It is a truth very widely acknowledged that writers spend quite a lot of time staring out of windows. Of course, staring out of windows isn’t all that we do. We also stare at walls, play with the cat when we should be working, drink a lot of tea/coffee/other forms of caffeine and often keep odd hours. But staring out of the window is noted as one of our prime ‘should be writing but I’m actually not’ activities.

There is a certain amount of guilt that goes with this. We know that we should be writing. We know that our novel isn’t going to write itself. We know that daydreaming about being an independent publishing sensation isn’t actually going to get us there. We know that we need to actually write some words. Yet still we sit and stare.

I think that this is actually good for us – and in fact that taking the time to stare out of the window is a form of productivity. Here’s why.

It can offer inspiration

Whether the view out of your window is of your back garden or the street, it can be a great source of inspiration. The view outside can give you ideas for places and people. You might only take the smallest amount of inspiration from what you see, and you might not even be aware that you have been inspired, but that could be all you need to push on with your novel.

It provides mental space

The above point, I think, is linked to the idea of mental space. Sometimes, we simply need to give ourselves a bit of breathing room. We need a break from staring at the same page of our manuscript and wondering why it just won’t work. Focusing solely on that doesn’t always provide the results that we want. Taking a bit of time to disconnect and let our minds drift and our gazes wander can be more useful that you imagine.

It’s a good distraction

Also, staring out of the window is, simply, a distraction. You might have a looming deadline and 1000 words left to write and a sense of panic setting in – but that panic can stop your brain from working as well as it can. You might be determined to fix that annoying scene in your novel tonight, and sitting and just looking out of the window might feel like a waste of time, but just that short break and chance to collect your thoughts can set you back on the right path.

One of the best things about window-staring is that no matter why you’re doing it, it’s a reminder that there is a world out there. Writing is quite a solitary occupation, and when you’re creating your own worlds and stories, it can be easy to get wrapped up in them, forgetting that sometimes, we need to engage with the world around us too. That world is where a lot of our stories come from in the first place. Spending a bit of time looking out at it is a good reminder of that.

What do you think? Staring out of the window – a waste of time or a worthwhile activity for writers?