In March, I post to the Two Writing Teacher blog, for their blogging challenge.
Yesterday I took myself on a writing crawl, which is like a bar crawl, but I go to different locations and write and take photos rather than drink. Since it was the Spring Equinox I figured it was a good day for a crawl!
I find the inspiration to be different when I am sitting in the space writing rather than reflecting later when I return home.
The sensory details are much more prevalent in the prose when I am immersed in the environment.
It also is a way to make errands more fun.
Stop 1 – Library
I picked up my holds and did some browsing.
There is a quiet reading room I have been wanting to visit so I sat and thumbed through my stack and wrote in my notebook.
Stop 2 Book Garden
This is a stock photo. It was sunny yesterday and I walked through. There are statues and a children’s book walk inside plus tables where people often sit and eat their lunch. It was windy yesterday so it was empty of people.
Stop 3 Lifestyles Shop
I haven’t been in this downtown shop for over 10 years. It was a nice day for browsing. They have cards and kitchen items. Toys and gifts. I was just window shopping.
After, I took a stroll up and down the main street downtown and popped into a resale shop that is never open. I browsed but nothing caught my eye except for a man who was clearly looking up the value of records in the back of the store on his phone.
Stop 4 The Press Bookstore
This is my local independent bookstore. I browsed and sat in the back on the couch and wrote a few lines while I was there. A few people were scattered around but it was very quiet.
Stop 5 Bao Bakery
Tucked away on Chicago street is this little gem that seemed serendipitous with my obsession with Paris lately! I had a lovely coffee and wrote on the last page of my notebook. This was the first time I had visited. There are 5 coffee shops within a mile of each other but my favorite one was flooded and is currently closed.
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The Rest of the Day…
Modified Workshop Call
I had to return home because I had a writing workshop scheduled but there was some confusion about times this week and I ended up chatting writing with a good friend. That was a welcome change from the original plan because I wasn’t in the critique mood anyway.
Walk
I went for a walk and listened to podcasts. I made some notes about writing and only went 6 miles today. I stopped by to see Chris who was working a mile away from our house.
These cabbage remains were seen along my walk. I have no idea why they are there!
Sushi
I ate sushi for dinner when I returned home from my walk.
MFA for All Workshop
Part 1 of my craft workshop with Carmen Maria Machado was last evening and it was amazing. The two hours went fast and I learned a lot.
Tammy Evans Writer 
I am envious in the most positive way and also super happy for you. I didn’t know it was called a writing crawl. I called a day (I have done it only once) of writing in different locations a writing marathon and I loved it. It was one of the ideal days in my life.
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I haven’t heard it called that! As a marathoner, I have this idea that there should be 26 stops! But that would be a lot. It is amazing how fun this practice is! I am glad you have experienced it too! What were some of the stops you had?
One of the best places I have written is when I was still in WI and I was seeing Neil Gaiman speak. I wrote in a whiskey bar and an art museum in different spaces. Such a great day!
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26! stops would be way too much for me. I think the term “marathon” came from the idea that it’s more than one stretch of writing during a day. I wrote on a train, in a park, in two cafes, and a seaside. I have done it only once though. Sweet memory. Thinking about it and reading about your experience I feel the need to repeat. 🙂
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What a cool idea!! You’ve inspired me to document where my “crawl” would take me. I especially enjoyed seeing the photos! Thanks for adding them!
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A writer’s crawl! I’ve never thought of it like this, but I’ve definitely had days where I’ve written in multiple locations. I love this idea and I’m going to borrow it for next week when I have spring break! Now I can enjoy dreaming up locations to visit….
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The idea came from the writer Sherrie Flick. She does these crawls in her town and has prompts for people. I have thought about hosting one for other people in my town!
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A writer’s crawl sounds like a great idea, I’ve never done one or written anywhere except at home.
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I would love to go on a ‘Writer’s Crawl’ and take photographs of the locations. I know how it feels to write in my sister’s commercial garden. This sentence is exactly how I feel when I am writing there;”The sensory details are much more prevalent in the prose when I am immersed in the environment.”
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Argh, Tammy, “I only did five miles today.” Really? Only? I pushed myself for five yesterday because of you, and now this.😉 Like everyone here, the writer’s crawl holds certain fascination, though if I’m honest, a glass of wine or two wouldn’t ruin it for me. Finally, I love the idea of a “Children’s Book Walk. We have a wooded trail that features a children’s story as you walk it—or did. Right now it’s full of nature and confederated tribes information. I love that, too! Thanks for the “Crawl.”
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I have not ever gone on a writer’s crawl. I love the idea of doing this deliberately. What a fun way to spend a day! I enjoyed reading about the places you chose to write and visit.
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What a cool idea! I love this & cannot wait to try something like it. What fun!!
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I love the idea of a writer’s crawl even though I have never done one. I HAVE done the Podcast part while I walked and the bookstore parts. Thanks for a great post that makes me think and wonder
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I’ve never done it but this sounds like a really cool experience! I’d love to try it some time!
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I must try this! You went to some fun places!
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