Writing for the Sake of Writing

Typha plants at the edge of a small wetland in Indiana. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I did not always think in words and learning to do so both limited and expanded my world. Learning to think in words tied down my thinking. It grounded my thoughts, made them less subjective. When I thought in terms of emotions and colors, my perception of “that chair” was much more fluid. Now “that chair” is a stable idea. I lost some things when I was taught to think in words, but I became able to communicate much more easily. Just as people think for the sake of thinking, some writers carve out time to write for the sake of writing.

There is something about writing that opens up space in my mind for more thoughts. I am the sort of person who thinks about thinking – which requires a certain amount of space. But I am also prone to depressions that close that space. I find I have trouble writing during these times because I don't have the space in my head. So even when I can't write productively, I write for the sake of writing. And I find that if I write long enough – 15 minutes or 6 hours – I can usually open enough space that I can write productively for a little bit.

The manias are a different story. Then I want nothing else as much as I want to write – for a while. But what I write does not always make sense when I go back to it. So, again, I write for the sake of writing. I write for the need of words, little words that both constrain and open reality.

Writing for the sake of writing also makes me more articulate when I speak because I am practicing communication, even though I rarely share what I write during these times. To write whatever comes to mind is to reflect, to connect with myself, and to connect with the moment. It is a timeless space with only my thoughts, my keyboard, and me. But I feel better for it. So it is also a form of therapy.

Is writing for the sake of writing still a form of communication? I mean, I don't usually share it with anyone. But maybe it is a way of communicating with the self. Thoughts come and go, but write those thoughts down, and they become more real and permanent. They gain weight. It becomes easier to reflect on them, question them, follow them to the next thoughts.

These thoughts are noting profound, just an instance of writing for the sake of writing.

5 Ways to Free Your Writing

Dancers at the annual Cinco de Mayo Festival in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Cinco de Mayo is (in part) a day that celebrates freedom. As a writer, fight for freedom from cliches, stagnation, and writer block! Just as the Mexicans turned back an invading force, you can fight against these enemies of writers everywhere and everywhen.

• Brainstorm: Avoid cliches by listing multiple scenarios. I find that my best ideas come after the brainstorming becomes difficult because I'm really stretching myself. Another benefit of brainstorming is that you can combine ideas, adding complexity – even if you go with your original plan.
• Want: Write what you want, not what you think you should write. You are writing for people who like what you like. So write for yourself and you will be writing for them. Also, when you write what you want you will be more enthusiastic, creative, and persistent.
• Carry: Keep a voice recorder, a notebook, or note cards to record ideas as they come. Then they'll be available when you want them. As an added benefit, the act of recording them can generate additional ideas.
• Ask: Other people love to share ideas for characters or settings. This gives them a chance to be part of the process and gives you a new perspective.
• Rewrite: When a scene doesn't work, rewrite it regardless of your time constraints. Better to do it now rather than later. A bad scene or line – or one that just doesn't “fit” – can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection during the submission process.

Benefits of a Journal

Journal 2 Feb 2005 pg 2 (Photo credit: Terry Bain)

I started a stream-of-consciousness journal as a form of therapy and heightened self-awareness but soon saw improvement in my writing. I began keeping a typed journal. At first, I wrote maybe 20 pages a month. I didn't know what to write. A year later I write freely and my page count last month was 120+. This included random thoughts, what was happening during my day, how I felt and what I thought about that, blog posts, book and character ideas, and self-motivation, just to name a few topics. But back to how a stream-of-consciousness journal can help your  writing.

• Speed: The more often you write, the faster you will get. It may not pay off right away but think in terms of months and years.
• Fluidity: You will find that you write with fewer pauses, less thinking “what should come next”, because you are training your mind to write without hesitation
• Voice: I found my writing voice in my stream-of-consciousness journal. If you are struggling with this topic, look to where you write most naturally and with the fewest inhibitions. That is where you will find your voice.
• Twists and turns: You can use your journal to brainstorm alternative paths the action in a scene can take. Sometimes writing down the ideas instead of just thinking them can make all the difference.
• Characters: Once your thoughts begin to flow, you'll find yourself writing about whatever is on your mind – like the people around you and your characters. You find yourself writing background and attitudes for those people that you didn't realize you knew. And your knowledge deepens.
• Theme: Looking at my journal showed me what I often wrote about, what were my preoccupations. I realized that the same beliefs and attitudes were imbedded in my books. You can develop these into themes.
• Philosophy: This is somewhat tied to theme but goes a bit further. After a while, you find yourself asking yourself why you write. The answers you come up with are part of your personal writing philosophy.
• Encouragement: When you find it difficult to get around to your WIP, you can remind yourself why you write. What you get and give by writing. What you hope to accomplish. You can be your own cheerleader or bully (whatever works) and be your own motivator.