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Summary: Stuck on a writing project? Or is there something you'd love to write, but you can't get up nerve to start? Here's how to be writer you already are.

Category: Writing

Words: 1230

Write Before You Look

Copyright © 2003 by Angela Booth

Are you stuck on a writing project? Or is there something you'd love to write, but you can't get up nerve to start? In over 25 years of writing, I've found that writing happens on page. Just start writing. You can't do anything until you begin.

Other writers make same point. In his book *Immediate Fiction, A Complete Writing Course*, author Jerry Cleaver recommends that when you're writing, "you leap first and look later". Cleaver believes that when you're creating, you should let your imagination do heavy lifting. Daydream. Pretend. Let your imagination lead you where it wants to go. You will write more, and reach places you can’t get to in any other way.

Writing, like any creative endeavor, requires that we use both sides of our brain, left and right. Our left brain is dominant partner, and while we're awake, our left brain is active. This means that when we think: "No way, I could never write a book" or "I could never write a screenplay" we're taking word of our left brain.

The creative impulse came from our creative right brain, but our left brain, which deals in realities, immediately said: "Whoa! No, you've no evidence for that. Couldn’t do that --- you've never done it before. Wouldn’t work. Silly idea."

Take a moment. Think. How often have you taken word of your left brain? Decide today, that whenever you get a creative impulse, very impulse which gave you that idea also knows how to make it work, so all you have to do is put your body in place where that can happen. The creative impulse comes to all creatives, so if you get an impulse to take a photograph, or paint, or cook, or sew a scarf --- follow through. For writers, place to follow through is with a pen in hand, or in front of a computer screen.

Here's a process to use to become familiar with writing before you look. Try it. It will feel unfamiliar at first, and you'll worry about whether you're doing it "right". Be assured that as long as your body is relaxed, your left brain is (more or less) out of way, and you're freeing your creative right brain.

=> The Write Before You Look Process

==> One: Clear your mind

From moment you wake up in morning, your left brain is in charge. This side of your brain does a great job of getting you where you need to be, and helps you to fit into society, but it's not creative.

To allow your right brain's creative impulses to get your attention, you need to quiet your left brain. Any repetitive task will do this. Knitting and needlework are good. So are walking and driving, and taking a shower. Listening to classical music also works.

You can't always be moving around, so it's best to learn a sit- down process. The easiest way to clear your mind is to progressively relax every part of your body. If you've ever done any stress-reduction courses, you'll know that in progressive relaxation you focus on your body from your toes to top of your head, and gently relax all your muscles. Just take each part of your body in turn, and tell each set of muscles to relax.