One Creative Writer's Process

Creative writing for me is a stream of ideas that seem to float through my mind that marshmallow creme. It comes unannounced or provoked and it's a wonderful freedom. However, many times 10 or 15 images "float" through my mind and get stuck because they are intertwined with all those "English Rules for Writers". I am sure you know them; no fragments or dangling parts, assured proper English, and of course proper punctuation and grammar. It's all those"Good Tips for Writers" that bombard my creative imaginative flow with guilt trips of "doing it right". Sometimes, I am brave enough to ignore all those proper rules; long enough to write creatively. It's an individual personal process that occurs when one writes; it's in our blood! Therefore, I have to do certain things to relax enough to just let go and flow. One of my urgencies to nurture my precious creative streaming flow is to immediately fill my oversize bathtub with warm water and scented bath oil. Next, I refuse to take any pencils, pens, paper, dictionaries, or English books into that creative bath no matter how tempted I am to conform.

Next, I turn out the lights, close my eyes and do not peak around, so I can let my thoughtful images run speak to me in private havoc until I feel my sensory perception begins to shout; "That's it, I got my starting idea. No matter how foolish or unassuming this start of creative thought or image is- I then pull the plug on my relax bath as I begin wrapping my bath towel around me; and run to my computer blank document page. I type whatever is in my mind at that moment and do not title it until I have exhausted myself in my own world of words. I then go into a beginning Yoga Position which I use as a reminder to breath and congratulate myself for not giving in to quilt and shame of not editing every five minutes.Next I read my work two times as I start to un-attach; my emotional connections to the "exact descriptive words".

This detaching is very critical for me because my first set of creative words are meaningful and if it touches my heart, mind, and soul then I am hooked emotionally and begin picking apart my creative flow. When I catch my self picking at my work I go directly to my next step of purposeful descriptive words that gives live to my words.My third step is to correct my spelling after typing so fast. Fourth, I have someone I barely know read my creative writing and ask them to write down any words they would add to my piece of work. Fifth, I add humor, quips, and transitional words that tie it all together for me. Sixth, I remind myself of who will read my writing and how I can create an easy read for them that captures their creativeness and interest. Seventh, I give in to English rules of punctuation and grammar. Eighth, I wait two days, edit and proofread a couple of times, and Ninth, I ask my grandchildren to do the final read and tell me their opinion of my creative process writing. They are great at helping me go emotionally and mentally of "words"; I am an admitted "Word Addict!" I then choose my title and subtitle and go back to my celebration bathtub soak with fragrant candles, listening to R&B music as I eat a marshmallow and peanut butter sandwich to celebrate a work well done.

Sleep is easy after creative writing is completed ; that is if I let go and stop editing my creative work. Knowing when it's done is sometimes hard for me. For instance in this creative writing piece I had a heart to heart with My granddaughter. I asked her, "Well, what do you think, I did much better this time letting go and being done with this piece. She grinned, bowed her head and said, "Granny,Granny, listen up; your writing is done when you title it! Stunned but still listening I replied,"Okay thanks for the reminder of letting go when I am done. "Granny, duh!! Written work is always gonna tell you when it's done because writers do not have control on finishing just on starting." Oh Yes, you are exactly right .So following the advice of my Granddaughter I will let go and close this article because my writing is done; I felt that twitter as the words told me to end this article but I was not listening until she said, "Granny, duh!!"