If you’ve read and enjoyed Christian Raymond’s article Finding your center on a Meditation Trek in the September 2020 Creative Dharma newsletter, here’s a short creative exercise you may like to try:
Take a story idea you may have, however unformed or ‘half baked’ but which has stuck in your mind for some reason. Concentrate on it.
Use the ‘Bubble Brainstorm’ technique to write ANY free association idea in surrounding bubbles, also thinking about what excites you about this idea you’ve cared enough to pick! Ask, why do you want to work on this project?
Use ‘Sense-storming’ instead of just brainstorming, which is similar to types of meditation, going beyond contemplation to deeply feel the idea through each of your senses. Go even a step beyond and into your imagination and apply your ‘story-centric senses’. What do you hear in the story world? What if you creatively transported yourself and become embodied in the main character’s point of view? etc…
Review your ideas without judgement, taking time to reflect on each and mine deeper.
Identify the ‘keepers’ ranging from smaller ideas to maybe even one that excites and ‘viscerally click’ and generate a physical sensation! Think about the emotional element and ask, ‘what does this emotion mean to me?’ What new insight does this offer your topic or story? Try to pinpoint and capture in a sentence or two the epicenter of this excitement.
Apply your work! Use your dramatic center as a springboard and guiding compass in your decision making as you create an authentic story true to your voice.
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A creative exercise
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If you’ve read and enjoyed Christian Raymond’s article Finding your center on a Meditation Trek in the September 2020 Creative Dharma newsletter, here’s a short creative exercise you may like to try:
Take a story idea you may have, however unformed or ‘half baked’ but which has stuck in your mind for some reason. Concentrate on it.
Use the ‘Bubble Brainstorm’ technique to write ANY free association idea in surrounding bubbles, also thinking about what excites you about this idea you’ve cared enough to pick! Ask, why do you want to work on this project?
Use ‘Sense-storming’ instead of just brainstorming, which is similar to types of meditation, going beyond contemplation to deeply feel the idea through each of your senses. Go even a step beyond and into your imagination and apply your ‘story-centric senses’. What do you hear in the story world? What if you creatively transported yourself and become embodied in the main character’s point of view? etc…
Review your ideas without judgement, taking time to reflect on each and mine deeper.
Identify the ‘keepers’ ranging from smaller ideas to maybe even one that excites and ‘viscerally click’ and generate a physical sensation! Think about the emotional element and ask, ‘what does this emotion mean to me?’ What new insight does this offer your topic or story? Try to pinpoint and capture in a sentence or two the epicenter of this excitement.
Apply your work! Use your dramatic center as a springboard and guiding compass in your decision making as you create an authentic story true to your voice.
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