I've paced around (annoying my parents) since I was three years old. Going hand in hand with that, I've been writing stories and have wanted to be a writer ever since I was three, as well. Everyone always tells me to calm down, but I am at my calmest when walking.
I was delighted when I found this as a topic at Helium, I was delighted to know I'm not the only one. For me walking burns my physical energy or mental angst and helps me relax. The stress melts away, and when I'm not pushing myself and I don't feel pushed by anyone else, then my mind starts coming up with great story ideas, and I get to day dream.
While every writer needs to have discipline, I don't think creativity can be forced. Biking and running might be better exercises, but then you have to be focused on what you're doing because of all the energy being used up. Walking is easy, relaxing, and while your mind is resting you'll find that the creative work starts itself.
For me, writing is both a joy and work. It's a joy because I love to write, no matter what form it is, and it's work because mentally writing can be draining and exhausting, especially when you're racking your brain for new ideas or trying to get through that one part of the story (or poem or article) that you know just isn't quite working out.
Walking goes hand in hand with writing for me because it's during my walks that I get to relax, to feel like I'm taking time off for myself, and yet when my mind and body are relaxed from a good long walk (or a nice hike if there's a trail near by) these are the times I get my best story ideas, that elusive title for my novel, those structures for my technical articles.
For me walking and writing go hand in hand, and I think a lot of other writers are the same way. We need our times of reflection, our times of solitude, and sometimes we just need to get out of the apartment, the office, or the house and get some fresh air and sunlight. Thanks to the walks, we get all three.
I don't care if I live to be ninety, as long as I'm writing, you can bet I'll be taking my walks, too.
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