Into the woods, it’s time to go
I hate to leave, I have to though
Into the woods—it’s time, and so
I must begin my journey—Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
“I love taking writers into the woods. For me, nature is almost always the source of my inspiration, even if it’s deeply hidden in my writing.” When we posted this quote on The Writers Circle’s social media, someone commented that taking writers into the woods sounded slightly ominous. Indeed, it’s not hard to think of almost every Grimms’ fairytale and the truly terrifying things that might happen when you leave your comfort zone.
But when I think of the woods, I think of sanctuary. The moment I step away from the parking area and onto the trail, I feel my body relax. More than relax: I literally transform.
As all the trappings of civilization fall away, I find my senses opening. In this place of wind and bird song and wild whispers, I remember that I am an animal, too. My footsteps soften as I move from hard pavement to soft ground. Suddenly my progress slows and is no longer linear. My feet lift slightly higher as I step over tree roots or move sideways to avoid jutting stones.
As movement becomes more natural, I take in the sounds of birds I have learned to recognize even when I can’t find them among the branches: a wood thrush’s distinctive melody, the heavy pounding of beak-on-bark the differentiates a red-bellied woodpecker—which looks like it should be called a red-headed woodpecker, though that’s not common in our forests—from a huge, “Woody Woodpecker” pileated, which is.
You don’t have to be a bird-nerd to fall in love with the woods. No binoculars are needed to be amazed. Tiny flowers ripen to blueberries in our New Jersey forests, along with wineberries. (For years, I thought they were raspberries, but they’re still tangy and delicious.) And along some sunny trails, blackberries create a wild, thorny hedge that is worth tackling to get to the delicious fruit in midsummer.
Of course, northern New Jersey forests are hardly pristine—especially not those within viewing distance of New York City. On the paths I know well, I like to show writers the decaying evidence of human presence. Foundations of abandoned buildings secreted away. Graffiti carved into beech bark left by teens and lovers decades ago, some with dates that bring to mind history. 1970 on one trunk on a high, lonely trail. On another, May 1942. Each presents wonderful possibilities for creative writing.
While writing my historical novel, AKMARAL, I would use my time on the trail to grow closer to my characters. It helped bring authenticity to my story of ancient nomads who lived deeply connected to their environment. And in imagining their perspectives, I found a wilder part of myself.
So, if you want to deepen your writing and maybe even discover something about yourself, come with me into the woods. Bring your notebook and your favorite pen, and be ready to open your senses—all of them.
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Step into the woods with Judith’s Writing in Nature workshop – four site-specific writing excursions, Fridays starting May 22.
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Founder/Director of The Writers Circle, Judith Lindbergh is the author of two novels set in wildly unfamiliar locales: AKMARAL in 5th century BCE Central Asia and THE THRALL’S TALE in 10th century Greenland. She has spoken at and published with the Smithsonian Institution and provided expert commentary for The History Channel’s documentaries. Judith received a 2024 Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
