June Theme: Armchair Traveller
We’re writers, the indoors are our friends and books our guides.
Last month we asked you to
Reinvent famous stories in the public domain, we received so many amazing stories and I know I had a lot of fun in the process.
Check it out if you missed it, all our themes and prompts are evergreen, so write to whichever one inspires you. Whenever you find it. F. Leonora 😉
We’re going to interesting places
And we’re going to meet interesting people.
But first a little backstory as to why I’m taking us on a journey around the world to meet all these wonderful people.
Your outputs are only as good as your inputs.
I’ve noticed the last couple of weeks that the more widely I’m reading the more interesting the ideas I’m able to generate.
This story came from a National Geographic article on a wonderfully inspiring black volunteer organisation that is diving slave wrecks to better understand their past.
So in that line of thinking here’s a book that got me thinking about people and places and thinking beyond our own backyard and the country of our birth.
I’ve been reading this wonderful book to my eldest daughter
She’s loving learning about new groups of people and the places they live in and how those fascinating places have shaped their culture.
It struck me during one of our nightly reading sessions that this childlike fascination with other people, as not strange or to avoided, but welcome and curiosity-inspiring examples of diversity is a perspective our world needs more of.
Travel is an amazing experience
The experience of travelling helps to broaden our perspective and increase our understanding of different cultures and customs.
It challenges our preconceptions and helps us to see the world in a new light. Travel is also a great way to learn about yourself and to gain a greater understanding of your own values and beliefs.
And perhaps most importantly, travel helps you to develop a more tolerant attitude towards other cultures and ways of life.
Finally, travel is a lot of fun and can be a great way to meet new people and to experience new things.
But with COVID, time-constraints and a crap economy let’s travel by the far more economical and instantaneous armchair
This cozy substitute can be just as enriching and enjoyable as traditional travel.
It’s far more affordable and convenient, there’s no travel delays nor cancelled flights or screaming kids (sorry those were mine!)
And it’s a lovely way to learn about cultures, countries and even your own city.
So if you’re in, let’s do just that this month?
Each week I’ll share a people or a place
And I’ll invite you to write a story using people from that place as a way to learn about them and to push us to write stories from the perspective of different cultures.
It’s an amazing way to gain empathy for people in different parts of the world. Living very different lives and thinking and being in different ways.
All aboard, see you Friday for a prompt departure!
