Beyond the Keyboard

One particular hint that always seems to help writing is one that I've known in the back of my mind, but never followed. When working out, your muscles become strained. In fact, your muscles literally split apart and become torn and wounded. Part of the pain you feel are the fluids utilized to help repair the muscles.

Improvement in writing is much the same. It's actually unhealthy to sit down at the desk for hours every day trying to write stories. You must go beyond the keyboard. When stressed or trying to intake a whole new world of concepts, its best to take a break--the more/bigger the knowledge, the bigger the break. When you go to sleep, your mind refreshes data and organizes all that you've done throughout the day.

But we writers must write what we know. This means learning new things. Find some hobbies. Get away for a while. I don't mean talk a walk and then run back to the keyboard.

Take a drive to someplace new. If you're married or have a boy/girlfriend, go on a date to unusual and unfamiliar places. Try making friends, read different books and study new things. This is where writers sometimes take notepads with them.

Eat right. Living a healthy lifestyle helps keep blood flowing through the brain and keeping it well oxygenated. This allows you to wake up fresh with creativity. I discovered this when I sleep 10 hours a day, and eat 1 big meal filled with refrigerator meat and rice, without working out. My writing sinks downhill. On the other hand, going on a jog and practicing martial arts allows me to refresh my mind and home in on new ideas and proofread as a new man.

Most of the authors you see on the back of books appear to be healthy individuals, working as a bit of proof I think.

Colonel Marksman wrote:
Take a drive to someplace new. If you're married or have a boy/girlfriend, go on a date to unusual and unfamiliar places. Try making friends, read different books and study new things. This is where writers sometimes take notepads with them.

This past weekend, as I was driving from Caguas to Moca (Puerto Rico), I had cause to pass by La Petroquimica. This is a huge petrochemical plant which was shut down in the 50's. The metal and concrete skeleton is still very much there and rises out of the tropical forest in a very post apocalyptic, science fictionie fashion.

My brain started going at full tilt as the sight gave me inspiration. I almost pulled over to get the laptop out of the trunk of the car.

Snap a picture next time for an at-home inspirational memory jogger.

NaClmine wrote:Snap a picture next time for an at-home inspirational memory jogger.

Good idea. When I went downtown to view a marathon, I took my video camera, speaking notes.

NaClmine wrote:Snap a picture next time for an at-home inspirational memory jogger.

I found some photos on the web.

Wreybies wrote:

NaClmine wrote:Snap a picture next time for an at-home inspirational memory jogger.

I found some photos on the web.

Shut down in the 50's? Are you sure? That looks pretty well up-kept to me... hmm... ideas...

Colonel Marksman wrote:

Wreybies wrote:

NaClmine wrote:Snap a picture next time for an at-home inspirational memory jogger.

I found some photos on the web.

Shut down in the 50's? Are you sure? That looks pretty well up-kept to me... hmm... ideas...

Agreed. It is rather well kept from this vantage point. I did some searching on the web and found that although they do not refine anything there now, it is used as a holding area for crude products. If you get up close (in real life) you can see that all the metal structures which comprise the refinery are quite rusted through. But yes, ideas... What secret projects could be lurking in the bowels of all that superstructure.

Reminds me of an anime series.
Kurau Phantom Memory