Brief: We all know at least one good warm up
exercise to get our brain geared up and ready to write; the one
creative task that gets our imagination bubbling with ideas.
Share them and try each others' out.
Okay so I have some ideas
First: Natalie Goldberg’s 'Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within' suggests using scrappy notebooks, so that a writer feels less inhibited about what they write.
This is excellent advice for me, as a pristine, 'posh' notebook calls for pristine posh writing right? Okay so now you have the note book sorted...
Have you ever tried Free Writing?
It’s like surfing your mind with the thoughts spilling out onto the page like waves. Somewhere amongst the foam and buffeting surf boards will be your story idea.
A FREEWRITE is whatever flows from your mind through your pen in 10 -15 mins. If
you have a topic heading, maybe a Competition Challenge Theme, then you
can use it as a Word Association Cue as your 'Focused' Free write prompt.
Random thoughts are allowed, it’s part of freeing up your writing senses. Let the words flow freely, you can switch from subject to subject without worrying about spelling, grammar or punctuation
Random thoughts are allowed, it’s part of freeing up your writing senses. Let the words flow freely, you can switch from subject to subject without worrying about spelling, grammar or punctuation
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Also sitting at home can make you stale. Go Out and getting stimulation/ ideas. A railway journey really gets my juices
flowing or a wonderful walk.
Also I have started reading Writing and Selling your novel which suggests that one must set a writing target for every day not in hours but in pages or words to get your writing juices flowing.
What sparks you?
My brain definitely wakes up when I read the morning paper! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Lots of wonderful inspiration! I'm a visual learner, so watching movies or plays really inspires me to write.
ReplyDeleteI've never tried free writing but I know people who swear by it. It's meant to be a really good way of unlocking your 'voice'.
ReplyDeleteI like your idea of just letting your mind run wild for a few minutes. Will have to try that one...
ReplyDeleteHello Maddy. I left a comment in your previous post too.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of freewriting, but I rarely do it. When I do, it's rubbish, but I think that it is supposed to be up to a point.
I once read that you should write before you're properly awake each morning, so your subconscious can write before your brain/editor kicks in Apparently some writers have found this an amazingly creative exercise.
Thanks for your great post. Mine's up also.
Excellent advice! Although I do know about freewriting, I don't do it as much as I should!
ReplyDeleteThanks Charmaine. Let us know if you have a go at it.
DeleteThanks for the tip. I had heard about Freewrite, though I tried it for a few days, I could not sustain it for long. Will try it again.
ReplyDeleteOld Kitty LOL! yes that is a great reference for stories too.
ReplyDeleteDenise, yes I have heard about that too, though it is slightly different from free-writing.
Kate, Melanie, Charmaine, Rachna yes try again it's a little like word association and from it you can achieve a different perspective on a theme.
Emily, well you are in good company since Suzanne Collins was channel hopping when she got her idea for Hunger Games.
I miss my f-t-f writers group because we did free writing before any other business. Some of those writing sparked longer projects. And my brain thinks differently with pen and pad as opposed to flying fingers across a keyboard.
ReplyDeleteI do housework when I'm stuck with a WIP. It lets me keep busy and allow my mind to wander and speculate with the chore of writing it all down perfectly.
Good ideas Maddy :)
......dhole
Yes you were very active in the group. I hope you are able to join in the new group too.
DeleteI tend to use pen and pad hen I am away from the computer, though I find typing makes my fingers fly more, as my brain with handwriting works faster than I can write sometimes!
Yes housework does free the mind doesn't it? x
I like the idea of a "scrappy" (crappy?) notebook; I use composition books, under $2 at Staples. Definitely less intimidating!
ReplyDelete$2 notebook sounds ideal. I confess I love fresh new notebooks with the promise of what is to come...
DeleteSounds like a great idea and we do need to let our imagination run at times.
ReplyDeleteWe do, Nas, it's so liberating.
DeleteFree Writing sounds exactly like something I need. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes i found it liberating. let us know how it works for you.
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