Writing for me is a relaxing activity. Thoughts constantly flow through my mind and putting them on paper brings order to my life. I love creating stories and characters. There’s a game I would play with my children that involved people-watching and telling what we thought their lives were like based on their appearance, essentially a character sketch. Mainly, I used this activity as a way to keep them occupied but now I do it to help brainstorm ideas for my writing.
The photo above shows the sunrise over the Mississippi River from West Memphis, Arkansas. I spent hours sitting on the banks watching the barges float by one after another. One could imagine Mark Twain daydreaming in the exact same way, only instead of barges pushing through the faint fog, he would see rafts and steamboats. The slow pace soothing and peaceful as the sun rises then burns it away.
Nature like this scene inspires me, not only to write but to clear my head so that I can create. By closing my eyes and using imagination, stories form more readily. It provides balance in my life. This balance fosters an environment for creativity. What inspires you to write? Do you have a favorite place to brainstorm?
