Brainstorm to Capture the Bubbles of Thoughts Before They Float Away

I love to drink a soda. Most people devour carbonated drinks for the sugar or the caffeine, but the bubbles are my weakness. The simple act of twisting off the lid builds anticipation knowing I will be greeted with a loud hiss. The release of pressure from the bottle triggers relaxation accompanied by excitement thinking about what awaits. Drinking the liquid releases bubbles that dance and pop on my tongue creating a tinkling sensation— my own private party in my mouth.

The first drink provides the greatest satisfaction because of the contrast from mundane to a jolt as the fluid mildly burns my tongue. After the drink sits for a while, the bubbles escape, in scientific terms, the concentration of carbonic acid gets lower and lower decreasing the thrill and risk of each subsequent swallow.

Beginning to write is like opening a soda pop.

When I first open my mind to a new topic, ideas burst forth like a release of bubbles. An overwhelming need forces me to write quickly to capture the ideas before they float away and dissolve. Therefore, there is value to set aside time to prewrite to record ideas as they effervesce to the surface.

Too often a writer will begin writing and become focused on the sentence construction, grammar and punctuation while the vibrant images, tantalizing concepts, bits of inspiration, and important points drift away. When this happens, not only are great ideas lost but the excitement fades. A writer can find themself faced with writer’s block as they attempt to reclaim elusive thoughts that were once within reach.

Tether ideas so they don’t float away

Numerous strategies exist for collecting ideas during the initial excitement about a topic. Before a writer becomes mired in the minutia, it is important to write down the snippets of thoughts that spark the desire to write. Usually, a prewriting activity only takes 5–10 minutes but saves time during the process by eliminating the need to search memories. Writers generally gravitate to strategies that match their learning styles. Articles with examples of each of these are available.

• Cueing
• Questioning
• Recording sensory imagery
• Fast Writing

For many, writing creates apprehension and uncertainty. This first stage of the writing process reduces negative emotions as it provides strategies that encourage writers to begin the journey to a completed piece of writing. With prewriting, writers record ideas before they begin to feel the uncertainty of what to write; they have already begun their journeys to success.

Brainstorming prompts the gathering of ideas. It promotes opportunities to cognitively record what is known before formulating a draft. A process that begins with the first draft forcing words into the confinements of the current selected structure limits the free flow of ideas. Beginning to draft before mental preparation invites writer’s block, frustration, and a desire to quit.

Brainstorming strategies have been proven successful with beginning and veteran writers. During this stage, writers learn to make decisions about the topic as they ask questions: Do I know enough about this topic to continue? How can I gather more information? What relationships exist? Do I like this topic?

Writers who experiment to determine what works to empower their writing, build a writing process that enriches their style and improves productivity. There are numerous ways to prewrite that are shared.

Brainstorming encourages uncensored writing

Sometimes writers stall, causing writer’s block because they worry if the words are appropriate, meets the objective or follow grammar rules. Brainstorming allows writers to capture their ideas on paper without these worries.

Brainstorming rules

1. Do write all ideas that come to mind.

Do not censor ideas.

Sometimes what seems to lack potential becomes the catalyst for brilliance.

2. Do accept all ideas.

Do not criticize or critique ideas.

Often what seems to not work becomes useful at a later stage in the process.

3. Do focus on the ideas and allow them to spark new ideas.

Do not interrupt the natural flow of ideas

Example

The objective is to see how long a list can be created in a selected amount of time (3–5 minutes). By competing within a limited time, writers are less guarded which promotes a free association of ideas. All examples were produced on the topic of spending time at the family cabin.

Follow any of the above links to learn new prewriting strategies, learn to capture ideas, gain inspiration, and take a risk to try something new.

Activity

Each time a fast write is completed, create a chart showing how many words made it to the page. Challenge yourself to fast write as a warmup to writing and increase the amount of words on the page with each practice.

The thought of writing can be daunting and overwhelming at the beginning. Thinking about the readers’ response is terrifying. Don’t allow apprehension to bully you out of writing. Below are additional strategies to prompt brainstorming.

Letter to self

Letters promote writing in a risk-free environment.

Concern about how the audience will react can paralyze a writer and block the writing. Questions about quality, style, and content can interrupt the flow of thought. Writers who listen to these legitimate but disruptive questions struggle to complete the first draft in a timely manner.

A letter to yourself provides an opportunity to spill thoughts on paper without fear of the audience’s reaction. Knowing you are the audience, the letter will not be published, and as the reader, you will understand the intent releases the ideas.

This allows the writer to capture thoughts, like a fly on a web. Once the first two stages of the writing process, rewriting, and writing, are addressed, writers are free to move to the third, revision. Simply by producing something, even if it is a rough-rough draft, produces a sense of accomplishment that inspires a writer.

Start in the middle

For some reason, the beginning seems to be difficult, but writers seldom think to start in the middle. By granting yourself the license to do something once thought prohibited, the door of possibilities is opened.

To find success with this strategy, be sure to identify and forecast the purpose and audience. Without doing so, the writing will produce confusion and frustration.

Because a strong first paragraph is essential to hooking the reader, writing it can be intimidating. Instead, jump into the middle of the story. This allows writers to share the meat of the story that excites them without the concern that the readers will not read past the introduction. Then the writer can return to the beginning and write the lead.

Category fast writes

During this activity, writers use prescribed categories to prompt fast writing. The categories should revolve around the original topic. In the example below, the topic expanded upon the original brainstorm of camping.

Each of the above fast writes emanated from the prompt producing four possible stories for the future. Even now after using this strategy repeatedly, I was surprised at the ideas that flowed. This activity allows for writers to decide if they really know enough about a topic to continue. If you think one of these could develop into a story of interest, let me know in the comments; we all need a little encouragement.