[/caption]Did you ever put a jingle on a jangle?
How about a dingle on a dangle?
On the advice of Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones, and other writing books through which I am currently skimming, I perform a daily writing exercise that involves me grabbing a notebook and a pen, sitting down, preferably with earplugs in, and writing for as long as I can without allowing the pen to stop.
Usually, after I get past two or three pages of "this is stupid and not helpful" and "I just heard Lily in the other room" type of stuff, I enter a dreamlike state wherein I am writing about what I am seeing inside of my mind. I am a burst of light flowing onward, describing what I encounter on my fluid path of energy.
Not well. Not poetically. And as I go on my handwriting becomes increasingly illegible. It's all very relaxing, but today I find myself wondering... is this actually helping me to become a better writer? I don't produce any usable material during these exercises.
Sometimes I "snap to" upon penning a moderately interesting sentence and desperately try to steer it into becoming a poem of some satisfying consequence, all the while aware that my pen mustn't halt. Unfortunately, my sanguine expectations are always for naught and the afterbirth of my efforts appears childlike with brief, clipped, simplistic verses that are often ugly in nature, and impugn my present peace of mind.
Do any of you participate in writing exercises of this sort, or any that you have found to be particularly helpful with regards to producing quality publishable material?
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I usually do all my writing exercises in my head. Usually when I'm in the shower, some of my best ideas occur while washing the crap off my body, or whilst on the loo. Seems like I'm getting rid of crap there as well. Perhaps the elimination of all the crap makes room for artistic though?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, my main problem is that once I make it to the computer I've forgotten of most of what I was thinking. Perhaps I've just picked up other crap along the way? ;)
.-= Sire´s last blog ..A Poem For Halloween The Night Of Frights =-.
I am with Sire, except for on the 'loo'. Although I am sure I think there, too. I generally do my best writing in the shower or driving down the road. Yet, even if I were somewhere I could write I would be distracted by the actual writing/typing and lose my train of thought [I think faster than I type].
ReplyDeleteRight now I am trying to find my voice through my blog[s]. And I joined a short story group on gather [100-word short stories] to help stimulate thought.
Now, what I have noticed [from author's notes] is many tend to be a part of a writer's group [when they start out] and gain feedback in that manner. Which makes sense to me as we are our own worst critic.
Sire, Anne said the same thing the other day about the shower. I’m thinking there is something to this for some people. Being around the flowing, hmmm…
ReplyDeleteI used to get so frustrated at all these “lost” insights that could not be shared with the world. It helps me to think of our spring of creativity as limitless instead of lamenting our good ideas literally being washed down the drain. (Or flushed down the toilet as it were lol)
You do bring up an interesting point about the crap we pick up blocking our access to our creativity.
Anne, thank you, I keep reading about writers groups as well. To be honest, they scare the crap out of me! Also, how can you be sure that the people critiquing your efforts know what they're talking about? I'm so afraid of negative feedback that steers me in a bad direction. Or maybe just criticism in general, to be honest. I'm pretty sensitive, but I know I need to toughen up if I want to be a writer, because we put our stuff out there for everyone to see and judge, and there will always be negative comments.
ReplyDeleteHow do you like writing short stories? I've never attempted one. Do you think writing them is helpful if you want to become a novelist?
wow this is amazing. ive never done this before nor have i encountered it before but i found it interesting that this is exactly how I wrote my most recent blog post. haha!
ReplyDeletei started with a blank sheet and just typed and typed. The proofread it. lol. I was thinking it didn't matter what I wrote about - it was a personal blog after all. Haha!
.-= reyjr´s last blog ..It's a personal blog after all =-.
It's fun to see what you come up with! :) Hopefully Disqus will let me comment on your post sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteIt was quite amusing. It brought out what I was really feeling at that moment - and surprisingly it wasn't about work. haha, it usually is.
ReplyDeleteYes I hope disqus fixes itself soon. Im beginning to feel left out in the cold boo! :_(
.-= reyjr´s last blog ..It's a personal blog after all =-.
I am with you on the writer's groups. I am quite sensitive myself. I am working through that & trying to accept criticism & plan to post more on my writing blog to that effect.
ReplyDeleteI seem to be drawn to short stories [& poetry] for some odd reason. It could be because I have not developed my plot just yet and I'm hoping I may be able to fuse together some of my various short snippets at some point. And those 100-word stories are more like brain teasers. I do believe it does give me focus and helps me experiment with different characters.
Thank you for your response & thoughts on this, Anne. I appreciate it! I do not want to hone in on your writers group, but do you have a website or another group to recommend?
ReplyDeleteI MUST get some practice with fiction. I've tried a bit here and there and it's totally different from blogging.
(That's the last question for the day I promise, you poor thing.)
I've read about this technique before although it was named differently. It's called Morning Pages. You just write non-stop whatever comes to mind. Junk. Non-sense. Stream-of-consciousness stuff. The idea is to rid your mind of negative thoughts and to just keep on writing till you hit something.
ReplyDeleteI'd only do this when I'm hopelessly lost or when the mind is a blank. Otherwise, if it's post and I have a small idea, I'd just outline it and flesh it out and start writing.
But that's blogging. You're talking of fiction, right? In that sense, I'd prefer taking a walk instead. Walking is very agreeable to thinking. You plot your ideas in your head with no carbon emission and you get your exercise, too. Ahehehe
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Metric that Trumps Alexa Ranking and PageRank =-.
I have written many poems from a photo. I even challenge my writing community to write from a picture that I'll post. That reminds me, I need to post a pic.
ReplyDelete.-= Rose´s last blog ..Meals on a Budget – Tuna Vegetable Casserole =-.
Critique is essential in any writer’s career. Accepting criticism is something that we all must face, even if we don't like it.
ReplyDelete.-= Rose´s last blog ..Rose DesRochers Interview with Author Daniel Hayes =-.
I agree - that has to be a good technique.
ReplyDeleteI joined your writing community, but it seems pretty new and I'm not sure where to get started.
I agree. But, and I really need advice here so I can overcome my resistance to putting myself out there, how can you tell when criticism is helpful, and what to act upon? There are some things that we can all work on like grammar, syntax, etc., but the way we express ourselves - should we allow people to critique us on that? I'm afraid that I will join a writers groups filled with people who will drone me into sounding just like THEY sound. I want to sound like me, only better - or rather, I want to develop the tools to express myself to the most satisfying extent.
ReplyDeleteSorry for picking your brain and hog your time, Rose! I'm just so curious about all of this.
If you haven't read my article "Critique The Poem - Not The Poet" you should. The concept behind the article can be put towards any kind of writing.
ReplyDeleteWe should always strive to be helpful, never hurtful. As I once said "Never underestimate the wannabe editor: He'll hit you over the head with his dictionary."
I agree that our writing is something very personal to us. I don't think anyone should critique the way that someone expresses themselves.
As writers we should help one another. I don't believe in belittling anyone. I have had my writing belittled and it isn't a very nice feeling at all.
But you know while they may be poking fun at my writing; someone else is reading what I wrote and taking my important advice to heart.
By the way, you are not hogging my time.
The best advice I can give is that a fellow writer who wants to see you succeed will give you advice to make your writing all that it can be.
Feel free to pick out the errors I have in this reply. I'm sure there are many. hehe
.-= Rose´s last blog ..Rose DesRochers Interview with Author Daniel Hayes =-.
It is very new. We just launched in Aug. I use to admin another community for several years, but we changed names and domains to better cater to a male audience as well. You'll see the community is more poetry then stories, so I'm not sure how much feedback you'll get on stories, but feel free to ask questions in the forum or start a discussion on this very subject.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Rose
.-= Rose´s last blog ..Televisions go Pink =-.
I used to have my students do that kind of stuff. I think it does open your mind, get past the superficial things that happened to day and start thinking about why things are the way they are...that kind of thing.
ReplyDeleteBut no...other than on my workshop days I don't really do any writing exercises. :)
.-= Mama Kat´s last blog ..Writer's Workshop: My Daughter's Mother =-.
Heather, I reckon if anyone ever comes up with a thought recorder, they would be an instant millionaire. I know I would buy one. Imagine never having to rely on your memory again. You just have to play back your recorder.
ReplyDeleteThere is one drawback though, you sure would have to delete a lot of crap. Oh, and you would never want it to get into someone else's hands. Mmmmm, there would have to be a failsafe on it so that only you could play it back.
.-= Sire´s last blog ..The Horror Trip To Melbourne And Back =-.
To be a good writer, one must exceed his/her limitation. This can be done by practicing, no matter how boring or senseless it is. With each practice, you develop your skill in an unconscious level.
ReplyDeleteJust don't give up, write whatever comes to your mind, don't make sense of it, just write. Eventually, your mind will make sense of everything you write. :-)
I've never tried to think while walking. I usually just zone out. Nowadays I've got the kiddos with me, so any thinking outside of, "Look at that lion lawn ornament!" is out. But I hear you. I think we're supposed to get to "first thoughts" with this exercise, the thoughts that are more creative in nature before our censors get to them and change them to make sense of them (or something like that).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I can't wait to start walking again. It's been way too hot!
Thank you so much Rose, that is fantastic advice. I'm just soaking it in. No errors at all. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Mama Kat, I appreciate you coming here and answering my question. How awesome of you!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm sure I'll end up doing that!
ReplyDeleteYou said, "I think we’re supposed to get to “first thoughts” with this exercise, the thoughts that are more creative in nature before our censors get to them and change them to make sense of them.."
ReplyDeleteGreat! I never saw it that way. Thanks for pointing this out. :)
.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Metric that Trumps Alexa Ranking and PageRank =-.
Thank you, Walter. You're right. I've been at it seriously for a very small amount of time. I am too impatient. I need to keep plugging away every day and hopefully things will improve. I will strive to be consistent. (Hopefully my mind will eventually make sense of everything I write and THINK lol)
ReplyDeleteDo you still want me to PayPal you $5 for saying that? lol
ReplyDeleteIt's the other way around. People should pay you for crafting fantastic ways of getting to the point when they can become awesome writers. This technique, for example. There must be other goodies around here. Maybe it's time for a blog hunt for them. Pronto. :)
ReplyDelete.-= jan geronimo´s last blog ..Metric that Trumps Alexa Ranking and PageRank =-.
Remember, for every one person that dislikes your Writing, there will be two people who love your writing. :)
ReplyDelete.-= Rose´s last blog ..Televisions go Pink =-.
Rose, are you saying somebody doesn't like my writing?!? (Juuuuust kidding...) ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's actually incredibly helpful advice. Even if it's not true in my case (stop that, inner critic!) to think of it as so will help me to keep a good thought. :)
We are definitely our own worst critic! I think your writing is amazing ~ and am not alone by looking at your following.
ReplyDeleteAfter read Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series [stopped after about 15 I think], then going back and reading her very first story I can see a huge difference in the way she writes. That and I truly believe she is working through some repressed sexual fantasies [that's why I stopped reading the series].
The point is, in the beginning the writing in unrefined and messy, but as we keep at it, the writing refines itself through what we've learned. Hmm, maybe there is something to those writing exercises. ;)
.-= Anne´s last blog ..More NaNoWriMo Preparation =-.
I don't even know where to begin! Wow. Thanks for the encouragement, I appreciate it. Thanks for sharing your insights about Anita Blake. So you think she's acting out repressed sexual fantasies, eh? And it made reading her books all icky for you? Now I'm curious! I get your point about improvement. From what I've been reading, you learn to write a novel by writing a novel. I just hope I AM able to improve! I'd hate to get stuck in one phase of development.
ReplyDeleteActually, it was a bit embarrassing for me. And I never thought myself to be a prude, go figure. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou'll improve and find the right people to guide you as well. I think it's all part of the process. I lack patience, too and fear failure. BUT, if I never try then I have failed so it becomes self-fulfilling. Gotta love the irony of it all.
I have concluded that Disqus is guarding the sanctity of the universe by not letting us comment on Rey's blog at the same time. Either you may comment, or I may, but never both of us. The world might end.
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..A Friendly Challenge =-.
I see. The two of us taking up the same space at the same time create a virus of sorts.
ReplyDeleteThat's from Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way." I enjoyed that book a lot. Another I'd recommend is Rita Mae Brown's "Starting from Scratch."
ReplyDelete.-= Holly Jahangiri´s last blog ..A Friendly Challenge =-.