What Is A Flâneur? - Why Writers Need To Wander Around

Are you a wanderer? How could the strange habit of wandering around help you with your writing?

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[mikay]

living is a writer's primary source.

[teanlit]

"This vid is brought to you by insomnia." I don't want to buy that product, thanks.

[AlexBlank]

Flaneuring, although surely helps in gathering inspiration and exploring the world around us, is also an excuse not to participate in it. Maybe that's why I love it so much. It allows me to be an observer - always watching, analyzing, looking for connections - but not have to be a part of what I see, a part of the unpredictable immediacy of what's safer to write about than live through.

[lotsoflovemadelief]

I'm definitely a flâneur, always have been, I love to watch people and my surroundings. Luckily, people don't find me creepy because I'm just a smol innocent girl hahaha. I never knew there was a word for this kind of wandering and being fascinated by the world around you, thank you for making this video. ^.^ i haven't written in two months, I lost my faith a little after having made editing mistakes. I really want to get back into writing soon, but my fear of never being good enough to be published just keeps haunting me. I also have a lot of stress because of my studies, covid and exams. I just keep procrastinating 🙊

[alpertroncp]

"2am in the morning" - I'm liking the double specifity

[clarkelieson]

Loving the (almost) daily uploads. I thought this one was especially compelling. The idea of a Flâneur is one that I've long been obsessed with. Maybe I'll share my thoughts on it in line with my Hermitude series.

[skylofttheshadowcast]

I spent 7 months living in Melbourne a few years ago, and as a fellow fiction writer I can testify that it's a very inspiring city to wander in. In fact wandering was my main pastime while I was there. I do miss a good stroll along the banks of the Yarra.

[jameshopkins]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. I have had several such experiences wandering around the streets of New York City. I know the feeling you are describing. It is wonderful.

[gretas]

I recently did a project on how our obsession/preoccupation with the flaneur has historically led to the literary marginalisation of other urban experiences, namely of women who rarely had time to wander alone. Definitely worth thinking about. No shade @ the flaneûr tho, it’s an important part of literature for sure.

Also, hello fellow Melbournian :) I cant sleep either

[DarkRuins]

i feel most myself when i wander around places ive never been. i used to explore tiny tinker towns in appalachia, on the weekend. places with less than like 5, 000 people that lived there and it was fascinating to see how towns are constructed with libraries, cemeteries, jails, town halls, restaurants etc. to see the building blocks of a community. it was my own way of doing urban studies. photography is also one of my hobbies so i would wander through the alleyways and the quieter corners, searching for a magical spot that had lonely or forgotten vibes. i lived off of a major interstate and i started exploring every exit and found some incredible adventures. in places that were not the big flashy cities. if i saw one of those brown signs for historical places i would go there. i went to a national dam and got to have an endearing conversation with some veterans, they gave me stickers, and i photographed some beautiful scenery of the mountains. these are memories that if i hadn't wandered, i wouldnt have. so when i travel i never have plans or objectives. i just follow where my curiousity leads me and it has made life all the more better. my friends dont understand my bravery, as they call it, but not everything is meant to be understood. the unknown is the mystery that keeps us alive.

[matt]

I recently moved to Japan and I’ve been wandering every chance I get. I was lucky to be based about an hour and a half away from Tokyo. But even in between my work and Tokyo there’s so much city areas to see and explore. Even quiet beach towns that before I wouldn’t have spared a second glance. We’ve been locked down so I haven’t been able to do as much wandering. Through the wandering and reading a certain book I even decided I’d start writing. It was so random and something I had never considered but it seems to be sticking for me. Anyway I think the key is being alone. You even learn how to handle being alone for long periods of time. Even besides that though, it gives you a chance to look at yourself really differently. And you’ll probably change because of it.

Jeez I could go on and on and on

[KnockManJo]

Truly a wonderful concept, I couldn't help but think of Tolstoy while listening to your late night meanderings about being a wandered lost in unexpected descriptions; I consider "War and Peace" to be a masterclass in descriptive nuance that captures the essence of everyday life.

[waxinghome]

Accidentally, found your channel and your pronunciation is soothes my soul❤️

[mariabarnes]

I couldn't agree more! Observing people, their habits, their movements can be an infinite source of inspiration to a writer.
One thing i would say. It's important to have pen and paper at all times.

[rosennameier]

Thanks for the video. The Turkish author of the flaneur is Yusuf Atılgan with his book "Aylak Adam" (flaneur). He tells about a man who is flaneur in Istanbul, who is watching the tram and so on...

[sixfourtyfive]

I can relate to everything in this video. I've been told that creating imagery is my strongest quality when it comes to writing and I enjoy trying to convey this sort of experiences. It's a strange sense, kind of mystical. I've also had a similar feeling when reading "on the road" on a hill above a big road with trucks going up and down next to the fields. (:

[blendermen]

I like to listen to strangers talking in cafes and parks, i try to understand their personnality and story. Also just contmplatiing the world as it is is a really good inspiration.

[ernestoh]

I love these episodes... they are very spontaneous and they get my juices going

[moonsnon-secretlover]

this video was such an inspiration to me. i watched it last night, when i was about to go to bed, but after watching it i immediately went to my desk and opened a new word document (i haven't written a word for about a week before that). your channel is so great, and is now a new-found source of motivation for me.
what i mean to say, is thank you, and have a good day.

[madeinpinas]

I first encountered this word in RD about french people. They're good at this.