What do you do when you want to get unstuck in your writing, to unblock the words or access fresh ideas?
Some people turn to AI to get the ball rolling. But you may have mixed feelings about that. (I do.)
There’s a reliable alternative that doesn’t require using AI, or really any “big tech” at all. You only need a pen (or pencil, if you prefer), paper, and the ability to let go of any desire to get it “right.”
Query yourself
Sometimes we can’t figure out how to get into the writing—whether starting a blog post, writing a chapter of a book, or wrestling with a difficult email.
When that happens, it’s time to turn to your personal, organic intelligence.
Sit with a pen—ideally removed from the desk where you usually work.
Start by asking yourself questions. The wider the self-querying, the more interesting the results. Write your thoughts without trying to form them into the actual end piece. Yes, you are exploring.
If you do this freely enough, you may realize that your mind holds the answers you need.
Organic intelligence in action
The other day, I needed to write a blurb for a book that I really admire. It’s funny how a short thing like a blurb can stop you in your tracks faster than a longer work. You want it to be exactly right, which makes starting harder.
I sat in my disconnected “writing corner” with a pen and paper and started querying myself.
- If I had to think of one thing I wanted someone to know about this book, what would it be?
- What book blurbs have I found useful that might trigger thoughts? (That provoked a trip to a nearby bookshelf.)
- If I could only write five words, what would they be?
Each of these sparked a few words, a few sentences, until I figured out what I wanted to say.
This process rarely fails for me. Sometimes I walk away and then return. I might draw pictures or mind maps. But knowing that I’m simply exploring, my mind has free rein.
The magic of our minds
Sure, it seems magical when AI delivers an “answer” to a question. But it’s even more magical when we discover the answers knocking around in our own heads.
Like Dorothy with the ruby slippers, we had the answer with us all along.
