Leslie Karst here, pleased to welcome the marvelous Ellie Alexander to the coop, to talk about the benefits of boredom–something we could all perhaps use a little bit more of. And she’s giving away a copy of her new mystery, A VERY NOVEL MURDER, to one lucky commenter!
The Beauty of Boredom
When we think about what sparks creativity, a long list might come to mind. Things like classes, workshops, immersive retreats, engaging in new hobbies, and moving your body. All of these are true, but research has shown time and time again that the single most important thing we can do to enhance our creative energy is to sink deeply into boredom. That’s right, boredom.
There’s nothing like the gift of letting your mind wander freely. It’s something I’ve embraced since childhood and brought with me in every book I’ve written. Now, in fairness, as a card-carrying member of Gen X, I had no other choice but boredom during my early years. There were no screens, no social media, and no constant barrage of news and information. I spent my summers reading in the backyard and scribbling out stories, including the first mystery I ever wrote in second grade—The House on the Haunted Hill. I’m still not sure about the semantics on that one. Is the hill haunted? Who’s to say? Maybe.
My sixth-grade teacher informed me that she knew the people who had previously owned our house and believed there was a secret passage somewhere inside. Needless to say, I spent that entire year mapping out blueprints, traipsing the perimeter of our yard, knocking on basement walls, and making up stories about whoever and whatever might be inhabiting a secret passage somewhere inside. Did I ever find out if said secret passage existed? No. Did it matter? Also no. Because I was creating my own world, embracing my boredom.
I’m convinced that boredom matters now more than ever. As we’re facing a slog of AI slop and the constant need to be plugged into technology, I’m leaning deeper into boredom. Without boredom, I would never have the joy of stumbling through a messy first draft, completely stuck on a plot point, staring off into space. And then inevitably, like magic, that ah-ha moment strikes! The pieces that just weren’t fitting snap into place, or a character swoops in to save the scene. Without sitting in our boredom, we miss nuance, we miss synchronicity, we miss the small moments that might end up being the spark of something brand new.
I’m not sure I was always aware that I built boredom into my writing routine, but I’m very conscious and grateful for that now. My mornings start with a walk around my neighborhood or a swim at our community pool, ample time and space to let my brain drift anywhere it wants to go. I might pay attention to the way the wind shakes purple blossoms loose from the trees, or to how the air is tinged with the sweet scent of jasmine mingling with chlorine. Maybe I’ll listen to the sound of the birds or stop in the park to people watch for a few minutes. Or I’ll brew myself a strong cup of coffee, grab my notebook and a pencil, and sit in silence for a while.
Boredom isn’t an empty void of nothingness. It’s a chance to activate new connections, to daydream, and imagine. I have stacks and stacks of scribbled stories resting in a drawer that are still waiting to be told, thanks to the beauty of boredom.
And speaking of secret passages, that summer search inspired my newest series, The Secret Bookcase and Novel Detectives.
Readers: What about you? How does boredom play into your life? I’d love to hear what it looks like for you. I’ll share a signed copy of A Very Novel Murder with one lucky person who answers this question in the comments.
About A Very Novel Murder: Opening a detective agency above her beloved bookstore seems like the perfect business plan―until Annie Murray’s first case involves a suspicious death right on her doorstep.
June Munrow, an elderly resident of Annie’s home town, Redwood Grove, is convinced that young Kelly Taylor’s recent drowning wasn’t the tragic accident everyone believes it to be. Despite the police ruling, June is determined to prove there’s more to the story and hires the Novel Detectives to uncover the truth.
As Annie delves into Kelly’s life, she discovers a tangled web of secrets involving Kelly’s complicated relationships, a peculiar landlord, and her mysterious roommate. Everyone connected to Kelly seems to be hiding something, and the deeper Annie digs, the more puzzling the case becomes. With her trademark blend of curiosity and compassion, can Annie piece together the clues and solve her first official case―before she gets into deep water herself?
Ellie Alexander is a voracious reader and a lover of all things bookish. She has published 46 novels and counting, with over half a million copies in print. She writes for Macmillan, Storm, and Simon & Schuster, and her books have been translated into Japanese, Spanish, German, Russian, Italian, Slovakian, Czech, and French.
Chicks on the Case 