLIAM WORDSWORTH would spend significant amount of time exploring the outdoors.
And many other writers such as Haruki Murakami (who also runs) or Rebecca Solnit explore walking as a creative or philosophical act.
We also can't ignore the writer I already mentioned today for his famous quote - Henry David Thoreau.
So why does walking work so well for writers?
→ it helps with mental clarity and interrupts the loops of overthinking
→ it helps with descriptions of the world around us; all the textures, smells, sounds we can experience as we walk
→ it supports us on breaking off the writer's block
And the last but not least - how do we write while walking?
→ walk right before sitting down for your writing session
→dictate or record voice notes while walking
→ walk for ideas catching with your notes, note down everything you find fascinating or inspiring that you could use for later
→ unstructured walking - leave your phone at home, bring a paper notebook, and go out with no destination in mind; allow yourself to get lost and stop to write whenever you feel like it
→ walk-and-write loop: write, walk for a bit, write again, and walk again...
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