Word Play
The key to enjoying your writing might include turning it into a game
“Almost all creativity involves purposeful play.” ~ Abraham Maslow
Last autumn I was bored with writing. Well, bored with writing the same novel over and over and over again anyways. I had experienced the immense joy possible with writing earlier that year, when I sat down and wrote a spicy romance novel in a thrilling, all-encompassing, unshowered week, and now I wanted more of that. (Not the unshowered part. The fun part.)
But it just wasn’t happening. No matter what I was doing with my eternal draft of a novel, I couldn’t find the fun. So I decided to take break from it. But what should I do instead?
For some reason Inktober kept popping into my mind. If you haven’t heard of Inktober, it’s an invitation to daily drawing for the month of October. Every day there is a new spark word and participants are invited to draw anything (usually using ink) that the word inspires.
I had casually participated in Inktober a few years before and found it to be really fun. What I liked about it most was that the list I was using sparked ideas I would normally not have come up with. And not only did I have fun drawing, I was really enjoying the final pictures as well.
My mind knew I could do something like Inktober with writing. But how?
For me, things often start with the physicality of an idea. What tools, goods, spaces, scents, snacks will make this idea feel right? So that’s where I started. I like Inktober. I also really like tarot cards. And I like the surprise of the drawing sparks. So, I started there.
I picked up two sets of E. Frances Little Notes cards (because obviously the cards had to be pretty), then I set about compiling a list of genres, then a list of random words I really liked the sound of. Words that felt evocative, unexpected, and quirky. And then on one set of cards I wrote my genres and on the other set I wrote my words.
All told, I had about eight genres and one hundred words.
Then I shuffled both decks, and pulled a card from each.
My game was to write a short story, as quickly as I could, in the genre I drew, using the word I drew as my spark. I let myself take no more than two days per story. I was allowed to let them be as rudimentary as they needed to be. The whole point was just to play with stories.
And it was really fun! Ridiculously fun!
In less than two weeks I wrote four short stories. All in different genres. Each unlike anything I’d ever written before. And I was excited to sit down with them because they were fresh and unexpected and invited me into a creative space I might not have gone to on my own.
And, as a bonus, I learned a few things about myself as well. I learned I enjoy reading thriller and mystery novels, but, currently, I’m not the biggest fan of writing them. Secondly, I was reaffirmed in just how quickly I can write the first draft of a romance story. And lastly, I was surprised to find I enjoy writing horror. Which I never would have guessed.
But, play isn’t only about learning. Learning is a bonus. Play sparks the imagination. Stretches us out of our comfort zones in safe ways. Play strengthens our ability to be flexible and dynamic as creatives.
A horror story sparked by the word ‘buttercream'? Okay, I’ve got this. And I did.
In my opinion however, the most important thing play offers us as creatives is nourishment. It nourishes the part of us that is drawn to creativity in the first place. The part of us that wants to explore. That wants to get a bit crazy. That wants to see what might happen if… That wants to come back from the adventure with stories to tell and secrets we keep just for ourselves.
So, if you want +5 for story telling strength, +7 for imagination fuel, and +10 for fun, might I recommend making yourself some story spark decks, pulling some cards, and letting your imagination loose on the page. You just might be surprised by what you come up with and how full your creative soul feels.
Love you, Petra ❤️
P.S. You might notice this post is up a day late. I’m still coming back from this cold/sinusitis/general flare-up and am taking my own advice about rest. Thanks for being understanding. Fingers crossed, I hope I am on the mend and will get back to my regularly scheduled posts.
Inner Adventures
I know we’re all busy, so these inner adventures are only here as an offering (and may not be in every post). I’m including them as a little assist on the journey. Please feel free to ignore them if they don’t serve you. Or change them if you think there’s a better question for you — basically, ask the question you wish I had asked. And remember, no one is looking at your answers, so let loose.
~ How do you feel about the word ‘fun’? How about the word ‘play’?
~ Do you honor your own sense of playfulness when it comes to your writing? Why or why not?
~ Is there a way you have gamified your own creativity? Is it working? Is it fun? (I’d love to hear any ideas you have in the comments!)
~ Is there a playful idea kicking about in your mind that you haven’t yet incorporated into your writing tool kit? What is stopping you? Can you approach incorporating it this next week?
Thanks for reading! I’d love for you to follow along with me on this adventure of joyful writing. As an indie author, I really appreciate your support. :)
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