A few months ago I received a postcard from a writer friend I met just as he was graduating with his MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA). He was traveling in Guatemala and said the new surroundings had affected him deeply. “When I wake up and step out my door and see such beautiful scenery or such color in what people wear I get this urge to write.” He then added, “I hope that when you finish the MFA you’ll give yourself the time to write in new and interesting places.”
He had planted a seed. I didn’t know what to do with it then, but it touched me enough that I keep his card in my writing journal. VCFA offers its writing students the opportunity to spend a residency abroad in either Slovenia or Puerto Rico. I honestly had no interest in these residencies before, but I can say for a fact that it seems, step-by-step, my learning process at VCFA has brought me to this point where I feel I must go.
It seems as though I started the program tightly focused on the page and the mechanics of writing. I wanted to learn about craft and read, read, read and I’m doing so. But I’ve also had teachers who have pulled my head out of the computer and said, “Look around you,” so I could see my writing is happening out there in my physical surroundings as well as within me, reverberating in my heart. Everything is bigger now–my ideas, my courage, my heart, my world. When I received a VCFA email recently announcing registration for the Puerto Rico residency it felt inevitable. “Yes,” I thought. “It’s time for me to go to Puerto Rico.” It’s time to go out like a Gauguin and see what happens to my art when I’m exposed to new voices and new influences.
I’ve always said one of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer is to get out. Before I was talking about showing up at writing events, meeting other amazing writers and learning as much as you can. This is all still very important. But I urge you to think about the travel component as well. You can either board a plane, take a train or drive someplace different in your car. Just do it. Here’s why:
- Being in a new place refocuses your writer eye. My friend mentioned the colors and clothing of Guatemala. I get a similar view sitting in a park when I visit New York City. Plunked down in all that diversity, I begin to see stories everywhere.
- When you travel you may have experiences with unexpected outcomes. My essays took on a spiritual nature after I did a 3-hour solo sit in the snowy woods of Montpelier. It was a huge surprise and I’m still wrapping my brain around this work.
- You develop an awareness of place. You’ll either want to write about the new environment you’ve discovered, or you’ll want to write more than ever about where you came from. Leaving home makes you more aware of the hold it has on you.
For myself I try to travel, near or far, a little bit every month. If all goes well I will be in Puerto Rico for my VCFA residency in January. This autumn I’m making two trips, one as a teacher and the other as a student. By the way, these trips are REALLY inexpensive opportunities. I’d love for you to join me if you can. It would be great to write together!
Here’s amazing writing event #1: September 6-8 I’ll be at the Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers in the gorgeous Catskills of upstate New York. I’m teaching a workshop on “My Big Fat Writing Journal and Other Ways of Organizing Your Creative Life.” The huge and wonderful line up includes my dear friend and Time Magazine colleague Breena Clarke whose novel River Cross My Heart was an Oprah Book Club pick. You can find registration info at this link.
Here’s amazing writing event #2: October 11-13 I’ll travel to Tecumseh, Missouri (near Springfield) for the River Pretty Writers Retreat. The retreat takes place at the beautiful Dawt Mill river resort. I’d love to introduce you to many awesome writers, graduates and faculty, from my VCFA program. Again, this event is really inexpensive, I’m not kidding. Just 35 spots are available so you’ll definitely miss out if you wait too long. Learn more about it and register here.
If I don’t see you at these events that’s okay, but I will say to you what my friend said to me: I hope one day you will give yourself the time to write in new and interesting places.
ADDITION: From the August 27 Writer’s Almanac: “When you’re traveling, you are what you are, right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.”– William Least Heat-Moon
Safe travels!
From the August 27 Writer’s Almanac: “When you’re traveling, you are what you are, right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.”– William Least Heat-Moon
Great piece! I think travel–even if it’s in your own backyard–is necessary to the writer’s soul. It’s soul-expanding, and isn’t that what we all try to do every time we sit down to write? Thanks for sharing! (And by the way, the girl in the cowboy hat in the Puerto Rico photo is me–28 weeks pregnant!)
Are you serious? Now that’s adventurous. But who am I to talk? Now that I think of it, I was traveling around the country on book tour when I was 28 weeks pregnant with my son!