The WMF Archives

by Kat Foust


I get up in the morning, stretch, get the coffe ready and ship my son off to school. I look out the window as I sip my coffee and think about what a nice day it would be for a bike ride. Then I realize that there will be no bike ride this morning because I have work to do. I sigh and remember to be thankful that I at least get to work at home, doing a job I love.


You have just entered the writer's zone on a beautiful spring day. This is a place where not all brave men and women dare to go. Much like the twilight zone, you never know what the day may bring. Yet, sometimes even a job that forces one to use their imagination can get stale, boring and even mentally painful. That's when it's time for a change. It's time to really appreciate the flexibility of the writer's role.


During these times where we tend to spend more of the day staring longingly out the window than at the computer screen, there's not a whole lot getting accomplished. An 8 hour workday (and most of us only wish it was that brief) can turn into a completely nonproductive day of gazing. Who knew watching the grass grow could really be that enlightnening?


That's it. It's time to relocate. Let's not forget that in order to write about life, we really need to live it. Yes, that may actually mean leaving the house and finding a new location. There really is a point here. I have found that some days I just get more done if I do it somewhere else. Whether it's because I want to enjoy the weather or simply because the walls feel like they are closing in, there's much to be said for a change of scenery. Today I wanted to offer ways that I change my own scenery and how it benefits me and my writing.


Go outside. Yes, that's right. Pack up the laptop or notebook or whatever it is you want to use that day and take it outside. Even a picnic table at a park can offer an entirely new view of the world. If you have a desktop, take a notebook and tkae notes on the world around you or write your work out to be typed up later. If you have a laptop, but no screen to block the glare, take a beer box. Most laptops fit snugly inside them and do a great job of blocking the glare from the sun.


Not seeing enough of other people? Take your work to a bar or restaurant. Sometimes the buzz of the background noise provides a great alternative to the ringing of your phone or people knocking on the door. As you sit in public, you may even come up with some new things to write about like a great meal you just had or something sweet a child did.


Why not drive down to the lake with a digital audio recorder? Record what you see and let the sound of the crashing waves provide some motivation when you later go to type up your work.


Just because our work is traditionally done at home at a desk, it doesn't mean we are bound by that. After all, we are writers and not exactly known for our unimaginative approach to life. It's easy to mix things up a little and add some enjoyment to your writing. Observation is the skill for the day when you go out and look at the world around you. You might even want to set up some questions so that you have a specific behavior to observe.


For example, when I did an article on manners of today, I actually went out and pretended to sneeze just so I could record how many people actually said "Bless you". Maybe your interest is in exercise. Take a trip to the park and observe the ages of people walking in the park. What are some trends you notice?


It's time to wake up from a long winter of being cooped up. Don't just limit yourself to doing spring cleaning. Put some new colors and sounds into your world by changing your location and what you pay attention to.


Here's a tip for you. If you go to a restaurant and you plan to be there for a while, make an agreement with the waitress. I usually tell her what I expect and what her tip is going to be. I show her where I'll set my cup when I need a refill so that she doesn't have to constantly come back and check and I don't have to be bothered by questions.

The Writer's Zone