The word “writer” often conjures dreamy visions of languid afternoons and ink-stained papers but I have to say that the reality, at least for me, is somewhat less romantic. As a corporate communications writer with my feet planted firmly in the business world, my work days are packed with research, first drafts, revisions and deadlines. And although I am a published novelist, there is a lot of technical practicality involved in my writing. Solid structure, grammatical accuracy, factual integrity and technical grace are all part of the package.

But what ABOUT the stuff of dreams? How big is the divide between copywriting and creativity? Do I ever incorporate creative thinking into my work as a writer?

Absolutely!

I default to three main creative techniques when I’m looking for ideas around theme, story direction, or engagement. Here’s how I do it:

1. Brainstorming. I grab a pad of 3″ square sticky notes and a black sharpie and stand in front of a large blank wall. I define the problem I’m trying to solve, set a timer and spend three minutes scribbling every idea that comes to mind. As I finish each idea I slap it on the wall and when my time is up I’ll either start Round Two or start classifying my ideas. I make three categories: “Reject,” “So-so” and “Let’s work on these.” If I’m really lucky, I will have found the key to unlocking my creative block and I can immediately start writing.
2. Think tanks. Back in the ‘70s, my father had a large round ball filled with thousands of words written on small strips of plastic. This “think tank” had a large window and a knob on each side which allowed the user to mix the words. We would randomly select seven words and play a little word association game with each one to spur our creative thinking. Dad’s think tank is long gone so today I open up a newspaper, magazine or web page and randomly select my seven words.
3. Mind mapping. I’m not a huge fan of mind mapping but I do occasionally use the technique, and usually with success. Some excellent online software packages are available but I like the whole-body experience of standing in front of an easel or white board with a handful of coloured markers. I write the topic I want to explore in the middle of my page and circle it. Stemming off from this central circle I write the ideas that flow naturally from this initial idea, circling each one and connecting them to the central circle. I drill down as far as I can and my exploration is invariably thorough.

I think the key to any creative process is to relax and enjoy it. It may seem awkward and uncomfortable at first but the more you practice, the better you get.

I’d love to hear how you kick start your creative process – care to share your favourite in the space below?

If you’d like to know more about how I can help you along your writing continuum, contact me today!