Or, Can Living the Writer’s Life Make You a Better Writer? Immersing yourself in the writing world has several benefits -- visiting Hemingway's favourite cafe isn't just for fun! Here are some ways it helps, and how you can get started.
Yeah, reading is a pretty important part of it, that's for sure. But to go back to the Paris example -- reading "A Moveable Feast" is one thing, but walking the streets in the Latin Quarter and visiting the cafes really pulls all those stories and images together. At least for me it did. (Guess that falls under "observe"?)
Well now, maybe I need to try it. I’m familiar with Hemingway’s northern Michigan, so those areas helped me understand those stories ... but you’re not talking about place as a window into understanding the stories so much as place as an entry into living like a writer. I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced a writer’s “milieu” in this way.
Well, both count! When I was in Palm Springs recently, I did a literary pilgrimage to spots in "Generation X" by Douglas Coupland to better visualize that world. And, the walking tour we were on in Paris (picture of Hemingway's door above) doubled as a tour of spots from Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", which isn't a novel or short story, but same idea.
My neck of the woods is pretty close in landscape to northern Michigan, so the settings of those stories are very familiar to me... lol
(Actually, we can see Isle Royale from Thunder Bay. The island is part of Michigan, so I guess technically that means we can see the very northern tip of Michigan.)
Read and observe, read and observe ... that’s me living the writer’s life.
And, of course, write!
Always with the write!
Yeah, reading is a pretty important part of it, that's for sure. But to go back to the Paris example -- reading "A Moveable Feast" is one thing, but walking the streets in the Latin Quarter and visiting the cafes really pulls all those stories and images together. At least for me it did. (Guess that falls under "observe"?)
Well now, maybe I need to try it. I’m familiar with Hemingway’s northern Michigan, so those areas helped me understand those stories ... but you’re not talking about place as a window into understanding the stories so much as place as an entry into living like a writer. I don’t know that I’ve ever experienced a writer’s “milieu” in this way.
Well, both count! When I was in Palm Springs recently, I did a literary pilgrimage to spots in "Generation X" by Douglas Coupland to better visualize that world. And, the walking tour we were on in Paris (picture of Hemingway's door above) doubled as a tour of spots from Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris", which isn't a novel or short story, but same idea.
My neck of the woods is pretty close in landscape to northern Michigan, so the settings of those stories are very familiar to me... lol
(Actually, we can see Isle Royale from Thunder Bay. The island is part of Michigan, so I guess technically that means we can see the very northern tip of Michigan.)
Another thought-provoking piece, Graham, despite my inclusion! Many thanks. I’m honoured.
No, thank you for the idea and the example! Your inclusion can only make the post better... lol