Unveiling the Messy Path to Creative Writing
An article in the Creativity Research Journal states something that most of us already know: a writer’s mind is a messy place, sometimes even scary (this last observation is my own).
The report calls the writing process a “voyage of discovery” that begins with a “seed incident” (something that catches the writer’s attention and causes the writer to want to write about it) that leads to a back-and-forth “writingrealm” (thinking and planning) and “fictionworld” (actual writing).
There’s really no formula for true creative writing. It hops around all over until the writer gets on the trail of something, much like a beagle on the scent of a rabbit. At that point, the focus becomes clearer, and the path becomes easier, but it never quite resolves itself until the rabbit is caught or, in the case of a writer, the project is written, edited, and finished.
But much happens along the way. The writer brings in everything known and hidden within their memory and mixes it with various current interests and perspectives creating new unknown creations from known parts. This is what we call creativity.
So, since there is no formula, what is the tried-and-true solution for all this messy business of creativity?
Two things.
Start and then simply see and be delighted with where it all leads. Like Alice, follow the rabbit into Wonderland.
Secondly, be curious, because the more contradictory and illustrative memories and material we have as writers, the more we draw from, and the greater our work. Everything we’ve gathered throughout our lifetimes is like a box of STEM toys ready for us to assemble in all sorts of new projects to create something fresh and unique. Mix and match. That’s the secret of creativity.
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