I think writers and online content creators often get "stuck" because they feel an obligation to sit down and write about "something."
Of course, there's nothing wrong with choosing a subject matter, and that's not the point here. The point is that sometimes we can get roadblocked by our perception that we "can't" write something unless we have a defined subject matter.
Lavender in the evening sun
Freewriting, and Such...
Over the years, the way I approach writing has changed considerably. More and more of my articles and blog posts are born out of no more than the most tenuous wisps of ideas... and then I just let the words flow.
It wasn't always like that.
Here in Steemlandia, @mariannewest runs a very popular and successful daily "Freewriting" community, which has developed quite a following.
Freewriting can be pretty useful... take a topic or a word, and sit down and write whatever comes to mind for five minutes. Or ten minutes. Or whatever.
I have used freewriting from time to time, but I tend to be far too verbose to get my thoughts out in the course of just five minutes. Besides, I don't like the idea of having to cut off a flowing train of thought simply because a timer tells me to!
But I still think it's a great exercise for many people... so DO try it!
Daisies
Julia Cameron and "Morning Pages"
Julia Cameron is a widely known "Creativity Coach" and writing teacher — best known for her "Artist's Way" and "Right to Write" books — and she advocates a practice of "Morning Pages."
This is basically a form of personal journaling. First thing in the morning — before you do your chores, or turn on the news, or read your email, or check social media — you sit down and journal a few pages on whatever comes into your head. Even if it's complete nonsense.
The idea behind prioritizing it as the first thing you do on a new day is that you release your creative flow before your mind is "polluted" by other people's words and ideas, and news stories and the like. It's really a kind of brain dump...
On the other hand, you are connecting with the purest expression of your own creativity.
I started with Morning Pages more than 15 years ago, and although I am not as regular as I used to be, I still use this tool from time to time.
Random sparrow in a tree...
My Own Hybrid: Working With What I've Learned
95% of the posts on this blog are created via my own "hybrid" of various approaches to creative writing I have used in the past 40-odd years.
Most of the time when I sit down, I might have a sentence or basic idea ringing through my head... so I sit down and start typing, and just let the words "tell their own story."
Truthfully, half the time I don't even have any idea where I am going to end up!
Quite often, I might start off writing a piece about the importance of pets as stress reducers, and end up with a piece on local economics. I think the reason it works for me (and for a lot of people I have counseled/coached) is that I don't have to deal with the imaginary psychological "fence" we call rules. And therein lies a valuable insight: It's rarely lacking creativity that causes writer's block, more often it's structural confinements.
"Munch!"
In a sense Free Association writing, is a form of "freewriting," except there is no time limit, and if I wander freely between topics, so that's also not a problem.
Of course, it should be quite obvious that this kind of approach isn't very useful if you're on assignment from a magazine or web site to create a very specific essay about a particular topic... this is a method best suited to helping those who keep personal blogs.
Thanks for reading!
(Another #creativecoin creative non-fiction post)
How about YOU? What's YOUR approach to writing and content creation? Do you "need" a topic, in order to start writing? Comments, feedback and other interaction is invited and welcomed! Because — after all — SOCIAL content is about interacting, right? Leave a comment-- share your experiences-- be part of the conversation!
(As usual, all text and images by the author, unless otherwise credited. This is original content, created expressly for this platform.)
Created at 20200204 14:15 PST
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