Writing for Ideas (journal 1)

As mentioned in Writing For Visual Thinkers, I have been instructed to use various brainstorming techniques ever since grade school. In my earlier years, I went head strong into projects, with a shoot first, ask questions later attitude. Because of this, I felt a bit of cognitive dissonance when instructed to approach something by writing a word list or brainstorm for a bit. However, as I did them more and more, I started to realize what an awesome spring board for later ideas these various forms of writing could be. Over the years, I have taken certain aspects of these techniques that I have found helpful and have started to understand the circumstances when I should use one method over another or a combination.

Last summer, I began to keep a little black sketch pad where I would write random thoughts. As I got used to it, I started to use it for other things like sketches, and brainstorming. Now, it has become my number one item. I take notes in it, write concept maps and wordlists, brainstorm, bring it to important meetings, sketch ideas, and when I'm feeling really creative, I'll sometimes write a poem. It has essentially become an idea safe. I think that I'm a fairly forgetful person, so having a place where I can quickly jot down things so I can remind myself later is awesome. I'm not creepy about it; I've seen prestigious artsy kids whip out a pad and pencil at a party and write some profound drunken scribble down a few times. But thats weird. Even though I sometimes get the urge to write down booze induced thoughts, I think it looks too stupid to be worth it. So I try and remember until I get home to do it. Usually they suck anyway.

I thought the reading made an interesting point about free writing. Except for a few times in English classes, I've never tried to actually do that to generate new ideas. I don't know that I will try it. For now it seems that I have found a pretty good system for solving problems. Except for this one with a logo I'm working on.. but I think doing some more sketches will be a better solvent for that one.

ok thats all