How Exploring Your Neighborhood Helps Your Writing
Stuck for writing ideas? Think you’re suffering from writers block? Your neighborhood has endless possibilities.
No matter where you live, no matter how every day you think your neighborhood is, there are things in it that other people would enjoy reading about. Next time you think you’re suffering from writers block go for a walk. Take yourself out into your local neighborhood. If you have a camera, take that along as well.
Every one of us lives in a unique community. The buildings, the people, the parks, even the street names. Consider what it is about your neighborhood that makes it unique. There are probably many places that you pass every day and have never given much thought to. For me, one such place is the local Recycling Centre close to my home. It’s there, I see it daily, I use it regularly. When I brainstormed possible writing ideas that could arise from this every day place, I was quite surprised.
How about the buildings in your town or city centre? Maybe there are some that have an interesting history behind them, or are unusual in their construction. Maybe, like me, you spend a lot of time at your local library. Think about why you enjoy going there so much. Some places have interesting street names that tell a lot about the history of the area. I really enjoy researching street names, often being surprised at the wealth of information they give me about the area I live in and, more importantly for me, the people who have contributed to the area in the past.
An important thing while carrying out this exercise, is to ask yourself questions. Why is something called what it is? Who came up with the idea for it? When was it first established? How do locals feel about a particular landmark? Asking questions opens your eyes to endless writing possibilities. It also gives you an awareness of the place you live in.
Neighborhoods have many stories to tell. The longer they have been in existence, the more stories they have to tell. One of my fascinations since moving to the small city I live in five years ago, is the local river. I continue to be astounded at the material I can find, the past stories that have been told and the current activities that are based on the river.
No matter what your preferred writing genre is, be it travel, local history, poetry or maybe health and fitness, your neighborhood has stories to tell. And a world of interested readers is out there eager to read about it. You have a free resource right on your doorstep. Make use of it.
I don’t have a lot of money to travel. I love learning about other people, their customs, their lifestyles and their environments. I look forward to reading your stories about your neighborhood.
Stories about my current neighborhood and another place I spend a lot of time in include:
Okatia and The Manawatu Gorge – Retelling of a Nz Maori Legend
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February 7th, 2010 at 9:24 am
Absolutely. My neiborhood is home to two world-class universities: Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. I live in Oakland which is the medical and cultural heart of Pittsburgh. I have plenty to write about.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:33 am
You know this is so true I look and listen around my area and then embellish what I just saw great entry
February 7th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Open your eyes around you…you will see the possibilities.
February 7th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
I certainly don’t have the money to travel, but I can use my neighbourhood, or past neighbourhoods for writing fodder. There are ideas all around us.
February 7th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
You are quite right. There are stories all around us.
February 7th, 2010 at 4:29 pm
Very good advice and don’t forget about the history of your neighbourhood.
February 7th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
This is a wonderful idea. Just looking around you could give you an inspiration.
February 7th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
Good points. The thing is–I wouldn’t want to write about my neighbors. Street names, OK but I don’t really want to write about the people I know.
Regards,
Inna
February 7th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
God One Thanks For sharing.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
How right you are, Val, if you just look around you, there are many possibilities.
February 7th, 2010 at 9:32 pm
excellent one
February 8th, 2010 at 10:14 am
you are right, Val.
February 10th, 2010 at 2:40 am
Here here,
I walk every day a different way not only do i get to know my where abouts and learn street names, but also a clear head inspires and clears blockages for flow.
And never knows what will happen out their in the wilderness
February 10th, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Good advice as you never know where your next idea may come from.