Yes, where our stories come from is endlessly fascinating. How much of it is a melding of other stories we've loved, and how much do we draw on direct experience? I developed a meditation/visualisation on this subject that I do sometimes before I sit at my desk to help get my writing flowing. I'll describe it in a future post in case it's of help to anyone else. But yes, of all direct experiences, I think travel is invaluable. It can open your senses and alter your perspective, sometimes in radical ways. It sounds like you've had some fantastic adventures of your own - perhaps that helps explain how you're so prolific in your storytelling. The Madrid experience sounds particularly eye-opening! Thanks for your comments - I'll look forward to exploring this topic with you again...
This was compelling reading; thank you. It makes me wonder if I 'need' to travel somewhere astonishing in order to get the inspiration to write better... I think most of my inspiration comes from other books, games and movies, and everyday life. Then again, I went to some awesome places when I was younger, too (all on short term Christian mission trips...): camping in the Mozambican 'bush', working in the drug slums of Madrid, and white water rafting on the Nile would top my list. Oh to live in the countryside and not in a city, though. The natural world is where it's at!
Yes, where our stories come from is endlessly fascinating. How much of it is a melding of other stories we've loved, and how much do we draw on direct experience? I developed a meditation/visualisation on this subject that I do sometimes before I sit at my desk to help get my writing flowing. I'll describe it in a future post in case it's of help to anyone else. But yes, of all direct experiences, I think travel is invaluable. It can open your senses and alter your perspective, sometimes in radical ways. It sounds like you've had some fantastic adventures of your own - perhaps that helps explain how you're so prolific in your storytelling. The Madrid experience sounds particularly eye-opening! Thanks for your comments - I'll look forward to exploring this topic with you again...
This was compelling reading; thank you. It makes me wonder if I 'need' to travel somewhere astonishing in order to get the inspiration to write better... I think most of my inspiration comes from other books, games and movies, and everyday life. Then again, I went to some awesome places when I was younger, too (all on short term Christian mission trips...): camping in the Mozambican 'bush', working in the drug slums of Madrid, and white water rafting on the Nile would top my list. Oh to live in the countryside and not in a city, though. The natural world is where it's at!