Writing Blog Number 2

20240311 Clearing The Mind

Clearing The Mind To Write

A few years ago I received an email from someone that read, in part: “…quick question which I’d like to ask. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your head prior to writing. I’ve had trouble clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out. I do take pleasure in writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any recommendations or tips?”

Oh, I thought to myself, that’s an easy one. And I sat down to write a response. It’s just a matter of emptying your mind, letting the creativity flow. How hard could that be?

After 10 to 15 minutes I realised it wasn’t as easy as it sounds.

So, what do I do to clear my head when the words don’t come out? We’re not talking about writer’s block here, just about when you have trouble getting started for the day. Concentration, getting down to it, focus issues, shall we say.

When I was younger I’d go for a run or a quick bit of parkour (though we didn’t call it that back then – we just did gymnastics wherever we could). As I got older this was replaced by a walk. Outside, away from any distractions. Still works, but so does lifting heavy things for a while. Basically, make it physical at your comfort level.

As I get older, quite conversely and possibly contradictory, sometimes I find a quick cat-nap (or nanna-nap) helps.

I have also been known to read a book on a totally different topic or in a totally different genre to anything I have been writing as of late. This just gets the mind into a “word” mode without informing the writing.

I have also been known to watch bad television (soap operas I find work really well, because even if it is over-exaggerated, what you see are emotions and situations that could break you out of your writing malaise). Or I watch old black and white and movies; the lack of colour just allows the mind to wander a little easier.

Or, finally, I will draw a picture instead. Just doodle, scratch around on a piece of paper, and let the ideas come out in a different format.

So, something I hope helps. All of those things at one time or another have helped me break through for that first spurt of creativity.

There is one other thing to do which is have a day off, but I am a firm believer in writing something every day, so I don’t feel that is an option for me. But for others, that is yet another alternative.