A major roadblock in my writing process is procrastination. Does laziness stop you too from taking the first step? Trust me you are not the only one suffering from this tardiness. Often we delay the process when we don't know what we want to write about. Writing is an intricate process filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.
I love writing but getting started is the hardest part, even when I have a banging headline ready, which is a rare occurrence.
I have tried many productivity hacks but none of them provided long-term solutions. Productivity hacks can help you become more focused and disciplined while working, but they are not beneficial for increasing creativity.
You need to add creative writing exercises to your writing routine for better results. These exercises help you channel the flow state. These exercises will make your creativity burst and turn you into an idea generator.
Start Your Morning On A Creative Note
Morning pages is a phenomenal creative exercise invented by Julia Cameron the author of The Artist’s Way . In this exercise, you have to write three A-4 size pages first thing in the morning. It is a brain dump exercise in which you can write anything that pops up in your mind.
When we sleep our body rest, but our mind works through the night. While sleeping our subconscious comes up with new ideas and solutions. This exercise helps us remember all these brilliant ideas.
Morning pages help you unload all the information that your brain has been working on while you were sleeping. Often time while writing morning pages you can find a unique solution to a problem or come up with an idea that can change your life.
You are free to write whatever you want. You can complain about your boss, bitch about your partner, write your goals and desires. There are no rules when it comes to morning pages. It is preferable to write them in the morning but if you have busy mornings then you can write at any other time.
Start small by writing one page each morning. Once you are comfortable with it add another page to your routine. Soon you will be writing three pages without any problem.
Delve In Your Past To Expand Your Creativity
The lovely autobiography, of the artist Joe Brainard, “I Remember” is the inspiration behind this exercise.
In this book, the writer shares his life by revealing his memories. He starts every paragraph with the phrase “ I remember”. He writes all his memories in no order, one minute he is reminiscing about his aunt’s hay fever, and in the next paragraph, he writes a detailed memory of his first erection.
This book has no chapters, it is filled with one memory after another as they came in a flow. It is a prime example of a flow state. You can feel the author writing his memories without any hesitation.
The “I Remember” is a powerful prompt that will allow you to go down memory lane. It will help you access your past without any judgment or agenda.
It is a great exercise to get yourself warmed up for the flow state. It helps you dig into your mind to reflect on the past. Writing these memories is a way to connect with yourself on a deeper level.
Don’t pressure yourself to think hard, while doing this exercise. Just write “I remember” and think about your childhood. Jot down the first memory that comes. Aim to write at least one page each day. This is a fun exercise that will unlock the secrets of your past.
Do The Quadrant Exercise To Sharpen Your Focus
As a writer, it is important to constantly notice things, to be a witness, to be alive in the present moment. Attentiveness is a skill that every writer needs to learn, to get good at his craft.
You don’t need to become holmes to write a good story. But activating your detective skill can make you a better writer. This is a very interesting exercise that will help you increase your clarity and attention to detail.
This exercise should be done in the evening or at night only.
- Get a notebook and divide the page into four quadrants.
- Label them as did , saw , heard , and doodle .
- List six things you did during the day.
- List six things you saw during the day.
- List one noise that you remember hearing during the day.
- And in the last quadrant doodle one thing that you have listed in any other quadrant.
Here is an example to help you understand things better.
This exercise will thrust you into the present moment. It will make you think back at what you did the whole day. you will be able to recall your day in great detail even after six months.
To Recap
These exercises will help you boost your creativity. You can hack into the flow state easily when you are on a creative high. So, spare a few minutes each day to work on your creativity.
- Start your morning by writing a few morning pages daily.
- Do the “I Remember” exercise to learn from your past.
- The 4 quadrant exercise is a great way to end your day, as it helps you evaluate your day.