Why do we walk? To read, write and draw... of course!

May 2022 is National Walking Month, so get your trainers on, get outside and get walking... you can also read, draw and write while you're at it...

https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/national-walking-month

So, in the middle of March I wrote a post on Wonder Walking- the whys of a walk and it covered the myriad of reasons why a stroll is good for the soul. There are the fundamental whys behind a walk such as to get from A to B or for exercise, then there's walking to feel connected to family, friends, the environment or even ourselves and also the opposite is true, sometimes we walk to zone out and to step out of the world for a while. At other times we walk to find inspiration, to mull over a problem, to engage our senses and feel excited by our surroundings. All the wonderful why's of a walk. I didn't think walking could get much better... until I read about a different why of walking on twitter and it felt like discovering peanut butter and marmite on toast all over again. Two of my favorite toast toppings that I had never have considered combining, but when I did it was like they should never have been apart. A match made in toast topping heaven. So, imagine my delight when read about a WALKING BOOK CLUB...

The Indie bookshop, Seven Fables in Dulverton has created a Walking Book Club, it says on the website, 'if you love reading and enjoy walking, then this could be just the book club you have been waiting for.' Yes please...(with peanut butter and marmite on the top!) Walking and talking about about a book, with other book lovers sounds like my kind of way to spend a walk... and then I read the walk is in the woods of Exmoor (blue bells a plenty) and the author of the book being discussed will also be attending. Whhhaaaat? How has this not been 'a thing' before now? (or has it and I've missed it?) So, I scrolled through the authors who'd previously attended and the books and the women authors are right up my street...with the likes of Jane Lovell, Katharine May and Jackie Morris. And I can't believe the wonderful Raynor Winn (author of the Salt Path, which planted the seed of a pilgrimage in my mind) was on a Walking Book Club with her follow up book The Wild Silence being discussed (I am saving this book for my holiday read!). Oh why do I live in the land locked Midlands?

I contacted Seven Fables to share my joy at the idea of a walking book club and chatted with the lovely Davina, who shared the inspiration behind such a novel (pun intended!) idea. It was inspred by an episode of Ramblings with Claire Balding who joined Emily's Walking Book Club. (The first outing is on their old blog if you would like to listen to it. http://dulverton.blogspot.com/2013/04/number-sevens-first-walking-book-club.html?q=picnic ) And that intitial outing has led to may succesful walking book clubs and they have recently celebrated their 9th Birthday. Congratulations all! If, like me, you are thrilled by the idea of talking books whilst your walking, you can find further information on upcoming sessions please see their website

https://emilyrhodeswriter.com/emilys-walking-book-club/ and I'm hoping that I can join them on a walk once I have completed my Camino Way walk.

This idea of combining hobbies and interests with walking also reminded me of the time I combined writing with walking at the wonderful Society of Children's Book Writers and llustrators Conference in Winchester. On the Friday before the 2017 conference, I particpated in the Friday Night Fringe 'Scrawl Crawl', which was an outdoor sketching/writing activity for both authors and illustrators, using the surroundings as inspration. We walked around the fabulous sights of Winchester and used nature, landmarks and shops to inpsire settings, characters and plots. I talked to lots of lovely SCBWI members, shared ideas and met my fabulous writing tribe. https://britishisles.scbwi.org/

We all know walking improves out health and wellbeing, but combining with other creative interests adds a different dimension and for me it doubles the benefits- being in nature and using it as inspiration means I immerse myself in my surroundings and REALLY connect with our environment. Writing and walking inspired me to create some fantasy characters who are true Nature Rangers for a childrens book series based in a local woodland setting. So, If you are and artist or a writer and you want to find inspiration or get the creative juices flowing, grab a note book and pens and get 'scrawl crawling' in your local area. Or if you love reading, set up your own walking book club with a group of friends. Read, draw, write and walk to your heart's content- but maybe not simutaneously... stay safe peeps! And remember to let me know how it goes x