"Only great ideas come when you are running. It is the way of things."
Bee, the narrator of Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco
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What do you think, reader? Do your best ideas come to you when you're running (or swimming, walking, or biking)?
I LOVED this book. I wrote a review of it, in fact, at The Children's Book Review. Bee was one of the most endearing characters I've come across in a long time. As for when my ideas come to me . . . walking, sometimes. Sometimes in the shower. Alas, I do not run. :-)
ReplyDeleteI reviewed it here back in February, Elizabeth. And I love it too!
DeleteI'm not a runner, either. But I get plenty of ideas while walking and always in the shower.
Yes, I get a lot of ideas while walking or doing other things.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Natalie.
DeleteThat one small excerpt from Bee makes me want to read the book -- probably because I totally agree, except I would change running to walking my dog.
ReplyDeleteYou would love this book, Barbara. And walking your dog certainly counts.
DeleteI'm really looking forward to reading this!
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, I get my best ideas while walking by the beach or in wooded areas.
It's a great book, Faith.
DeleteWhen I'm running my mind is resting. That's why I like it! :)
ReplyDeleteBut I'll bet you come back from your run with some fresh new ideas.
DeleteI get my best ideas when I'm taking a shower. A real one, not a "I need to hurry up" shower. :)
ReplyDelete~Akoss
Me too, Akoss!
DeleteYes, the shower or on a walk sometimes. It's like the rushing water has a some creativity vibes
DeleteI think you're right, Andrea. Something to do with negative ions.
DeleteI'm a kid. With too much (sometimes boring) things to do. I get ideas everywhere. Even in school (I once wrote a (I think) well-written 5-8 paragraphs about an idea for a trilogy I had. In between projects in school.). I get most of my ideas while eating. :)
ReplyDeleteErik, you are the first person I've heard of who gets most of his ideas while eating! That's great! And I love that you get ideas everywhere.
DeleteAlso when showering! And sometimes when swimming. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI believe it, Gina! I just read on a science blog that exercise and showering both release dopamine, and the more dopamine that is released the more creative we are! Here's the link: http://blog.bufferapp.com/why-we-have-our-best-ideas-in-the-shower-the-science-of-creativity
DeleteI get ideas when I'm walking or cleaning the house.
ReplyDeleteHi Medeia! Again, any form of activity would release dopamine. The article I mentioned above also talks about distraction and relaxation. Seems all three of those elements contribute to creative ideas.
DeleteSome of my best ideas come when I'm showering. I think it is the water! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too, Jennifer. Which makes me want to take longer showers!
DeleteWow, so many of you are inspired in a shower, maybe I should take longer ones! I would not say "only great ideas come when running" because I'm sure I get a lot of bad ones while running as well. But I might agree with "great ideas come only when running" ! (Just a matter of word order.)
ReplyDeleteHa! Excellent point, Susan.But we'd have to amend that to "Great ideas come when running, walking, showering, swimming, cleaning the house, or (in the case of Erik) eating!"
DeleteThanks for this, Joanne! I do get my best ideas running...but also hiking/walking and even driving. I need lots of alone-time and some sort of motion...I love to hear how this works for other writers.....
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Kim! I'm honored that you took the time to visit my blog. Thank you. Time alone and some sort of motion - that sums it up nicely.
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