3 Outdoor Writing Exercises You Need to Try

Well hello there! I hope you’re having an incredible day. For this post I wanted to share 3 writing exercises you can do while you’re outside! That’s right–away from your computer, or your writing closet, or wherever you normally write!

“Caleb, whaaaat? Why would you ever write outside? What are you talking about?”

Well, hear me out! It’s summer, and so you’re probably going to be outside more than usual. However, we’re also writers, which means we always have the little part in our brain that keeps its creative wheels turning. These are some useful exercises for when you’re taking a walk or on vacation etc., and still want to get some writing done!

Interested to hear about these tips? Let’s jump into it!

1: Observance Writing

This is one form of writing that I absolutely LOVE! Perhaps you’re at a park, or taking a hike. If you have a notebook with you, or even the notes app on your phone, you could take a couple minutes to try describing your surroundings–particularly attempting to craft your words to create a vivid image of what you see, hear, smell, and feel. You can never practice your observance and description too much–it’s an incredible way to sharpen your writing skills on the go!

Even if you don’t have a phone or a notebook, try crafting the sentences in your head, describing the place as if you were telling someone about it.

2: Brainstorming Outside

Writing in the same place is great. It gets you in the mindset of writing whenever you step into the same spot you’ve written in for days on end.

However, sometimes you need a fresh look on things, and a new place to work on your writing, or brainstorm. For me, brainstorming somewhere that’s away from my computer, in a fresh location, can get my creative side flowing. Generally that’s out on a walk in the fresh air, enjoying nature and simply pondering on my writing or ideas for new stories. If you haven’t tried this before, I’d highly suggest it! Go out and get some fresh air, and while you do, try brainstorming some new ideas, or try coming up with a solution for a plot point you’re having trouble with, etc.

3: Study People

I don’t do this often, but it’s one that I really want to start doing and improving on!

People are different. Everyone is unique in their own way, and if you can learn how to describe that and incorporate that into your stories, they will immediately resonate with readers tenfold, and your worlds will have so much more life and spark to them.

So, when you’re at a store, a park, or anywhere in public, try observing some people. Perhaps they walk differently than most people, or their eyes are a vibrant blue. I don’t know, maybe when they laugh it sounds like a chattering dolphin! Try coming up with ways to describe this unique trait about this person, so that if someone were to read the description, they would immediately feel like they could picture the person in their mind.

Well, there you have it! Three writing exercises you can do away from home in the outdoors! I hope you enjoyed this and that these tips will be helpful!

Do you do any of these tips? Do you think you’ll try them out? Let me know in the comments!

Until later,

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