How Words Develop

How Words Develop is the second in a series: To check out the previous article Going Where the Words Lead.

Where do ideas come from, how words develop. I have several options when it comes to writing and each technique delivers different results. This post is about how words come, develop from ideas and teach us about the world. In the end there is a list of techniques to get past writer’s block.

Spontaneous free flow over time:

This is the way I have written since I was very young. You have ideas and over a period of time, often with stress and emotional hurt, suddenly they appear. I often write up to fifteen or so poems and they can happen over an afternoon or a weekend.

I have no consciousness of the actual words and the rhymes. If I have to think of any correct word or rhyming I’m not in the state I need to be. The beauty of stream of conscious is that colors, shapes and images develop naturally. Strange comparisons, metaphor, emotional depth and even nonsense: otit’s the same method in which we dream. In the past, a title of the work would come first and the words would follow. I’ve even used Writing the Natural Way, using webs of words until the ideas form. Currently I use fewer techniques to develop words and just need to be patient when they come.

I try not to write notes of ideas because often they lose the original fresh and spontaneousness, I wait for the words to go where they need and I am just a vessel to allow them to flow.

Listening to Music While Writing:

This is a very interesting technique as it forces the logical brain to detach from the writing brain. As one side of the brain is listening to music, the other is writing. The words are often very quick to come but often conscious thought interrupts the process.

There are many different types of music that Will evoke a response. Adding the television into the equation is also a great way to distract the process of writing. As with the previous technique I could barely remember the words I’ve written or explain what I was thinking, it is so far removed from writing consciously.

The reason we write is to Understand. Much of our everyday moments evoke questions, lessons and emotions. We are often unable to completely comprehend all the stimulus that affects us. This is where writing comes in, everything is analyzed and we learn more about ourselves and much more about our humanity and living in a world full of chaos.

Spontaneous from Imagery:

A recent technique I’ve been doing is taking a photograph and coming up with words, it is very quick and to the point. I don’t think of the meaning or a reason, I just come up with a photograph I have taken and then create the first words that come to mind.

It is a very different feeling than the two previous techniques. The wonderful aspect is even when I’m not in the mood to write or anxious to write it brings out words that write themselves. They are usually very short, to the point and tell a story of why I thought the photograph was worth taking.

For more Words and Pix- check out my website-Words and Pix

A Long History of Words:

I’ve been writing for many years, from the first poem, A Winter Scene, to songs, stories and even a self-help book in the works. I have always chased after words. It can be quite frustrating when the words don’t come and I have had long bouts with writer’s block.

Here are ten ideas to fight against writer’s block and these techniques have created four steel boxes full of writings and short stories in the works.

How words develop- even through Writer’s Block

1. Treat Writer’s Block like a necessary interlude. You are writing the words, they have just not become ripened fruits yet. Be patient, allow them to take you where ever they go and however they make themselves known.
2. Always be willing to put down a piece if you just haven’t reached a skill level or you just aren’t feeling it on that day.
3. Realize you will be able to write again and be calm and relaxed with the future possibility.
4. Distract your mind with music, activity, nature, etc.
5. Draw the trial web as explained in Writing the Natural Way.
6. Keep writing even if you don’t feel like you are improving or you don’t like the results. Writing is a muscle that needs to be worked, your voice will follow.
7. Don’t bog yourself down with perfection in the initial draft, just write, enjoy it, feel free and unhampered, that’s what editors are for.
8. Don’t be too critical, be open, be available for whatever comes.
9. Enjoy the art of writing, make lots of lists, collect things that remind you of words, ideas, thoughts and aspects of creativity.
10. Spend some time alone, be silent, listen to nature and yourself-when the two unite words are often a natural product.

For more poetry check out poetry collections on Artbygordon.com