How Your Words Can Kill Your Creative Writing

Did you know that your words can kill your creative writing?

Odd sounding, but true. I made this discovery while jogging. But what I’m going to say here applies just as much to other activities that can promote creative thought – for example, walking, gardening or even just taking a shower.

I’d started jogging for exercise in my early twenties, but it quickly turned into a “runner’s high” experience. Jogging became meditative for me. And creative.

Much of the language for Original Faith and in my poetry came to me while literally on the run. Sometimes thoughts or ideas came to mind, but far more often, I’d get phrases and imagery that were “keepers” – specific language that I wasn’t nearly clever enough to think up at will and that fit perfectly into the book manuscript.

One day not long after this process of running-writing had started for me, I was out jogging and a couple of nice lines came to mind with a third underway. I could see that something pretty substantial was developing. So I circled back toward my parked car.

I thought I’d jot down my words in the small notebook that I kept in my glove box. I could sense that a lot more was coming and I didn’t want to forget it. Plus I wanted to be able to run without having to remember stuff.

I climbed into my car, reached for my notebook and pen, and pushed back the seat. I jotted down the first thing I’d thought of, then the second. Then I thought hard and the third thing that had started getting underway came into focus. I finished it off.

And then nothing. Nothing! I’d killed my own creative process!

Where do you do your most creative thinking?

Did you ever accidentally cut it short? How did you handle it the next time?

I’ll give the solution I found next post . . .