While many creative people have set hours for their project time, the creative process itself is no respecter of schedules. At worst, our minds refuse to cooperate when it’s time to write. At best, our brains keep working up ideas and working out problems in our stories even when we’re not at our desks. In fact, some of us find solutions to story challenges when we’re exercising, doing chores, or napping. Sometimes, it’s hard to turn off, and great story ideas come to us as inopportune moments.
In a post for Killzone, James Scott Bell shares how he encourages his brain to keep writing, even when he’s not at his keyboard.
First, Bell says he uses mind maps, a way of visually connecting random thoughts to suss out some order. For Patreon posts, Bell uses a set of story cards to prompt story ideas. When he’s working on a major project, he uses maps to work out plot problems.
Sound and music can also be inspirational. “If I’m thinking of suspense—which is most of the time—I’ll put on a playlist of suspense movie soundtracks (my favorite being the Hitchcock scores of Bernard Herrmann),” he says. “I have other lists of soundtracks that stir up other emotions.”
Bell also uses the nap theory. “If you’re working on a novel, spend five concentrated minutes just before shut eye thinking about the plot, characters, or a scene,” he writes. “In the morning, as soon as possible, write down whatever is bubbling in your head, even if it doesn’t make sense at first. Somewhere in there is a message to you, though it may be in code!”
Finally, Bell says a few minutes of quiet meditation each day can keep your mind clear for your more important tasks. Sit in a comfortable chair and practice deep breathing, or take a walk around a short, repetitive route. Use your time driving or waiting in line to order your thoughts and de-stress (this one is harder, but imagine the benefits of transforming stressful or irritating times into easeful moments!)
