Why Write? – Part Four

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If you have just joined us, then you need to read previous editions in the series, you will find these here: https://sirpeterjames.wordpress.com/category/why-write-course/. Scroll down to the beginning, ‘Why Write?’

With each publication in this series, I will be giving you assignments to do and ask you to return these to me for editing. This way you send in your effort, which I call a ‘submission’ and I send back a ‘correction’ In doing this, you end up with a comparison.

If you have just joined us, you are free to submit the other assignments to us for correction, in addition to this one.

By now you chose a topic of your choice and wrote 2-300 words. I would say that choosing a topic was not too difficult and for our purpose here, why you chose a specific topic is not important; providing you did choose one, wrote 2-300 words and hopefully submitted it for correction to: whywritefun@gmail.com.  If you chose not to submit, that’s perfectly all right.

What is more important is looking back over the way you set about writing, after choosing the topic.

I did suggest that you follow my recommendation of, once selecting the topic, simply begin writing. Do not give it too much thought. With this in mind, I did introduce two writer types: the ‘pantser’ and the ‘plotter.’

If you are a pantser, the technique of simply writing without thinking, will come to you a little easier than if you have the style of a plotter.

Perhaps I should explain; when I suggest you write without thinking or planning ahead, I’m not saying you must always write in this manner; rather it is a simple exercise to prove to you that the more you are able to release your creativity, the greater will be its flow from ‘pen to paper.’

I want to make a point here. Whilst I agree that some of us tend to display more artistic talents than others, I believe that all of us, if we are interested, can apply our artistic skills. Writing is an artistic skill. The way to discovering your ability is simply – write!

If, to begin with, you stay away from technicalities and focus in freeing your creativity, you will  be surprised at the outcome. This does not mean that you can always work without the technicalities of writing. By the expression, ‘technicalities of writing’ I mean such as:

• Spelling.
• Grammar.
• Layout.
• Plot (in the case of a book.)
• Character building (mostly books but can work for articles as well.)

These are a few of the many.

However, at this, your beginning stage, you simply want to learn how to put your creativity on paper. The best way to do this is, yes, write!

As I mentioned last week; find a topic. Just as we are surrounded by oxygen, so we are surrounded by topics. You cannot turn your head without finding a hundred (maybe a thousand) topics of sorts. Last time I gave you a link for a list. Now we are going to do it differently.

Each day, for the next day or so, make a list in your mobile or diary until you have collected fifty items (these will become your topics). They could be anything at all. People, animals, food, drink, weather etc. Your item must be limited to ONE word. For instance: boy, dog, hamburger, wine, windy.

Once you have collected fifty, then choose seven from the list and write for twenty-four minutes (use the timer on your mobile.) Not twenty-three minutes, not twenty-five minutes – just twenty-four for each of the seven items. Do not, under any circumstances, start writing on topics until you have written fifty on your list – even if you are only going to write about seven of them.

Send your submission to: whywritefun@gmail.com I will return correction to you.

A caveat (warning). The sequence described here is important, because it is designed to release your creativity and build your confidence – so don’t cheat (on yourself)!

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