Why Walking More Impacts a Writer’s Brain

Last week, I scheduled some time away from work and my every day responsibilities to attend a seven-day writing retreat in the middle of the woods in Haliburton County. I hoped to review and revise my current novel by taking my characters deeper and solving a few lingering issues I had with plot holes.

The weeks leading up to this retreat stressed me out. Lists needed to be made for everything I required to accomplish at work before I could leave. I had lists of food that I must shop for and pack. I also had a weekend wedding in Hamilton to get ready for that followed the writing retreat with only a one-hour break between them. My brain was fried when I finally arrived at the retreat, and I didn’t have a plan of exactly what I would be working on. Poor planning.

Opening my manuscript overwhelmed me. I didn’t have the time to read my novel before I attacked all the issues, so instead, I jumped into the messy middle and started to edit a random chapter. Instantly, I found a problem that needed to be addressed. I sketched out a mind map with all the characters in the novel. I tried to make a few extra connections from person to person, looking for a new angle on who else could have committed the murder in my story. The reader should question more than three people. The story would be more interesting if there were multiple suspects. I laced up my running shoes and strolled toward a walking trail a few minutes from the cabin in the woods that we rented. Taking breaks is a big part of writing a novel as much as the physical typing of the words.

Some may think that taking a walk during a big chunk of writing time would be an unwanted interruption. I feel it is the opposite. Quite often, the walking benefits me by digging deeper into my story.

Walking, hiking, swimming, cycling, etc., can help you stay fit while on a writing retreat. I wanted to spend all my extra time (outside of sleeping and eating) by writing or editing my novel. However, I desired to move away from my writing chair for some activity time. Otherwise, my back would get stiff and sore, ruining my vacation and my dancing ability at the upcoming wedding.

Everyone has heard about the benefits of walking—improved physical health, increased mental clarity, and enhanced emotional stability. An article titled “How Walking Benefits the Brain” by ScienceDaily.com reminded me that walking could help writers and their plot problems.

“Researchers at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) found that the foot’s impact during walking sends pressure waves through the arteries that significantly modify and can increase the blood supply to the brain.”

~ ScienceDaily.com

Walking and creating a blood flow to the brain is a fantastic way to get your heart pumping and your lungs working. Even though I love walking while listening to podcasts on writing, I decided to go with the sounds of nature. My brain focused on: my breathing, my shoes pounding the dirt path, the birds singing, a chainsaw buzzing in the distance, the tires humming along the asphalt pavement, and a child’s laugh echoing across the face of the rock landscape.

Nature calmed my racing heart and made me think about my story differently. It was no longer the muse invading my mind. It was more about the ability to see the fresh ideas, the solutions, and the “new possibilities” that occurred. I shook the knowledge of the old concepts off to the side and discovered something valuable. I found a cemetery and wandered through the tombstones. I took photos of family names and unusual stones (a rabbit and a raccoon, side-by-side, both reading a book) that showed the person’s personality. This person was a lover of animals and an avid reader. Both characteristics that I loved. Elements that could be used for one of my characters.

Being brave, I followed a smaller path through the trees that meandered alongside the Drag River and so I hiked toward the water’s edge. I found a flat chunk of rock touching the water, where I could sit and listen to the rushing rapids bubble and splash against the rocks. The warm sunlight blanketed my face while the cool breeze tickled my earlobes. My mind raced to my novel, where an object played a part in linking one character to another. A complete surprise to me, yet it made perfect sense, and I wondered why I had never thought of it before. This novel has percolated for over two years, and finally, I had this small breakthrough that made all the difference.

Many people like to credit the muse for giving them creative ideas. In reality, when the mind is quiet, the subconscious mind comes alive and produces ideas and solutions that the conscious mind never could think of.

This walking and thinking is a vital part of my writing process. It opens my mind and allows me to think about my characters and their problems as if they are part of a movie. I imagine the scene, and I wait for them to make the next move. This always brings a solution to the problem. I must admit, I made three new strong connections in my novel, that I never would have thought of, if it were not for the walk through the forest and the quiet rest beside the rapids.

Bottom line, a week spent in the woods is a great way to impact a writer’s brain, whether reading, writing, walking, or playing Radio Bingo with your writing buddies.

So, although walking in the woods is not guaranteed to make A-ha! moments happen, there is a high possibility of it happening to you. Go ahead, take a walk through some green space, such as a garden, a park, or a forest, because the walking time may impact your writer’s brain more than you think it will.