Walk & Wonder: Generating Ideas on the Move
Every November, writers around the world take on an ambitious challenge: 50,000 words in 30 days. National Novel Writing Month—better known as NaNoWriMo—isn’t about perfection. It’s about momentum. It’s about giving yourself permission to write fast, write boldly, and discover what you didn’t know was waiting inside you.
But October is the quiet month before the storm. It’s the time to sharpen your tools, refill your creative well, and set yourself up to succeed when November’s daily word counts start ticking.
One of the simplest, most overlooked ways to prepare? Walking.
A 2014 Stanford study found that walking increased creativity by as much as 81%. The effect didn’t stop once participants sat back down—it lingered. Walking outdoors was especially effective for generating fresh, unexpected ideas. For writers, that means the brainstorming, outlining, and “what if” work we do this month may be most fruitful if we step away from the desk and move our bodies.
So as you prepare for November, try this:
Take 10–15 minute walks daily and use the rhythm of your steps to untangle plot knots or hear your characters’ voices more clearly.
Jot quick notes as you go, or dictate into a voice app.
Treat each walk as part of your writing practice, not time stolen from it.
November will demand stamina. October is where we build it.
Craft Studio: Atmosphere in Motion
Walking sharpens awareness of atmosphere, and atmosphere shapes story. Atmosphere is what makes a scene breathe, turning setting into mood and mood into meaning.
Anchor with a sense. One sensory detail can dominate a scene: the sting of sea salt, the hush of mangroves, the rattle of palm fronds.
Let place act as character. A storm doesn’t just roll in; it interrupts, tests, and exposes.
Contrast surface vs. undertone. A carnival may look joyful, but menace hums beneath.
Mirror inner life. Grief thickens the air, while hope lets light through cracks.
Break expectation. A sunny day at a funeral, a bright blue sky during a chase—dissonance unsettles.
Exercise: Take a walk this week. Jot five sensory details. Drop one into your next scene. See how atmosphere shifts when drawn from lived experience.
Language Corner: Metaphors of Movement
Writers often default to ran, rushed, hurried. But movement verbs are mood shapers. Try expanding your palette:
Ambled – relaxed, unhurried.
Meandered – aimless, wandering.
Trudged – heavy, reluctant.
Strode – confident, energetic.
Shuffled – timid, dragging.
Mini-quiz: Which verb best fits?
She ______ down the hospital hallway, her shoulders slumped, each step heavier than the last.
A. Strode
B. Trudged
C. Meandered
(Correct: B. Trudged)
Writing Prep Corner: 5 Ways to Get Ready for NaNoWriMo
Outline loosely
Create a playlist or mood board
Stock your writing snacks
Set up a daily writing ritual
Plan your “walking breaks”
Stay in Touch
Hit reply and tell me: Has a walk ever sparked a breakthrough for you—whether in writing, work, or life? I’d love to hear your story.
~ L.S.