Writer Crawl

Errands with a Writer's Lens

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.

HAVE YOU EVER TAKEN YOURSELF ON A WRITER’S CRAWL? I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHERE YOU WENT!