Getting away from the predictable monotony of a routine or scheduled life can have great rewards in your creative endeavors. Whether you need some time in a lavish hotel room in a new city, a sober week of recovery, or a six month hike along the Appalachian Trail – immersing yourself in a new world with new sights, sounds, smells, and challenges may inspire a new idea or help you flesh out an old one in your writing.

I always advise that writers who make their income at a 9-5 unrelated to their writing carve out at least two separate full weeks during the year to plan on getting away and focusing on writing. Ask for the time off in January and rest comfortably knowing it’s there waiting for you. And take some writing prompts with you. Here are a few to get you started:

  1. How is this temporary life like and unlike your every day life? What do you like more about it? What do you like less about it? What do you miss about real life? What will you miss about this?
  2. Who’s been here before you? Create someone and describe how and why they occupied the same space that you’re occupying now.
  3. What are the benefits of silence? What are the benefits of loud chaos?
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