A Fresh Perspective Equals Fresh Writing

I’ve always believed that placing ourselves in new surroundings can provide inspiration to enhance our writing. Particularly when traveling to different countries, hearing the language, trying the cuisine, taking in the architecture, the culture—anything that is new and different—will jumpstart our sensory perception. This has been my experience, and it’s partly the reason I love to travel. Not that it necessarily makes my writing better, mind you. But a fresh perspective leads to fresh ideas. Or maybe just a fresh approach to an idea I’ve been trying to articulate.

A couple of years ago, this penchant for experiencing new places led me to spend fourteen months circumnavigating the globe on a world cruise. The journey took me to 47 countries on six continents. While I can’t say every one of those countries provided that writing inspiration, each one was an eye-opener, even those I’d been to before. Going into any such experience with curiosity on the top shelf of the old toolbox (rather than preconceived notions) makes all the difference.

The Eye-Opener

One of those locales that did inspire me was Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The cruise ship docked there during Carnival, but I needed to avoid those hordes at all costs. So, I spent one day visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue, and the next at Copacabana beach. The contrast was the eye-opener. 

First I was reminded that the hordes are everywhere. They’re unavoidable in tourist centers, but in these two locations not wild and raucous as I knew Carnival to be. 

What we get out of our travel experiences often comes down to expectations. As the ship was docking the previous evening, I looked up at the statue, brightly lit on the Corcovado mountaintop and appearing to be light years away. The prospect of going up there suddenly felt intimidating. I didn’t know what to expect. At Carnival, people are looking for a party. But many visiting the colossal statue seemed to be on some spiritual quest or other. Most probably weren’t, but there was still a level of respect, if not reverence. And conversations I overheard were about the history, the construction of the 98-foot tall structure. (That was my focus, too. It’s one of the New Seven Wonders, after all.)

And besides just taking selfies, I noticed people gazing up at the statue and down at the city of Rio. Despite the huge crowd of tourists, the ambience seemed one of thoughtful introspection. The dichotomy of that peaceful air in the midst of all the noise--and the terrifying trolley ride to the top of that mountain--stayed with me. The Copacabana experience was similar. I sat under a tree and just observed. Rather than feeling like a tourist hub, the beach was full of families and locals. There was a volleyball game going on. And of course the requisite booths serving drinks or selling souvenirs. But there was no raucous, beach-party vibe. I speak a little Portuguese, so I admit I also eavesdropped on a few conversations—comfortable, relaxed, appreciative of the view. And again, there was the thoughtful gazing, just contemplating the sea.

My takeaways from Rio boiled down to expanding horizons; seeing beyond just what I see and taking in the big picture—what others were seeing. It was one of those travel experiences that prompted a few questions: What was that mom with her two kids thinking as she watched the ocean? How might someone else be processing the same things I’m seeing? What meaning, what weight, might those same things hold for someone else? And how might I speak to that someone else in my writing? It gave me new perspective. It gave me inspiration.