Brain To Fingers

One of the writing exercises I practice to help clear my head and get an idea of what’s going on up there is something I call “Brain To Fingers”. Yes, it is a weird sounding name, but a very effective exercise.

The name symbolizes the flow of thoughts and words from my brain through my fingers onto the paper or the screen. It’s also called it free writing. That’s really what it is … words, flowing freely.

Some people set a timer before before they begin. I don’t. I write until I think I’m finished or until the energy of writing runs out. I just write.

I write whatever enters my mind. I write the lyrics of songs if I can’t think of anything to write about. I write to get into “The Writing Zone.” When I’m finally in the flow the words write themselves without any help from me.  Your brain just takes over.

Once you are “in the zone” you find you don’t have to struggle to keep writing. You don’t stumble around trying to find things to keep the words coming. Like priming a water pump, once the flow starts, it doesn’t want to stop.

The best way to do this is to find a quiet place to work with no distractions. If you prefer electronic writing, open up a new document for word processing on your computer. Make sure to close out all social networking sites and any apps that could pull your attention away from the word processor.

If you prefer to write on paper, gather up a notebook and open it to the next blank page and choose a favorite writing instrument. I don’t have the same pen that I use, because each day is different. Some days I like bold gel pens. On other days a simple fine point pen helps bring me into the flow. Choose whatever you need to just write. I don’t recommend pencil because the temptation to erase is strong. You don’t want to erase. Every word could be important.

Set a timer if you need to. If you are limited in time it might be a good idea. If time isn’t an issue, maybe you want to just allow the words to come until you feel a need to stop. If you do set a timer I recommend setting it for at least 10 minutes. That allows you a couple minutes to find your zone and then the rest of the time for your brain to empty into your fingers.

Turn off your phone, or at least mute it. This is YOUR time for yourself. Everyone else can wait ten minutes or fifteen minutes or an hour while you are busy with YOU. You have to be as important to yourself as everyone else is to you.

Background noise such as a radio is optional. For myself I like some classical music or some spa music playing lightly nearby. Songs with lyrics or television could be too distracting. It is for me.

Sit in front of your blank page and begin to write. You can use prompts to get your flow started if you need or you can just begin to write anything that crosses your mind.

You can ask yourself how you are feeling and write down the thoughts that come to you. Or ask yourself what things you have to be grateful for this week. It will start out slowly as you find yourself, working to answer your questions. As you get moving along connected thoughts will begin to appear. These are the thoughts that are important. This is your subconscious talking.

I write until I tire of writing. I don’t pay attention to what I’m writing. That is for later. For now, just writing is all that is required. Keep the pen moving, or the fingers flying. Don’t stop for anything. If words stop, write anything to keep the flow going.  Let your brain do the work.

When you feel you are finished, or if your timer goes off, or if you feel spent, close it up and put it away. If you did it on the computer, save it with a name you will recognize and close out the word processor.

Wait a couple days before you read it. This will give your head time to emotionally “reboot” from whatever you may have written about. When you feel you can read it without falling back into the emotion of that day, read it to see if there are issues you weren’t aware of.

This exercise can be done whenever you are not feeling yourself or if you feel you have some issues going on. Do it when you are feeling down or there are things bothering your mind. Sometimes I find the true issue that’s bothering me is not the one I thought it was. The true issues often appear to me when I read what I have written later.  

Don’t do it for anyone else. Don’t do it because I suggest it.

Do it for YOU.

To KNOW you is to LOVE you.