I’m trying some new things writing-wise these days, and it’s interesting how just a few steps out of the usual routine can seem so exhilarating and lead to an excellent creative pay-off. Here’s what’s been working for me:
--New location. I’ve been walking to some area coffee shops (yay, exercise!) to work.
--New time. I’m doing this during the morning, though my usual writing time is in the afternoon.
--New medium. At the coffee shop, I’m writing with a pen (remember those?) on paper (remember that?).
--New form. I’m writing non-fiction instead of fiction.
--New looseness. I’m just letting things spill out without thinking too hard and I try not to go back to revise or even to read the previous day’s work. For now, it’s just-move-forward…write like a shark!
I don’t know what will come of all this—in a way, there’s a fine line between this writing and writing in a private journal—but I’m trying not to worry about that (see “new looseness”)—and so far, so good. Can writing actually be fun?