Introducing Writing Prompts – Don’t get it right, get it written

Often, the thing that stops us being productive (or me at least) is that we want something to be perfect straight away.

I know that my first attempt/draft/sentence is not going to end up in a state I’m happy with. This will usually mean I put off starting.

With this in mind, and the notion that I’m not alone in this, I’d like to share an activity I try and do regularly to help me push past the initial ‘I can’t do this.’

Each week, I will share a writing prompt with you. You can then have a go at explorative writing.

Explorative Writing – Just write for ten continuous minutes. Let the keypad/pen flow without a plan of where its going. The idea of explorative writing is brilliant and something I try to do regularly because I am not restricted by grammar or structure or deciding on the best word to use. In those ten minutes, I don’t give time to that so my idea is able to spill out onto the page.

This doesn’t produce my best pieces. That’s where the wonderful world of Editing comes in. However for those ten minutes, you’re creative flare is unrestrained. I’m going to be doing these prompts with you and you’ll be able to find them on my Writing page.

So when taking on these writing prompts, here are the things to consider

• Digest the prompt – but you are not planning anything here
• Set a 10 minute timer
• Write without stopping – see what creativity has been hiding inside you
• Read your piece for clarity
• Step away from it – 30 minutes, a few hours, a day? It doesn’t matter.
• Come back to your piece with fresh eyes and edit the ink out of it!
• When you’re done, lock it away, share it, post it or shred it if you want to! But be happy knowing that you let your words out today!

Don’t get it right, get it written!