My first post concerning writing initiated the conversation with writing: YOU.
If you missed the post, it's still hanging around on the left hand side of this screen, and it's called,
"With Writing: The Start." Check it out - now; right now. It's so good.
Once you've refreshed yourself, let's ask and answer the question - "Who Are You?"
If you missed the post, it's still hanging around on the left hand side of this screen, and it's called,
"With Writing: The Start." Check it out - now; right now. It's so good.
Once you've refreshed yourself, let's ask and answer the question - "Who Are You?"
That's a hefty question, one that has fueled the minds and works of philosophers, theologians, scientists, poets, musicians, and day-time talk show hosts. (Seriously, how many times did Jerry Springer trot out paternity tests for his show? Okay, maybe that example stretches the point.)
You set foot on holy ground by seeking to answer that question. I could rifle off a few responses to that question, followed by reasons for the responses - are we created beings or beings of random circumstances? I say: created beings; we love to create because we are created. (If you'd like to comment about that, feel free.)
What fuels your writing?
Answering this question will also lead you to a better understanding of who you are.
And here's a means to answering the question:
It comes from Buzz McLaughlin's book, The Playwright's Process: Learning the Craft from Today's Leading Dramatists.
That's right - a playwright. (Wordplay!) These writers love words; words are their weapons, and McLaughlin's book contains insights from the best. His method (pg. 49-52) is used for discovering oneself and tapping into the fuel line for one's writing.
McLaughlin calls it "The Milestone Exercise":
First, take a pencil, a pad of paper, and a kitchen timer and go to a quiet place....
Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Take a few deep breaths and try to unclutter your mind....
When you feel ready, pick your pad and write your full name at the top - no initials. Put your nickname, if you have one, in parentheses after your formal first name(s) and your last name. Then, under your name, write out your date of birth....
Look at that name and that date....
Set your time....three minutes, and without stopping to ponder or analyze, free-associate through the life of this person and make a list of every important event you can think of.
Try to come up with at least thirty.
Don't worry about putting them in any order. Just write down a word or phrase that nails down every milestone in your life as it comes to you.
Be specific, but don't spend time searching for the right words. You know what they are. Just tack them down....
This exercise is for you....Don't be critical. Don't hesitate...
When the timer goes off, stop....
Don't add to the list.
Now set your timer again for three minutes, and on a fresh sheet of paper make a second list of the eight most significant milestones from our first list....
Choose only those that have had or continue to have a profound effect upon who you've become as a person.... Finish when the timer goes off.
Finally, on a third sheet of paper, again write your full name, under it your date of birth, and then rewrite the list of the eight milestones in chronological order as they occurred in your life. Now look at this final list closely....
Try to recall the details of the places where your milestone events took place. Try to remember the lights, the smells, even the music that was, perhaps, playing in the background. Try to bring each of them back into your consciousness in all its richness and fullness. Be sure to ignore that voice telling you that no one else could possibly be interested in your life experiences, which are completely unimportant in contrast to the world at large.
If you get a chance to read the entire selection - or the entire book - let me know.
The next post in this series will offer one more method for answering the (writing) question: "Who Are You?" And it comes from a screenwriter. Yes, screenwriters are writers, too.
- Mark Botts
http://markbotts.blogspot.com/2012/11/with-writing-who-are-you.html
You set foot on holy ground by seeking to answer that question. I could rifle off a few responses to that question, followed by reasons for the responses - are we created beings or beings of random circumstances? I say: created beings; we love to create because we are created. (If you'd like to comment about that, feel free.)
What fuels your writing?
Answering this question will also lead you to a better understanding of who you are.
And here's a means to answering the question:
It comes from Buzz McLaughlin's book, The Playwright's Process: Learning the Craft from Today's Leading Dramatists.
That's right - a playwright. (Wordplay!) These writers love words; words are their weapons, and McLaughlin's book contains insights from the best. His method (pg. 49-52) is used for discovering oneself and tapping into the fuel line for one's writing.
McLaughlin calls it "The Milestone Exercise":
First, take a pencil, a pad of paper, and a kitchen timer and go to a quiet place....
Sit down and make yourself comfortable. Take a few deep breaths and try to unclutter your mind....
When you feel ready, pick your pad and write your full name at the top - no initials. Put your nickname, if you have one, in parentheses after your formal first name(s) and your last name. Then, under your name, write out your date of birth....
Look at that name and that date....
Set your time....three minutes, and without stopping to ponder or analyze, free-associate through the life of this person and make a list of every important event you can think of.
Try to come up with at least thirty.
Don't worry about putting them in any order. Just write down a word or phrase that nails down every milestone in your life as it comes to you.
Be specific, but don't spend time searching for the right words. You know what they are. Just tack them down....
This exercise is for you....Don't be critical. Don't hesitate...
When the timer goes off, stop....
Don't add to the list.
Now set your timer again for three minutes, and on a fresh sheet of paper make a second list of the eight most significant milestones from our first list....
Choose only those that have had or continue to have a profound effect upon who you've become as a person.... Finish when the timer goes off.
Finally, on a third sheet of paper, again write your full name, under it your date of birth, and then rewrite the list of the eight milestones in chronological order as they occurred in your life. Now look at this final list closely....
Try to recall the details of the places where your milestone events took place. Try to remember the lights, the smells, even the music that was, perhaps, playing in the background. Try to bring each of them back into your consciousness in all its richness and fullness. Be sure to ignore that voice telling you that no one else could possibly be interested in your life experiences, which are completely unimportant in contrast to the world at large.
If you get a chance to read the entire selection - or the entire book - let me know.
The next post in this series will offer one more method for answering the (writing) question: "Who Are You?" And it comes from a screenwriter. Yes, screenwriters are writers, too.
- Mark Botts
http://markbotts.blogspot.com/2012/11/with-writing-who-are-you.html
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