Write More - Think Less

Before the next six weeks is over, at least fifteen Indy writers will hear me say that. Hearing it out of context, it doesn't seem to make sense, so I had better explain. (Damn clever of me to segue into a lead in to my writing classes, one of which starts tonight - June 2nd) Many writers get a clever idea and jot down some critical notes. Then they start thinking - and thinking - and over thinking and suddenly the burst of creative brilliance vanishes in a cloud of despair. The story that offered such promise is gone and the writer, after struggling mightily for some weeks or months abandons it all together, assuming the idea may not have been that good after all. Unfortunately the story is probably still good but it will languish in some computer file and eventually be sent to the Trash Bin.

In Introduction to Creative Writing, we have an exercise that demonstrates the subject. Each writer starts a story. I time the event and after a minute or two, I give a ten second warning to allow the writer to finish the sentence they are working on. Then the papers are passed to another writer. That writer reads what the previous author jotted down and then has to continue on. They, too, are timed. A minute and a half to allow reading time. And so it goes from one writer to another (usually four to a writing group). Read. Write fast. Pass. I then announce Finish It! Each writer quickly finishes the story they are working on. And then...

...We read them.

In virtually every group, the story reads well, makes sense, and most remarkably, who wrote what portion is nearly impossible to determine. Four or five people working fast with no time to think create a very enjoyable multi-paragraphed tale. Why? Because they didn't have time to worry about the right word or being clever. They simply wrote as though the team depended upon them to finish their part of the task.

And therein lies the key to writing. Get an idea. Do your research. When you're ready, sit down and start writing. Ignore spelling. Don't worry about finding the right adjective. Forget the fact that the characters' names are rather common. Write. Write as though the team depended upon you to finish fast.

When you reach that last page, now you can jazz it up. Oh, and 'jazzing it up' is actually known as Writing. The real writing. Sure, some call it something else, editing for example, but it is the Real Writing. It is when you change Jane to Lola and insert a powerful descriptive topping to add some flavor to the vanilla you served up the first time through.

Remember this. You work with things that come and go. Ideas pop up like spring storms and disappear just as fast. Writers have to get those ideas down before they aren't there any longer.

Do yourself a favor. Write Fast. Write Smart.

Think about it.