It’s not a book and it’s not a website, or even a single location. I’ve been on holiday for the past week and as I usually do, I tour the area extensively.
Being on holiday is a good source of resource for readers and writers as I aim to highlight in this post.
What specific resources are there?
1. As a reader you might carry a notebook and pen. If you’re a writer you should carry a notebook and pen.
2. Keep your camera handy. Seeing wonderful sights is all part of being on holiday, but to remember them clearly, and the ideas they provoked – take some pictures.
3. Tourist Information. The classic holiday source for information whether at home or away. Maps, pamphlets, locations of places of interest, books and of course the staff. Talk to people who know the area.
4. Museums of whatever size or type usually have a selection of books and leaflets. In those locations there are usually maps and guides to the local area.
5. Accommodation can be a great source. I tend these days to hire self-catering accommodation and once again I’m living in an old stone cottage. A local village, a forest, mountains and a loch all within a few minutes walk make this an exceptional location, but you can find inspiration in any area if you look.
6. Open eyes, open mind and active imagination are all at our disposal. It doesn’t matter if we are continuing with our regular life or if we are on holiday – we will find inspiration if we are open to it and look for it.
Time to go now, because I can sense a day of inspiration calling to me.
I’ll be on blog patrol as soon as I’m back in my usual writing location. Thank you for dropping by.
tombensoncreative.com 
A truly magnificent part of the world! Great post despite making me envious…
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As ever, practical advice that sounds straightforward but captures the discipline it takes to be creative;the two are not mutually exclusive and are actually inter-dependent.
Glad you are having a much deserved time of rest and refreshing after all your publishing activity of late. It will be good to see you back ‘on patrol’ again!
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Thank you Julia. I’m back home now, but still on holiday so I’m going to do some catching up.
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Sounds like a working holiday–which all of mine are to some extent. I think the writer inside us never sleeps…always taking in that place, that person, that overheard conversation, and filing it away for possible future use.
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Hope you enjoyed your holiday Tom. I agree a change of location/activity can spark creativity. I took my elder daughter to Alton Towers last week, and as a result, I’m going to try my hand at writing an anthology of (vaguely connected) short stories. The first two are written, and hopefully the rest will form as easily. We both had a great, exciting (and relationship bonding) day, and I’m sure it’s the change in routine that got the old writing cogs working again.
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Thank you Sal. Yes, I would agree with your findings about getting the cogs working again – so use it girl. I’m pleased you had such a good time. It’s never been my type of place, but I know so many who enjoy things like that, and they tell you about it for days afterwards. 🙂
A few days ago on one of my many days alone, I took a walk along a local woodland path and out to a small forest I’ve never visited before. I had my notebook and pen (of course), but I was out alone, enjoying the solitude and I got back home after about three hours.
How did it affect me? I came back and checked out the notes I’d made. I have the basic premise for a romantic short story. Importantly, I have the basic plot lines to get started on a special project. When my new author site is launched (later in July), I’ll be giving a link to a novel that readers can give active input. More later. 🙂 Be good – and if you can’t be good, be careful.
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