Comments on: Walk Like a Dog http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:30:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Barbara http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68799 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:02:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68799 That's what I love about dogs, and definitely what they teach me--be open. You never know when you are going to go on a great adventure!! That’s what I love about dogs, and definitely what they teach me–be open. You never know when you are going to go on a great adventure!!

]]> by: theamcginnis http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68723 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:35:26 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68723 welcome, barbara! you are associated with a great blog!! i'd love to walk my dogs, but they behave horribly on walks. they've got the run of a large fenced in yard, and they are the darlings of the neighborhood, but, well, let's put it this way, i'm not the one taking them for a walk!! i guess it's because they are so eager for the adventure - new characters to meet, new settings, lots of new plots to sniff out, a villain or two to challenge, a heroine to defend...yup, walkin the dog is good for the writing!! welcome, barbara! you are associated with a great blog!! i’d love to walk my dogs, but they behave horribly on walks. they’ve got the run of a large fenced in yard, and they are the darlings of the neighborhood, but, well, let’s put it this way, i’m not the one taking them for a walk!! i guess it’s because they are so eager for the adventure - new characters to meet, new settings, lots of new plots to sniff out, a villain or two to challenge, a heroine to defend…yup, walkin the dog is good for the writing!!

]]> by: Eric von Rothkirch http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68713 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:44:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68713 Barbara said: "Something about getting into your body, focusing another part of the brain?" Actually, I think it's a lot like over-watering a plant. If you sit and stare at the plant you're trying to grow, you may be tempted to keep dumping water on it, trimming, etc. -- You're going to kill it! Sometimes you just have to back off a little. Some portion of creativity is subconscious. That is not to say that creativity is unconscious, or never conscious -- I would actually strongly disagree with that. But I can always tell when I'm trying too hard to make something work and I just need to back off. Consciously allowing your subconscious some room to work on the problem is important. Barbara said: “Something about getting into your body, focusing another part of the brain?”

Actually, I think it’s a lot like over-watering a plant. If you sit and stare at the plant you’re trying to grow, you may be tempted to keep dumping water on it, trimming, etc. — You’re going to kill it! Sometimes you just have to back off a little.

Some portion of creativity is subconscious. That is not to say that creativity is unconscious, or never conscious — I would actually strongly disagree with that.

But I can always tell when I’m trying too hard to make something work and I just need to back off. Consciously allowing your subconscious some room to work on the problem is important.

]]> by: Edie http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68675 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:12:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68675 Barbara, I get my best ideas while walking. My dog loves it too, of course. Walking is a great way to turn off the noisy conscious brain and allow us to hear the subconscious. I think it's been talking all along, but we're not listening. Barbara, I get my best ideas while walking. My dog loves it too, of course. Walking is a great way to turn off the noisy conscious brain and allow us to hear the subconscious. I think it’s been talking all along, but we’re not listening.

]]> by: Barbara http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68651 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:10:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68651 Shower, walking, driving....they all seem to work for stimulating creativity. Something about getting into your body, focusing another part of the brain? Shower, walking, driving….they all seem to work for stimulating creativity. Something about getting into your body, focusing another part of the brain?

]]> by: Eric http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68635 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:25:34 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68635 People often say they get ideas in the shower, and I think it's for the same reason as taking a walk. It's personal time -- just you and your thoughts. And yes, I often get my best ideas in the morning. Even if I'm tired, sometimes there's just that little spark of something as I'm stumbling around trying to make coffee. Two ideas connect in a splash of synthesis. "Hey, maybe I could..." And for creativity, sometimes that's all you need. :) People often say they get ideas in the shower, and I think it’s for the same reason as taking a walk. It’s personal time — just you and your thoughts.

And yes, I often get my best ideas in the morning. Even if I’m tired, sometimes there’s just that little spark of something as I’m stumbling around trying to make coffee. Two ideas connect in a splash of synthesis. “Hey, maybe I could…”

And for creativity, sometimes that’s all you need. :)

]]> by: Gail Clark http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68633 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:14:22 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68633 "Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk." How beautiful, how true. And "walk like a dog." I love it! I don't walk often enough, and don't always take my two dogs because I have not leash-trained them very well, and one is a 40 pound dog and one is a 15 pound dog, and they never seem to want to go in the same direction. I need to walk them more so they can get used to it and cease trying to dislocate my shoulders . . . I wish I had somewhere lovely to walk like you Barbara, but my ordinary middle-class neighborhood, with NO sidewalks, which annoys me, will have to do. Wish I could walk in the mornings, but in order to get a walk in before I have to get ready for work, I'd be walking in the dark. Gonna have to shoot for afternoon or early evening. I'm working on hubby to come with and wrangle one dog, but he has RA and at the end of the day he's so beat, he just doesn't believe me that he'd feel better. So glad you have joined this blog Barbara! “Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk.” How beautiful, how true. And “walk like a dog.” I love it! I don’t walk often enough, and don’t always take my two dogs because I have not leash-trained them very well, and one is a 40 pound dog and one is a 15 pound dog, and they never seem to want to go in the same direction. I need to walk them more so they can get used to it and cease trying to dislocate my shoulders . . . I wish I had somewhere lovely to walk like you Barbara, but my ordinary middle-class neighborhood, with NO sidewalks, which annoys me, will have to do. Wish I could walk in the mornings, but in order to get a walk in before I have to get ready for work, I’d be walking in the dark. Gonna have to shoot for afternoon or early evening. I’m working on hubby to come with and wrangle one dog, but he has RA and at the end of the day he’s so beat, he just doesn’t believe me that he’d feel better.

So glad you have joined this blog Barbara!

]]> by: Melissa Marsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68629 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:40:07 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68629 Wonderful post, Barbara! I love to take walks, but lately they've been on the treadmill and at a very fast pace to rid myself of this unwanted weight. But my dog Charlie and I love to take walks around the neighborhood and since the weather is warming up, I plan to do that more and more. I've worked out many a plot issue on walks. :-) Wonderful post, Barbara!

I love to take walks, but lately they’ve been on the treadmill and at a very fast pace to rid myself of this unwanted weight. But my dog Charlie and I love to take walks around the neighborhood and since the weather is warming up, I plan to do that more and more. I’ve worked out many a plot issue on walks. :-)

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68626 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:11:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68626 Welcome, Barbara! And it's great to find another fellow writer/walker. I basically feel crummy if I don't get my walk in everyday, and it's amazing how I hone in on a problem during a walk. I've even gotten it down to a "geez, I think I'll get rid of the comma at the bottom of Scene X when I get back." Walking unleashes clarity and creativity, and I'm torn on why that is....endorphins? Change of scenery? More oxygen to the brain in the form of fresh air? Whatever it is, it works. Welcome, Barbara!

And it’s great to find another fellow writer/walker. I basically feel crummy if I don’t get my walk in everyday, and it’s amazing how I hone in on a problem during a walk. I’ve even gotten it down to a “geez, I think I’ll get rid of the comma at the bottom of Scene X when I get back.” Walking unleashes clarity and creativity, and I’m torn on why that is….endorphins? Change of scenery? More oxygen to the brain in the form of fresh air?

Whatever it is, it works.

]]> by: Barbara http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68625 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:09:53 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68625 Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm very pleased to be participating here. How nice to walk along a river! I used to walk by the Arkansas when I lived in Pueblo. Oh, music! On my long walks (sans dogs) I take my Ipod and listen in one ear so I can hear cyclists coming. When I walk the dogs, I have to listen for other dogs before or behind (that chow mix, ya know)! Thanks for the warm welcome. I’m very pleased to be participating here.

How nice to walk along a river! I used to walk by the Arkansas when I lived in Pueblo.

Oh, music! On my long walks (sans dogs) I take my Ipod and listen in one ear so I can hear cyclists coming. When I walk the dogs, I have to listen for other dogs before or behind (that chow mix, ya know)!

]]> by: Belinda http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68623 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:59:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68623 I love to walk. I do it to unwind, to de-stress, to brainstorm... I found out the hard way that it's very unhealthy to sit at a computer all the time as it led to back problems. (Of course, I used the experience to bring more life to my characters, but that's beside the point.) I often walk with my mp3 player set to classical music, but I keep the volume ridiculously low so I can still hear what's going on around me. It's amazing what people will say when they think you can't hear. And how rhythmic the world is when you put it to music. I may be waxing poetical, but there's something amazing about walking past a pond where the ducks are paddling around to The Truman Show soundtrack. It just makes you smile, and see the world in a different way, which is always good for a writer. I love to walk. I do it to unwind, to de-stress, to brainstorm… I found out the hard way that it’s very unhealthy to sit at a computer all the time as it led to back problems. (Of course, I used the experience to bring more life to my characters, but that’s beside the point.)

I often walk with my mp3 player set to classical music, but I keep the volume ridiculously low so I can still hear what’s going on around me. It’s amazing what people will say when they think you can’t hear. And how rhythmic the world is when you put it to music. I may be waxing poetical, but there’s something amazing about walking past a pond where the ducks are paddling around to The Truman Show soundtrack. It just makes you smile, and see the world in a different way, which is always good for a writer.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68617 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:38:15 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68617 I'm also big on the dog walk--and so is Kismet! I use the time to quiet my mind. I usually walk right beside a river, too, so there's plenty of beauty, even on a grey winter day. But watching Kismet is what makes the walk fun--how she focuses on every detail and scent, how fresh air and running and chasing squirrels reinvigorates her. Seeing her derive such simple pleasure from it reinvigorates me, too. Thanks for a great post, Barbara, and welcome to WU! I’m also big on the dog walk–and so is Kismet! I use the time to quiet my mind. I usually walk right beside a river, too, so there’s plenty of beauty, even on a grey winter day. But watching Kismet is what makes the walk fun–how she focuses on every detail and scent, how fresh air and running and chasing squirrels reinvigorates her. Seeing her derive such simple pleasure from it reinvigorates me, too.

Thanks for a great post, Barbara, and welcome to WU!

]]> by: Juliet http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68611 Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:08:59 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2008/04/23/walk-like-a-dog/#comment-68611 Welcome to the team, Barbara! I walk twice a day with my two dogs, and I especially love the long morning walk beside the river with its ever-changing moods. The natural beauty of the surroundings, the physical exercise of walking and the joyful canine company seem to switch my brain into a different mode, one in which ideas spark and solutions fall into place. Many of my best scenes are written in my head while walking. When we get home I start writing for the day. Outlaw and Gretel would think it quite wrong if I tried to write BEFORE the walk. Welcome to the team, Barbara! I walk twice a day with my two dogs, and I especially love the long morning walk beside the river with its ever-changing moods. The natural beauty of the surroundings, the physical exercise of walking and the joyful canine company seem to switch my brain into a different mode, one in which ideas spark and solutions fall into place. Many of my best scenes are written in my head while walking.

When we get home I start writing for the day. Outlaw and Gretel would think it quite wrong if I tried to write BEFORE the walk.

]]>