Blogs by David A. Schwinghammer
Warm-up techniques (clustering)
8/8/2009 8:40:28 AM
Clustering is a way to prepare to write, a way
to find ideas you didn't know you had. It can even help with writer's block. It's for people who like to doodle.
Clustering is a warm-up technique to prepare for writing. It’s sort of a right-brain map or outline. You start by putting a word or phrase in a circle in the middle of the page. Let’s use the word “dog.” Draw three or four lines out from the circle. We could use “working dogs,” “popular breeds,” and “movie star dogs.” Next draw several lines out from each of these. Working dogs might be “seeing eye dogs,” “police dogs,” “hunting dogs,” etc. “Popular breeds” could be “Beagles,” “black labs,” etc. Now we’re getting someplace because Beagles tend to be funny little boogers, like Snoopy. My family owns several. One of them bothers ninety-two-year-old grandma every time she shows up for a visit and has to be put outside where he barks until they let him back in. He also bit a neighbor kid who stepped on his tail. What you’re really looking for here is an anecdote you could work into your writing. Just about every writer I know is really writing about himself/herself and warm-ups such as this stir up memories you can work into your novel or whatever else you’re working on. Now keep on going. Fill up the whole page and circle stuff you think you might be able to do something with.
Dave Schwinghammer published novel, SOLDIER'S GAP, is available at a discount on Amazon.com.
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