Training the Brain-Hand Connection to Improve Writing

This morning, as with most mornings, I start with a blank page in front of me and a coffee to the side. Sometimes, before I start, I know what I’m going to write about. I might have an idea that has been burning a whole in my skull. Other days like today, I have no idea where this will take me.

Sometimes I get really random ideas of things to write. Yesterday’s was “if my main character [in the book I’m trying to write] was a peacock, what type of peacock would he be?” I’ve no idea what connections I was trying to make about that one! I was passing a book shop at the time, so maybe I saw a book with peacock feathers on in the window?

Sometimes ideas strike us down and sometimes they just don’t flow. This morning I’m taking the approach of just writing and seeing where we end up. I really enjoy this type of writing; it’s unencumbered. It’s the free flow where sometimes super cool things pop into your brain. They may not be useful now, but might be for something later in the day.

I always carry something with me, usually my phone but occasionally a notebook, to write down those ideas when they do strike. There has been many times when I’ve thought of something amazing, then forgotten it all of two minutes later. I’m always surprised when a great idea vanishes. I mean if it was such a great idea, why did I not remember it?

There are a lot of books around about how to manage ideas, how to link ideas and how to make sure you are in the correct mental state to generate ideas but all these come with a purpose. This purpose is generally ‘being more productive’. Sometimes, like this morning, it’s nice to write without a purpose. To just write.

Now I realise it may not make for nice reading. There’s maybe not super punchy points nor is it as easy to craft in a message, but I’ll tell you it’s really relaxing to write! It feels a little like writing in a journal, but it’s not about feelings, it’s about arranging the things I’m currently thinking about into words. These words are not only designed to tell some kind of story but also to help me learn how to write faster and better.

At some point, like right now, my mind feels empty and it can’t think of the next point to make. Relish this feeling; it is AMAZING; it’s like meditation for the brain. Everything has emptied onto the page.

Here there’s no pressure about producing something to write, because that is not my goal. My goal is to learn to write my thoughts in a sensible fashion and to train the connection. The more I can train my fingers to punch out what is coming from my brain, the easier it becomes. The idea is that typing will become second nature and not a distraction nor hindrance as the ideas flow. It’s also about teaching my brain to develop structure easier. Ultimately, it’s a bit like a footballer who doesn’t even have to think about how to dribble the ball; they just do it. They probably do it in their sleep. Well actually I’m almost certain they do it in their sleep. Ever since my husband went serious level in ultra running, those feet keep running when he’s asleep…

The more I can work on that connection between typing and thinking, or scribbling and thinking, the smoother the journey to getting great writing will be. At least that’s the theory I’m working on. It’s often the connections that slow us down; the internet being a prime example.

I also can’t tell you how good it feels to get everything out of my brain before I start work. I’m always working on side projects and I get frustrated during the day when I have an idea related to them and no way of working on that idea. Sometimes I just want a way of working on ‘the working on the idea’, like I am now. The quicker I am able to write out an idea, the better; I only have limited time.

If you journal I suspect this process of writing things down is nothing new to you; writing down your thoughts at least once a day can do wonders for your self esteem. This is different though. I always have a notebook I scribble in, which has that purpose, though as someone who keeps thoughts to themselves, I don’t tend to write about my feelings. Work in progress perhaps.

This blog is different. It’s about unencumbered ideas, ways to structure them, ways to work them out, ways to write about them and to try and do it daily. But at the same time, it’s also about not setting goals or targets. If people read this great. If people don’t, well I’m pretty used to talking into the void, so no change there!

But for now, I bet you have a burning question; just what kind of peacock would my main character turn out to be? Let’s see if this training is working shall we?

“If Gael was a peacock, he would gouge your eyes out if you dared step close to the thing he cared about most. He would fight to the death and stop at nothing to maintain his position at the head of the flock. But no one would challenge him because he had eyes everywhere and the size, spread and intense colour of his feather’s were testament to that. But then there was the fox; the fox is always there and the fox always wins.”

Needs a bit of work but with that, I bid you adieu for today!