Can’t Think of Something to Write About? Doodle
by Don’t know what to write about but still feel the need to hit those keys and create something? I was recently told that if you just sit down and type all the words that come to your mind, something will eventually rise up out of the depths of your subconscious, and your writers’ block will be over, at least for now. And do you know what? It works.
Doodle, doodle, doodle. That’s what people do on napkins, on the back of business cards, on the trunk of their dirty car, on pieces of scrap paper, and while talking on the phone! We love to doodle because deep inside of us we have a strong need to create and to express ourselves!
Although we are ‘doodlers’ just like everyone else, writers also have a deep desire to create with words because putting into print our knowledge…our opinions…our fantasies…and whatever else comes to mind is what we do!! It’s what we LOVE to do!
But often when we sit down in front of our computer, or with pen and notebook in hand, we can’t think of a single thing to write about…although we may have just had a stirring conversation with our spouse regarding the neighbors next door and their ‘wandering trash’. Oh sure, we can participate in any conversation that comes along…ask me anything!! But when alone, we become ‘tongue-tied’ in our mind!
So…now it’s time to ‘talk’ to ourselves by writing whatever comes to mind! No matter how dumb or crazy it may seem, just jot down or type whatever your subconscious mind tells you to!
For example:
kitties have claws. prawns. seafood. I love seafood. wish we could have some but the prices are so high. we’re having friends over for the first time today. Shepard’s pie. cats won’t eat it. they love salmon. fresh water. Mountains. clouds. storms. cold. winter. holidays. gifts. birthdays are coming up. family. grown children. carnival. San Diego weather. street fairs. ethnic foods. Noodleman loves pizza. no chocolate for cats. poison. catnip is good. none in cabinet. can’t have low-lying plants around in the house or the cats will eat them. Philodendrums are poisonous to cats, too. poisonous house plants. ways to keep plants out of cats’ reach but still look good. windows. cats in windows. must clean front windows. homemade glass solution of vinegar and water.
Okay…in just one minute my subconscious mind has now given me several topics that I could research and write about if I want to;
Claws=natural weapons, pedicures. Prawns=shrimp, how to know when it’s fresh, how to cook it, etc. High prices=economy, coupons, how to stretch your money. Poison=common household poisons, childproofing your cabinets. Catnip=how to grow, how to make inexpensive cat toys. Houseplants=landscaping, interior decorating. Homemade cleaning solutions=for silverware, glass, jewelry, pots and pans. Etc., etc., etc.
So go ahead and give it a try…doodle to your heart’s content! You might be amazed at what your mind comes up with!
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Post CommentDebra.
On March 27, 2009 at 8:54 am
Great advice and very true words, usually works for me. Before you know it one or two idea’s pop in.
M J katz
On March 27, 2009 at 9:06 am
Hi Debra; I agree…it usually works for me, too, although sometimes I’m just not too interested in the topics that my mind offers me!
But if I still haven’t come up with at least one thing to write about after five minutes of ‘doodling’, well…I’m just being lazy now! ^-^
Tarra Buluran
On March 27, 2009 at 9:45 am
Good tips! Nicely done.
Christine Ramsay
On March 27, 2009 at 11:09 am
That is a great idea. I have never done it that way. I usually see something happen and try to write a poem about it, but maybe I will try this the next time I am stumped. DChristineon’t forget about your kitties adventures. Those were always so entertaining.
Christine
Christine Ramsay
On March 27, 2009 at 11:11 am
I am sorry about my name appearing in the middle of don’t. I lost the cursor.
M J katz
On March 27, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Hi Tarra; Thanks for the support! I hope this idea helps because some of us need all the help we can get!:) And I’m not too proud to be the first in line for this! Ha ha.
Hi Christine; Lol…well, now you can write a poem about losing cursers while the fingers are still moving! Ha ha.
As soon as Noodleman and SpiceGirl decide to change their humdrum routine and give me some new material, I’ll be writing about their antics. They’ve just gotton lazy with winter and all…:)
MrZebra84
On March 28, 2009 at 12:16 am
Wonderful advice
reading your stuff is putting me in a really good mood! your work has a LOT of personality, and it is good personality.
M J katz
On March 30, 2009 at 6:21 am
Hi MrZebra84! Thank you!! Your pen name intrigues me…maybe someone who’s been with Triond longer than I have should write an article about how/why certain pen names come about! ^-^
Joe Dorish
On March 31, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Yes it’s crazy where our ideas can come from.
Karelee
On April 5, 2009 at 5:57 am
What a great idea… love it and cannot wait to try it. I get into many dry spells and I do not think it is ideas as much as looking for something that peaks my interest. Like M J, I guess it is just me being lazy… LOL Thanx for the pep talk and I will definitly start doodling.
Karelee
M J katz
On April 6, 2009 at 6:39 am
Hi Joe Dorish! I so agree. Sometimes even seeing a certain color…or smelling a particular odor…can trigger a memory that we find we’d like to now write about! ^-^
Hi Karelee! Yes, sometimes I can come up with a lot of ideas but are they something that I am INTERESTED in writing about? I come up against that a lot of times…because if my writing doesn’t entertain me, how is it going to entertain anybody else?!:)
brianberu
On April 6, 2009 at 8:53 am
I think most of us have this problem, when the tap is open the words flow, but I’d like to know who keeps turning it off. I find that a lot of my inspiration comes when I’m just about to go to sleep, I would think to myself I’ll write that up in the morning, but when morning comes the plot’s gone, so now I keep a pad at my bedside table, and as things come to me I write them down, nice article, which I think most of us will appreciate
M J katz
On April 6, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Hi brianberu! Don’t you just hate that?!:) Some of my best ideas come when I’m driving or just starting to drift off to sleep! Your idea of keeping a pen and notepad close by is excellent…or how about a small taperecorder (esp. good for when driving…!!) ^-^
BC Doan
On May 21, 2009 at 8:41 am
Doodling and reading work for me also..Great tips!
M J katz
On May 21, 2009 at 9:08 am
Hi BC! Thank you! Isn’t it strange how our mind works sometimes? Doing ‘mind doodling’ even helps when I can’t fall asleep at night because it pushes away the day’s concerns and replaces it with nonsense which helps one to relax!