Over the past several years, I’ve been lucky enough to explore quite a few different locales, all of which have inspired my writing in their own ways. Sometimes, it might just be an encounter on the street, other times a whole culture, a setting for a scene, a character’s backstory… so here are some places that I’d highly recommend you visit for writing inspiration, if you ever get the chance. It’s not exhaustive by any means; I cut quite a few excellent trips from the list, only mentioned one place per country, and certainly haven’t been everywhere in the world. Maybe I’ll have to do a couple of follow up posts!
In no particular order…
1. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh is a place that I would be quite happy to settle down in for a few years. Though the weather can be icy-cold, there’s nothing more magical, to me, than writing in the Elephant House Café where J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter, with a castle atop a hill in the misty background. If you’re looking for inspiration for your antagonist, I’d highly recommend a nighttime tour of Greyfriars Cemetery, where Rowling allegedly gathered inspiration for Thomas Riddle aka Voldemort.
2. The Pantanal, Brazil
When I arrived on the back of a jeep in the middle of the Pantanal, I was greeted by a pair of macaws, swooping down to land in a nearby tree, and stare at us with intrigue. We slept in hammocks, rode horses South-American cowboy style through the caiman-infested waters, and I met a retired pig-fighting dog called Suddam, who became the inspiration for a dog in my novel… because every good book needs a loyal pet with a wartime history, right?
3. Ayutthaya, Thailand
Ayutthaya has an intricate political and spiritual history, as the historical capital of the Kingdom of Siam. Not only do the ancient ruins of temples razed by the Burmese surround you, but here, you can stay at an Elephant Sanctuary jointly run by locals and two Australian women, and help care for what might be the most beautiful creatures on the planet. There’s nothing more inspiring for writing a novel that promotes a sustainable and environmentally friendly future, than chatting to an elephant all day.
4. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Buenos Aires is one of my favourite cities in the world. I stayed in San Telmo, in an Airbnb that was French Colonial, decked out in antique furniture (including a gorgeous writing desk) and seductive artworks, with a formal dining room-cum-tango ballroom. On top of this, it was right next door to a circus school – literally, my dream come true. Buenos Aires is also home to El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a 100-year old theatre that has been converted in to an awe-inspiring bookstore. What more could a girl want?
5. Yosemite National Park, USA
I visited Yosemite after doing New York, Washington, San Fran, and a few other big cities in the US. It was a welcome break from the bright lights and hustle and bustle. I watched a deer and her fawn grazing in the middle of a forest meadow, next to giant sequoias that have lived thousands of years. Then I spent the evening curled up in front of the fire with my writing, drinking Bailey’s hot chocolate and listening to a wise, old gentlemen play the grand piano. It was writerly bliss.
6. Paris, France
I don’t think there’s a better place in the world to sit in solitude, and write. The walls of each café eke out historical musings, and each park bench with its Notre Dame or Eiffel Tower view is worth its weight in gold when it comes to inspiration. There’s something profoundly humbling about writing in a city that some of the greatest minds of Western philosophy chose as their home away from home.
7. Lares Trek, Peru
The Lares Trek is an absolute must-do if you ever visit Cuzco in Peru. While the Inca Trail is the more popular option, the Lares Trek takes you to higher altitudes, and most importantly, past many small villages where you can give something back to the locals and learn more about Peruvian history and culture. While doing the Lares Trek, I was privileged enough to meet a lady (we just called her ‘grandma’) who was 100 years old, and still actively working in the Andes mountain ranges, toiling fields.
8. Franz Joseph Glacier, New Zealand
Scenic landscapes and fresh air is something of a theme in this list, which isn’t surprising. Nothing better to clear the mind of all the silly stuff, than staring up at a glacier-topped mountain range, and deciding, “Hey! Why not climb it?” One of my earliest stories, back in high school, was about this glacier. So whether you’re gathering inspiration for your HSC English paper, or a novel, or a blog about epic adventure tourism, I highly recommend Franz Joseph. Plus, we had a tour guide named Cliff, and another with a carabineer for an earring. New Zealand is full of the bests kinds of character inspiration.
9. Norwich, United Kingdom
I attended the University of East Anglia in Norwich for part of my first uni degree. Other than the fact that people like Stephen Fry and David Tennant attended this uni, which is renowned for its creative writing program, Norwich is just a bloody artsy city. Firstly, it has its own castle. Sure, this might be old hat for someone born in the UK, but my 21-year-old self lost her marbles when I explored the medieval, cobblestoned city for the first time. There are a plethora of vintage bookstores, markets, homey cafes and frost-steeped gardens in which to write your next novel.
10. Great Ocean Road, Australia
The best place to explore is often your own backyard, so I made it my New Year’s Resolution last year to visit every state and territory in Australia. While I still haven’t made it to WA or NT, the Great Ocean Road was my first trip in to South Australia. The beautiful coastal scenery heading back through Victoria is well worth the trip, as are all the peaceful stops along the way. I spent time writing on windswept islands, climbing trees, frolicking in Canola fields, handstanding in front of lighthouses, and drinking wine at sunset. Location inspiration galore.
Samantha Todd 