Write on the Hoof

Emily (USA)

[Reflection]

In focusing on writing after moving, and writing while moving, I noticed different effects on the writing. My activities prior to writing seemed to affect the tempo and tone of my writing afterward, whereas writing while moving resulted in a new perspective and more layers of meaning.

The three different activities I compared were: writing after jogging, writing after rearranging furniture in my living space (which involved some problem solving), and writing while walking in a new forest trail I had never been to before. In the following excerpts, I should explain that my research involves quantifying secondary impacts of installing energy efficient equipment, and interactive effects with other equipment. For example, installing high efficiency lighting reduces the amount of heat that the refrigeration/cooling systems need to remove, resulting in higher energy savings than just changing the light fixtures--the cooling system runs less, and where the cooling system is old and inefficient, this can actually save more energy than the lighting retrofit itself.

After running, my writing seemed more conversational: "Overhead you will notice additional air mixing thanks to the recirculating fans." I looked up and saw three large fans carving out three graceful circles overhead, and felt a soft, cool breeze on my face."

After re-organizing my living space it seemed more introspective and descriptive: "The heat wafted, air moving slowly but steadily in currents, invisible, across the store into the open coolers. On the roof, compressors cycled on, groaning and clacking with age, a shadow of their former selves."

Writing while walking in a new place: "The corner store owner reviewed the energy efficiency rebate application with a critical eye, the hum of the compressors on the roof, relentless, rattling the old light fixtures hanging on a rusty chain from the ceiling. "What a nuisance," he thought. Still the money saved on energy could go back into serving his customers: upgrading to a modern cash register, or replacing the cracked pane of glass that Mrs. Biedermeyer mentions every time she comes in."

Writing while walking in a new place seemed to offer more layers, from more superficial things like the black flies eliciting the relentless hum of the compressors, to more meaningful angles such as what it means to store owners to receive money to help with lighting upgrades--listening to the sounds of a host of animals in the woods, beavers swimming, mice scurrying, egrets gracefully flying over the pond, eliciting the idea of 'community'.