Don't Waste Your Thinking Time
November 3rd 2006 07:48
It's a common idea that a writer writes when he or she is sitting in front of a notepad or computer. When a writer wants to write, they get some writing material and start putting words to paper. When people complain that they do not have time to write, they are usually thinking about the time needed to do either one of these things.
But thinking time can be used for writing, too. In fact, most of my writing is actually done in my head. It is also when I think things over in my mind for a while that I feel ready to put pen to paper. I use those odd moments through the day to think of plots, characters and themes. I even start structuring sentences and making word choices during my thinking time.
The good thing about thinking time is that everybody has some. Everybody has moments that they can use to start thinking about their writing. Walking, doing housework, having a shower, waiting for a doctor and even sitting on a loo can be excellent writing/thinking times.
Another way that you can get more thinking time is to turn off all the background noises. Many people simply switch on a radio, a CD or the television without even thinking about it. Leave it off. Instead, think! You'd be surprised what you can come up with when you have nothing else to distract you.
If you do start planning your writing in your head, you may need some way of recording what it is you have planned. You can use a dictaphone, a notebook or a voice recorder function on your mobile phone. Or if you're just tossing possibilities around, you may feel you have no need to write anything down until you get to your computer.
There's only one problem with doing your writing in your head. I now no longer have a good excuse to leave the housework undone. After all, I can write when I'm doing it.
But thinking time can be used for writing, too. In fact, most of my writing is actually done in my head. It is also when I think things over in my mind for a while that I feel ready to put pen to paper. I use those odd moments through the day to think of plots, characters and themes. I even start structuring sentences and making word choices during my thinking time.
The good thing about thinking time is that everybody has some. Everybody has moments that they can use to start thinking about their writing. Walking, doing housework, having a shower, waiting for a doctor and even sitting on a loo can be excellent writing/thinking times.
Another way that you can get more thinking time is to turn off all the background noises. Many people simply switch on a radio, a CD or the television without even thinking about it. Leave it off. Instead, think! You'd be surprised what you can come up with when you have nothing else to distract you.
If you do start planning your writing in your head, you may need some way of recording what it is you have planned. You can use a dictaphone, a notebook or a voice recorder function on your mobile phone. Or if you're just tossing possibilities around, you may feel you have no need to write anything down until you get to your computer.
There's only one problem with doing your writing in your head. I now no longer have a good excuse to leave the housework undone. After all, I can write when I'm doing it.
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