(New title for the blog is Fictionary now. K?)
One of the purposes for writing this blog is to reach out to others who find it difficult to pursue their creative interests. I think the struggle to create for us is an illusion, however. In our minds, artful expression is seen, to some degree, as an overflowing fountain of blissful magic that you tap into willy nilly whenever you want to work on your watershed masterpiece.
So it comes as quite the shock to the system when your fanciful craft seems to be...hard. All of a sudden, you remember those dishes in the cabinet that you just cleaned yesterday but you didn't CLEAN clean, so off to the kitchen you go. Next, as you stare at the computer, you realize that, gee golly gosh, your spoons haven't been alphabetized in forever. And then, as you get a fleeting notion to sit and write, you look up at your spinning fan and suddenly remember you need to relocate to Alaska. Now! So you load up your car with a week's supply of Lunchables you kept in your "bug out" bag and Limp Bizkit's entire discography. Then you stop to pick up every stray cat you see as you trek towards your new life as "Bob" or "Lucy" or "Dumbledore", managing the shit out of a Little Caesar's.
This fear that drives us away from these creative pursuits and into the arms of even the most mundane tasks is something that affects all creative types, especially writers. To paraphrase Chris Baty, the creator of NANOWRIMO, people often become too afraid to write down their ideas because they think that the act of writing seems to only do harm to the idea. In reality, writers are transitioning from the fantastical notions of writing to the "nose to the grindstone" humbling reality of writing.
This all leads to my own recent personal realization: If you want to write, you have to treat is as a job (or your 2nd job, in some cases). Show up and plan to work. That's it. Mark off time on your calendar and just write. Write anything. Your only goal is to be productive. Why the hell else do you think I write a blog that no one reads? Because it forces me overcome my own inhibitions and write, and darn does it feel tingly in the feels when I hit that publish button .
If it helps, outline what you're planning to write. Or free write with your pants off. Or chart your progress with your pants off. In truth, pants are the true culprit of laziness, but you should also just conduct some form of writing that constitutes as work. It won't always feel like you're going to the salt mines, though. In the midst of it all, you will find enjoyment.
So, that got weird at the end. Hope all of that made sense, somehow.
Now, throw your pants back on. It's writing exercise time!
Writing Exercise #2: It's alive!!!!!!
Time: 10-15 minutes, non-stop (Keep typing or writing for the duration, no breaks)
Pick one of your pets. If you don't have any pets (what kind of fresh hell is that, really), pick an inanimate object in the room. Now tell a story with these sequence of events. Do your best to thread the events together into a cohesive story.
1. The pet (or object) suddenly develops the ability to communicate.
2. The pet (or object) talks to you. What's the first thing it wants to talk about?
3. The pet (or object) runs into one of your neighbors outside. What happens?
4. The pet (or object) takes the public transport. Where does it go?
5. The pet (or object) runs into it's sworn enemy. Who/what is it and why are they enemies?
Remember, the whole point of these exercises is to get stuff done, regardless of quality.
- Morgan Cain
Currently Reading: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
One of the purposes for writing this blog is to reach out to others who find it difficult to pursue their creative interests. I think the struggle to create for us is an illusion, however. In our minds, artful expression is seen, to some degree, as an overflowing fountain of blissful magic that you tap into willy nilly whenever you want to work on your watershed masterpiece.
So it comes as quite the shock to the system when your fanciful craft seems to be...hard. All of a sudden, you remember those dishes in the cabinet that you just cleaned yesterday but you didn't CLEAN clean, so off to the kitchen you go. Next, as you stare at the computer, you realize that, gee golly gosh, your spoons haven't been alphabetized in forever. And then, as you get a fleeting notion to sit and write, you look up at your spinning fan and suddenly remember you need to relocate to Alaska. Now! So you load up your car with a week's supply of Lunchables you kept in your "bug out" bag and Limp Bizkit's entire discography. Then you stop to pick up every stray cat you see as you trek towards your new life as "Bob" or "Lucy" or "Dumbledore", managing the shit out of a Little Caesar's.
This fear that drives us away from these creative pursuits and into the arms of even the most mundane tasks is something that affects all creative types, especially writers. To paraphrase Chris Baty, the creator of NANOWRIMO, people often become too afraid to write down their ideas because they think that the act of writing seems to only do harm to the idea. In reality, writers are transitioning from the fantastical notions of writing to the "nose to the grindstone" humbling reality of writing.
This all leads to my own recent personal realization: If you want to write, you have to treat is as a job (or your 2nd job, in some cases). Show up and plan to work. That's it. Mark off time on your calendar and just write. Write anything. Your only goal is to be productive. Why the hell else do you think I write a blog that no one reads? Because it forces me overcome my own inhibitions and write, and darn does it feel tingly in the feels when I hit that publish button .
If it helps, outline what you're planning to write. Or free write with your pants off. Or chart your progress with your pants off. In truth, pants are the true culprit of laziness, but you should also just conduct some form of writing that constitutes as work. It won't always feel like you're going to the salt mines, though. In the midst of it all, you will find enjoyment.
So, that got weird at the end. Hope all of that made sense, somehow.
Now, throw your pants back on. It's writing exercise time!
Writing Exercise #2: It's alive!!!!!!
Time: 10-15 minutes, non-stop (Keep typing or writing for the duration, no breaks)
Pick one of your pets. If you don't have any pets (what kind of fresh hell is that, really), pick an inanimate object in the room. Now tell a story with these sequence of events. Do your best to thread the events together into a cohesive story.
1. The pet (or object) suddenly develops the ability to communicate.
2. The pet (or object) talks to you. What's the first thing it wants to talk about?
3. The pet (or object) runs into one of your neighbors outside. What happens?
4. The pet (or object) takes the public transport. Where does it go?
5. The pet (or object) runs into it's sworn enemy. Who/what is it and why are they enemies?
Remember, the whole point of these exercises is to get stuff done, regardless of quality.
- Morgan Cain
Currently Reading: The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith
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