Sometimes you have to go outside

TJPontz — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:42:49 +0000

When I get stuck while writing, I sometimes find it useful to work on something completely different for a bit in order to let the brain reboot itself a little. I’m not sure how it connects in my mind, but my grandfather would sometimes say he had to go outside to have enough room to change his mind.

I was taking a tour around the ‘net, and I stumbled onto this video. It is a 1927 colour film of London.

It’s absolutely stunning. If I were trying to describe 1927 London, I’m quite sure I would have gotten it so completely wrong as to be laughable. But then the odds are we are all in that boat. Now at least there is a sense of the city.

And of a little girl selling peanuts. That just started writing a story for me right there. And the old boat on the Thames.

Evocative. I’m really glad I found this video. I think I’m nearly rebooted now!

outside the lines » London

Sometimes you have to go outside