The Best Hobbies for Writers

Many writers enjoy being alone with their computers, typing away new stories, filling the pages with adventure, heartbreak, love, and happy endings. But sometimes we need to crawl out of our holes and enjoy life. We need to be around people. We need to do something.

We need a hobby! (Other than reading, of course!)

So I've compiled a few hobbies with the writer in mind. Who knows, you may be a hobbiest already and don't even know it. 

1. People Watching:  Oh yes. You know you love to watch people. You walk through the mall and find yourself looking at a young couple and wonder what their story is. You see an old man sitting on a bench and wonder what kind of heartache he's known. This kind of people watching is what can stimulate your creative side and get the ball rolling for future plots.

2. Photography - This is not unlike People Watching, but takes it a step further. Put on a disguise and take pictures of people's expressions. Capturing a face filled with wonder will give you something to look at while writing the scene when your heroine sees the hero for the very first time. Catch a couple arguing and you will have just the right gestures to incorporate into a scene where your hero and heroine have a misunderstanding...you know, build the conflict! Photography is a great visual tool for writers.

3. Pinterest - I've just caught the Pinterest bug and think it may be a great way to gather visuals for your book. Pinterest is basically a bookmarking site. When you sign up, you create boards (think of them like cork boards) where you "pin" things that interest you. You download a button onto your toolbar and when you see pictures on the web that interest you, you "pin" the picture onto your board. A writer could collect pictures of houses, bedrooms, cars, and landscaping to help give depth to their description. One could also collect pictures of models or actors to base your characters on. Collect facial expressions, hair color, clothing...the categories are endless. Check it out and see for yourself.

4. Exercising - Yeah, it's not the most fun hobby out there, but we writers need to exercise and shrink our ever-expanding backsides. A great thing about walking is that you can people watch, dream about your WIP, and burn calories at the same time! I recently bought a recumbent bike for the sole purpose of getting exercise while I read. When I get home from work, I grab my Kindle and ride my bike for 30 minutes. I try to read Writing Books during this time and save the great fiction for my bedtime reading. There are ways to make exercise a little bit fun. You just have to find out what works for you.

This is not me on the bike.

5. Book Club - A hobby that all writers do is read. What better way to socialize than to get with other people and talk about books. The perfect hobby.

6. Metal Detecting - Grab a friend, get your metal detector out and go searching for metal. You get the benefit of exercise; you have someone to brainstorm plots with; you might find coins and valuables to fund your writing. (You do know that writers don't make a lot of money, don't you?) 

7. Massage Therapy - I don't know if this really qualifies as a hobby, but I think all writers should take up this activity. A monthly massage would do wonders to ease those aching shoulders and loosen those stiff legs. 

This is just a small compilation of hobbies that would benefit a writer. Well, maybe not number 6 -  that was a bit tongue in cheek.


What would you add to the list?