Mind Tide
Spring Sky
In the past two months, I’ve written 24K words in a document of brainstorming where, in theory, I test run ideas. Most days, it feels like I’m simply typing, keeping my fingers going. Hello, there, fingertips. Weird and boring and random things show up there, but I don’t go back to erase. I don’t care if I repeat. I let myself daydream. I look up bits of research and drop them in so they’re somewhere, not really refindable, but still there. I invoke Tennessee Williams with his “Loss, loss, loss” line about the ticking of the clock when he was not doing his art, like I’m reminding myself of an inside joke where I don’t have to explain anything to myself because we understand.
The document has messy honesty and purity that I relish–my own, personal mind tide. If you’re brainstorming, too, I encourage you to try your own version of such a document.
On a more coherent note, I learned from a friend recently that one of my blog posts mattered to her. She mentioned that she hadn’t been able to comment on it, and when my tech guy looked into that, we learned that my comment system had been effectively closed for, oh, about a year.
I had to laugh. Life and technology are just curious sometimes.
3 Responses to Mind Tide
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This is such a good idea! I am a senior in college studying history, and in order to graduate I have to write a 25 page research essay that I hope to also get published in a journal (fingers crossed). This process is often overwhelming, and I find it is nice to write even if it isn’t quality content. Getting something, if anything, down on the page gets my brain working. It reminds me of artists who keep sketchbooks filled with random blurbs, drawings, and inspirations for future pieces. It doesn’t have to be good–it just has to spark motivation. It’s encouraging to read your blog posts, and know I’m not alone in the writing process! Thanks for that (:
Kristen ~ Writing a research essay can be especially challenging, in my opinion. In college, I used to tell myself I only had to write for five minutes, just five minutes to get anything on the page. After that, I could step away from my desk. Yet once I had done that, I was usually able to go on, or at least I had something to come back to. You are absolutely right that getting something down gets the brain working. I wish you all the best with your project! Thanks for commenting.
All best,
Caragh
Hi,
I like what you wrote. Thank you.
John