For bestselling fantasy author Tigest Girma, the most essential tool in her writing arsenal isn't a laptop or notebook - it's her walking shoes. In an intimate conversation, the literary sensation reveals how her daily ambles through London's urban landscapes have become the secret engine driving her imaginative worlds.
The Rhythm of Creativity
"Walking is where the magic happens," Girma confesses, her eyes lighting up as she describes her creative ritual. "When my body moves, my imagination unlocks. Characters start speaking to me, plot twists unravel, and entire landscapes emerge from the rhythm of my footsteps."
The author, whose latest novel has dominated bestseller lists for months, maintains a strict discipline of walking several miles daily through London's diverse neighbourhoods. From the wild expanses of Hampstead Heath to the structured elegance of Regent's Park, each environment offers different creative nourishment.
Urban Landscapes as Fantasy Fuel
Girma's unique approach transforms ordinary city scenes into extraordinary fantasy elements. "A twisted tree in Hyde Park becomes an ancient forest guardian. The way light reflects off a puddle in Covent Garden might inspire an entire magical system. London is constantly feeding my imagination," she explains.
This practice represents a deliberate departure from the romanticised image of the writer chained to their desk. Girma argues that physical movement is essential for mental creativity, describing walking as "active meditation" that allows subconscious ideas to surface.
Building Worlds Step by Step
The author's walking practice has evolved into a sophisticated creative methodology:
- Morning walks for brainstorming and character development
- Afternoon strolls for working through plot challenges
- Evening ambles for reflection and editing decisions
"Each walk serves a different purpose," Girma notes. "The morning light brings clarity, the afternoon energy fuels complex problem-solving, and the evening quiet helps me assess what I've created."
A Counterintuitive Approach to Productivity
In an industry obsessed with word counts and writing schedules, Girma's approach might seem counterintuitive. Yet her productivity speaks for itself - multiple bestselling novels completed while spending what many would consider "unproductive" time walking.
"People think creativity happens at the desk, but for me, the real work happens when I'm moving," she says. "By the time I sit down to write, the words flow because everything has already been worked out during my walks."
Inspiration for Aspiring Writers
For emerging writers struggling with creative blocks, Girma offers simple advice: "Get up and walk. Don't think of it as time away from writing - it is writing. Some of my best ideas have emerged not from forcing myself to stare at a blank screen, but from allowing my mind to wander while my body moves."
As our conversation concludes, Girma is already lacing up her walking shoes, ready to embark on her next creative journey through London's streets - proving that sometimes, the path to literary greatness is quite literally taken one step at a time.
