Write from the heart, and your words will find their way into the hearts of others.
Today’s exercise is adapted from The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo, an early inspiration for this newsletter. The book is written for instructors teaching all forms of writing in grades K-8, but I decided this week to adapt some strategies taught in that book for writing fiction. Today’s inspiration is strategy 2.26 which teaches the student to use writing to vent frustrations and get into the writing mindset. That’s such a great use for writing. Rage, rage, and then write!
Strategy:
We've all been there—you sit down to write, but your mind is buzzing with distractions and emotional turmoil. It's like trying to write with a swarm of bees hovering around your head. Embrace the chaos in your heart! Set aside a few minutes to vent about your problems in writing and help clear your mind. It may seem counterintuitive to indulge in a bit of complaining when you've made a commitment to write, but trust me, it works!
Instructions:
Choose a passage: Select a passage or scene you plan to write during your upcoming writing session.
Identify a problem: Think of a current or past problem, argument, or emotional burden that's been distracting you from your writing.
Vent and rant: Take 5 minutes to write freely about the problem, letting out all your frustrations, anger, or other emotions. Don't hold back or censor yourself.
Set it aside: Decide where you'll symbolically place the problem while you write (e.g., in a drawer, on a shelf) and when you'll allow yourself to revisit it later.
Write your passage: Turn your attention to the passage you planned to write and begin writing, focusing solely on your creative work.
Reflect (optional): After your writing session, take a few minutes to reflect on whether the venting exercise helped you process your emotions and set aside distractions, or if it increased your distraction. Consider adjusting the exercise in future sessions to better suit your needs.
Tags: venting, emotional processing, focus, distraction, creativity
Category: The Writer’s Mindset > Overthinking and Writer’s Block
Example:
Choose a passage: I will write the climactic confrontation scene between my protagonist and antagonist.
Identify a problem: I had an argument with my partner last night about household chores.
Vent and rant: I can't believe they expect me to do everything around the house! I work just as hard as they do, and yet I'm the one who always ends up cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. It's so unfair and I'm sick of it...
Set it aside: I will mentally place this argument in a locked box on the top shelf of my closet. I'll allow myself to revisit it after I've finished my writing session and have the energy to address it calmly.
Write your passage:
In the dimly lit underground parking lot, the stench of oil and rust mingled in the cold air. John stood rigid, facing the shadowed figure of Victor, who leaned casually against a sleek black sedan, a thin smile playing on his lips.
“You’ve been quite the ghost, John. Hard to pin down,” Victor said, his voice smooth, betraying no hint of the malice that John knew lurked beneath.
John’s hand tightened around the grip of the gun hidden in his jacket. “It ends tonight, Victor. No more games.”
Victor laughed, a sound that echoed off the concrete walls. “Games? Oh, this is no game, my friend. You think you can just walk away? After everything?”
With a swift movement, Victor pushed off from the car, his own hand dipping inside his coat. John’s heartbeat thundered in his ears, his finger inching towards the trigger.
“Enough people have suffered because of you,” John said, stepping forward, his voice steady despite the adrenaline surging through his veins.
Victor’s smile faded, his eyes narrowing. “Then let’s conclude this, shall we? I think it’s time to clean house.”
Reflect (optional): The venting exercise helped me let go of some of my anger and frustration, allowing me to focus more fully on my writing. However, I still found my mind wandering back to the argument a few times. Next time, I might try a brief meditation or deep breathing exercise after venting to further clear my mind before writing.