Thursday, November 6, 2008

Keeping Your Creativity Flowing

Okay so it's day 6, by now you're happily typing along on your story, which by the way you know is certain to be a best seller... Things are looking up baby UP! and suddenly the phone rings, the kids scream in the kitchen that the sinks overflowing, the next door neighbour reports your dog running down the street, telemarketers call, the Avon Lady shows up with her latest catalogue, and many many more things happen in your day to try to stop you keep on keeping on with your story. (by the way that's not my child, just a stock photo, but you get my point)
After dealing with the disasters that only you could solve you sit back down at your computer, everythings quiet on the Western Front and then.... nothing blank nada zilch. You have a quick read over what you were typing before said disasterous interruptus occurred and go to type but nothing comes out.
Where's it gone? The creative flow? What happened? Can you commit murder on those who interrupted you without being sentenced? Using NaNoWriMo as a psychological excuse 'sorry Your Honour but they stopped my creative flow' is not really that good an excuse.
Okay so we know these things happen, how are we going to get back into the groove?
I find watching a good movie which is in the same genre as I'm writing helps me. Or reading a good book. (I know at this time it feels like you can't take time out to read because you have all these words to write, but trust me, if you take a little time now it'll mean you don't spend forever typing the same boring thing day in day out).
Try some brainstorming exercises - take 15 minutes and write anything you like. Can be the first thing in your head or something you saw in the paper. Whatever it is just write write write. Don't stop it can be pure gibberish words if you like. Just don't stop until the buzzer goes off and says your 15 minutes are up. If you do this a couple of times you'll find that somewhere in your writing is a germ of an idea you can implant into your story to kick start your writing again.
Another great thing to do is take time out to play. And I do mean play. Get some paint and paper and do finger painting. Run around in the back yard under the hose. Sing a very bad song at the top of your voice (or should that be sing a song very badly at the top of your voice?).
Let your steam out and then go sit down.
Interruptions happen. We know they do.
Accept it and move on. Quick brianstorms work. Running around the backyard playing works. Giggling, laughing, crying over a soppy movie. They all work. We feel refreshed and can start back on our story. Get your frustrations out before you hit the keyboard and your characters will thank you.!

1 comment:

Sandie Hudson said...

Movies always do it for me Nat. I sit back a watch one of my fav's and I'm normally right. I say normally because it's not happening this time. So I'm just going with the flow.

Sandie