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August 20, 2012

Inside or Outside


by Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief


Where would you rather be when you are writing? Inside your house sitting at your desk, typing away on your computer, or would you rather be outside? There you will see the sky, feel the breeze, see the leaves sway and hear the birds chirping. Tough decision? Maybe.

When I am inside, I seem to get a lot done in writing, as long as I stay in my chair at my desk. However, when I am outside, it seems my imagination kicks into overdrive. It takes wings and off it goes. All of a sudden, instead of one story in my head, now I have several. They become like the serials we use to see at the movies on Saturday mornings. You know, the Buck Rogers, etc.

It didn’t take long for me to determine a hand held tape recorder was a must if I went outside. Now I can let my imagination take off in all directions. Then when I go inside, I can sit at my desk and type what I have recorded. After they are typed, I normally put them aside for a couple of days and let them breathe unless words are just pouring out. Then I will look them over and determine which one I feel calling me.

Rereading what I have written usually gets me started on the right track with the story, and by the time I have written five pages I have determined whether it is to be a short story or has the makings of a novel. For the most part the majority turn out to be short stories. Occasionally, you hit on one that has the beginnings of a novel. The excitement builds as you sit down at your computer and begin.

What do you like best, writing inside the house or writing outside? When you are outside do stories begin taking flight in your imagination?


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