Going with the Flow
June 1, 2017
I've been trying something completely different. Usually, I know I want to write about a subject, or I've had an idea, and I plan as much as I can before I start writing, but for the past few days I've simply written whatever comes into my head. I haven't had any characters or story in mind, nor have I attempted to shape my thoughts. I've simply daydreamed on paper. In fact, as far as possible, I've avoided censoring or editing what I've written. If I try to think of what might happen or deliberately construct scenes or plots, I'll probably block myself.
There are a couple of characters emerging in different scenes, and I'm getting to know them better each time I pick up my pencil without me deciding in advance on a back story or any of the other things in their lives. These things are coming to me piecemeal without me asking questions. It is a little like becoming friends with someone you've just met, and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.
So far, going with the flow has given me six pages–of what, I'm not sure. It might be a play, a story or something longer. It might turn into something brilliant, or it might be rubbish. At the moment, I really don't want to analyse it. Instead, I shall continue to let the words come as they will until I run out. Time enough then to organise and refine what I've got. Whatever it turns out to be, one thing is sure–it will be different.
Although I hadn't planned it that way, I can see a link between what I've been doing and a feature of mine which is on Thresholds (http://www.thresholds.chi.ac.uk) about D. H. Lawrence's short story, 'The Prussian Officer', which he wrote at a time when theories of the conscious and unconscious or primal were being developed. It's strange how things are connected sometimes.
There are a couple of characters emerging in different scenes, and I'm getting to know them better each time I pick up my pencil without me deciding in advance on a back story or any of the other things in their lives. These things are coming to me piecemeal without me asking questions. It is a little like becoming friends with someone you've just met, and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.
So far, going with the flow has given me six pages–of what, I'm not sure. It might be a play, a story or something longer. It might turn into something brilliant, or it might be rubbish. At the moment, I really don't want to analyse it. Instead, I shall continue to let the words come as they will until I run out. Time enough then to organise and refine what I've got. Whatever it turns out to be, one thing is sure–it will be different.
Although I hadn't planned it that way, I can see a link between what I've been doing and a feature of mine which is on Thresholds (http://www.thresholds.chi.ac.uk) about D. H. Lawrence's short story, 'The Prussian Officer', which he wrote at a time when theories of the conscious and unconscious or primal were being developed. It's strange how things are connected sometimes.
Posted by K. S. Dearsley. Posted In : Inspiration
