How to Allow Your Environment to Shape & Improve Your Writing
“As I sip my americano, I hear the mechanized sounds of the espresso machine. Vehicles move along the canal to make their morning deliveries. The wheels of suitcases pummel the uneven stone streets. Church bells ring to signal the tenth hour of the day. The sun peeks from behind the wonderfully articulated clouds. Men piss in the outdoor urinal located directly in front of the café. Daycare workers roll a cart of young children past an assortment of sex workers. It’s all part of the whole. And the whole is the utterly baffling experience of Amsterdam.”
It’s been a while since I’ve done this. I’m not even sure I know how to now. And, recently, I’ve been having the unfortunate realization that I can’t inspire myself to journal anymore… because there’s nothing to gain from it.
Obviously, I understand that’s blatantly untrue. Journaling yielded me a fully fleshed out book—one of my greatest accomplishments. Journaling has provided hundreds of hours of insight, joy, relief, and an excuse to get out into the world and do something. (I often write in pubs, parks, or elsewhere outside of the house.)
But I’m in this new phase of existence, one where I’m so focused on ROI at work that I believe it’s bleeding into my personal life. If there’s nothing immediately tangible and measurable to gain from the writing experience, why do it at all?
It’s a total farce. Writing has saved my life more than once. (And instant gratification is often no better in business than it is in day-to-day life.) But hell… if posting to this blog is what allows thought to flow once more, I’m here for it.
Let’s begin.
“… I know what the thing is. I’m a storyteller.
Sometimes through music, writing, stills, or video. Whatever method, I’m a storyteller.”
It says a lot about society that I struggle to do something without feeling there’s some monetary return. Even with my dislike of hustle culture, I’ve inadvertently fallen prey to its doctrines.
~
Something I’ve found helpful in my writing journey is putting myself in situations where the immediate environment can shape my work. That’s why I’ve often written in pubs, coffee shops, or parks, as mentioned earlier. If I’m ever at a loss for what to discuss, I can lean on the surrounding action.
If it weren’t for this—I would say ideology, but it’s more of a—compulsion, that initial quote wouldn’t exist. And it’s one of my favorite I’ve written.
It encapsulates something my mother taught me, “Use all your senses. Then describe them.”
You can smell the americano steaming out of my small, white ceramic mug. You can hear the bustling scene around me. The time of day is organically integrated, giving you an idea of the lighting conditions. Each sentence is its own little world, but, “It’s all part of the whole.”
In her Medium article, Violet Daniels seems to get it:
“... it can be easy to become wrapped up in our own worlds and fail to take inspiration from the world around us. Writing in the same place or staring at the same four walls can sap you of inspiration and motivation to write.
It’s often said that to write and have constant ideas, you have to experience life. But, unfortunately, you can’t do this from the comfort of your own walls. Or, not easily anyway....
Not only is the change of environment giving me a new lease of inspiration, but it motivates me to write, as I have fewer distractions. Writing at home leads my mind to wander. I notice things that need clearing up or washing up that needs doing. I’ll put my writing on hold because other domestic tasks need doing.”
I can tell you right now she’s absolutely right. As we speak, my fiancé is struggling with the garbage disposal, and it’s nearly impossible to focus or feel inspired.
In contrast, when I set out writing this article, we were at Hermann’s Olde Towne Grille—our local watering hole. Thought poured into mind from that unknown spout of inspiration as beer flowed from the taps. It was easy then… and now it’s not.
~
At the end of the day, it comes down to inspiration. And environment has a massive role to play in something as elusive as that.
Placing yourself in an environment that frees you, allows you to more easily welcome ideas, that gives you the space to wonder, and, most importantly, an environment that stirs you from the ruts of habit… this is something we should chase. Something we should embrace with open arms.
Here are some thought starters for where to head and what these spaces offer.
The Coffee Shop — A Writer’s Paradise
I’m going to wager this comes as no surprise. The tea room or coffee shop has long been a staple for writers, conversationalists, thinkers, and patrons with varied interests and motives.
They transport you from the distractions of domestic life, force you to engage with other people (at least to some extent), and encourage the surrounding world to impact and inspire your work.
2. The Pub — A Writer’s Retreat
This suggestion may be a bit odd to some. But I’ve always enjoyed the anonymity and storied pastime of writing in a bar. It provides an opportunity to be the calm in the chaos.
For me, this habit formed during a life abroad—one where the pub was, in essence, a community hub. A place for debate and camaraderie and the occasional yet-untold truth to reveal itself. The environment was hardly insufficient in intrigue.
Though the US lacks a pub culture to this degree, you can hunt down the hidden gems in your community.
An additional benefit? (If you perceive this to be so.) As people’s inhibitions subside, writing in the bar can invite conversation. People often can’t refrain from being interested when you’re doing a somewhat-strange thing in a fairly normal place.
3. The Outdoors — A Writer’s Ramble
Sometimes there’s nothing better than disconnecting. Taking out your earbuds and allowing the birdsong to entertain instead. Listening to the rustling of leaves or wind whistling through the trees or the chit-chat of passersby.
Disconnection, in this case, is really reconnection. A reconnection to past generations, to an older, slower way of life, and to the world around us.
Things that Happened this Week
Had Jake over Friday and Saturday night for a movie night.
Watched The Gorge. It was terrible, but we laughed a bunch and enjoyed bashing it.
Showed Jake and Taylor Severance, which was thoroughly rewarding—they loved it.
Jake enjoyed it so much, we had another ‘movie night’ on Saturday to continue with the series.
Taylor made the best steak I’ve ever had (a delicious cut of sirloin). Perfectly seasoned. Perfectly cooked. I was in awe.
Read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Played basketball with Ernie and old high school friends.
It was the first time I’d played in maybe six years. It was incredibly fun, but—now at 30—I was wrecked afterward.
About the Author
“Cullan McNamara is a photographer, videographer, writer, and musician. Back in 2016, he was hired to film and photograph a client’s nine-day hiking trip throughout Colorado, and he’s been traveling and creating ever since….
Catch his work on Instagram and YouTube, or check out his podcast [and book], Attempting Local: A Year Abroad in Galway, Ireland.”
— ViaggoMagainze.com
