Finding Inspiration in Luray, VirginiaBeautiful rolling valleys, lush green trees on both sides, soft singing of local crickets, and very southern hospitality ... what more could you ask for? In addition to beautiful surroundings and the peace I was hoping for, my Labor Day weekend to Shenandoah surprised me with a burst of creativity and writing energy than I imagined.
Originally, I had planned this trip to (a) kick back and relax and (b) use an excuse to write/sell a travel piece or two on the region.
But it also inspired some new ideas and ways of thinking for my novel. I was actually taken by surprise to find how similar Virginia (below the DC region) is to my hometown in southern Missouri. Just from the two-hour drive and short stops on the way to our bed & breakfast, I was overcome with many of the same sights I'd grown up with in the Midwest. It has only been four years, but central Virginia reminds me so much of the slower lifestyle, local way of thinking and planning, friendly small businesses, and casual attitude. I'd almost completely forgotten about how different socially it is here in Washington, DC than the small city I came from. It's actually quite amazing to compare even the smallest changes I saw when I came to the area.
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