Start by finding a quiet place to sit for awhile (45 minutes to an
hour should suffice), as free from disturbance or distraction as
possible. Phones, TV and music should be "off" (outdoors is good, as
long as you're comfortable and not likely to be disturbed); ask for
some "space" (if necessary), close and lock the door, etc.
You'll want to have a pad of paper, notebook, laptop or desktop
computer handy, and a pen, pencil or keyboard nearby. Now, read the
most recent section of writing you've completed (in the story you've
been working on, of course); and when you're done, when you're clear
about where things "left off," gently close your eyes. Slowly begin
to breathe deeply, with a relaxed, easy measure to it; there’s no
rush to go anywhere. Just effortlessly draw in a full measure of
breath through your nostrils, and slowly let it out through your
nostrils, like water rushing up onto the shore and then back out.
After one or two minutes of that, begin turning your attention
naturally and easily inward; that is, allow your attention to drift
toward wherever your "core," your "center" is for you. (If you feel
"stuck," bring your attention gently to your breath, and simply
float along with its rise and fall for a little while). Proceed with
this for another couple of minutes.
When you feel you've settled down some, and you're feeling some
sense of inner quietness, keep your eyes closed and then just hold
the clear intention that, when you open your "inner eyes," you'll be
looking at a scene that's inhabited by whichever characters in your
story are "up on the table," ready to reveal some more of their
story to you.* Now, open your inner eyes and just watch. Simply pay
attention to what appears before you. Be innocent. Don't try to
steer anyone or anything, and refrain from "probing" or trying to
figure things out with your characters. Don't ask them for more than
they show you. Just be present with them, and observe what goes on,
remaining alert to any details. Allow whatever is revealing itself
to you to play itself out (don’t stop anything prematurely). If they
involve you somehow, in any way, go with the "flow." If at first,
nothing seems to be happening or appearing, relax, just remain
present there, without expectation. Ideally, what shows up does so
in its own time, not yours (i.e. it's best if your "expectations"
aren't running this). When you sense that all of the "action" has
come to a conclusion, close your "inner" eyes. Then, begin slowly
bringing your attention back to "normal" consciousness, guiding your
attention back to your breathing, back to your body and your
surroundings, your normal thoughts, etc. (Take a few minutes).
When you feel comfortable to, open your eyes, and immediately begin
writing down what you recall from your experience, without editing
it; capture the details you remember, without straining your mind.
If you become "blocked," relax, close your eyes and allow yourself
to become quiet again; often, this will allow remembrance of more
details to return. When you're finished, look over what you've
written, and again, see if any further details come to mind. Later
(or then, if you feel like it), you can go back and begin to "edit"
the material to fit into your story.
[*: Your characters don’t have to appear to you in the exact same
place you last had them; wherever they "show up" is fine, since
later, you can transpose whatever's useful from the exercise to your
current story.]
"Visualize" Your Way To Writing Better Dialogue
by William Mathes
Copyright © 2006 |
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