Getting creative at the gym − 10 July, 2008

As soon as I release a new short story, my mind is off to the races looking for the next idea. I have “worked on” stories at the gym before, but always strictly cerebrally and with an existing story. I have never hatched a complete story idea at the gym before. Walking on a treadmill or climbing the stairmaster isn’t terribly inspiring.

Walking has always helped. I have done a great deal of creative work while on my hikes. So tonight at the gym, I decided to walk around the indoor track. Wouldn’t you know it, but the ideas began to flow. This was exactly what I needed. I thought of characters, the situation, snatches of dialogue, visual images to render in words, and confronted the possibility of having to write material that might make me uncomfortable, and whether or not I could do that.

Before I began my knee therapy exercises, I decided to write my ideas down on paper. I stole some paper from one of the file cabinet drawers – just a form from a pile of forms. I grabbed clipboard, found a little nook facing a window, and wrote about three quarters of an outline. Now, I guess I know that I had better pack my gym bag with paper and a pen!

Now that I’m back at work, and I also want to work harder at getting exercise, I’m going to have to use my gym time to multitask.