By Kelly Watson A new trend has gained popularity among writers in recent years. Many swear by this technique, saying it brings new clarity to their writing. When done over time, the practice can improve concentration, sharpen observational skills and breathe new life into tired prose.
All writers must do is pick up a pencil and draw.
Surprised? Don’t be. Long before they learn to write, children draw to reflect on the world around them. Drawing can relax the body, quiet the mind and sharpen visual acuity. Yet most people abandon drawing as they grow older, driven away by changing interests or – more often – a feeling of inadequacy.
What Does DRAWING Have to Do With Writing?
Writers who return to a drawing practice may face those same feelings of inadequacy, but the rewards can be priceless. Just ask Danny Gregory, author of “The Creative License” and blogger at www.dannygregory.com.
“Drawing has encouraged me to try new things in writing and to have more confidence,” Gregory says. “The fact is, I only started publishing books after I started drawing a decade ago. Even the books I did with no drawings were fed by the creative energy the drawings inspired.”
Erik Sherman, a freelance writer and blogger for BNET (part of the CBS Interactive Business Network) agrees. "I draw and write regularly,” Sherman says. “I hadn't thought of whether [drawing] improves my writing, but I do find it vital to do something that is as far from words as I can get. I could see a connection, especially if you were doing narrative work and needed to notice physical details. Learning to draw is really about learning to see – something that most people actually don't do well."
Tools and Techniques
To start drawing, you’ll need a pen and a cheap sketchbook from your local art store.
Why not a pencil? Because this drawing practice will be about improving your ability to see – NOT about creating a great work of art. Using a pen will remove the temptation to erase your work and start again.
Start by doing a simple contour drawing, tracing the outline of an object slowly as you trace the it your eyes. (Make it easy on yourself by choosing a simple object such as an apple or a shoe. Save the complex stuff for later.)
When drawing, look down at your paper only to get a sense of where to draw your next line. Don’t worry about shading or other artistic details. Just focus on really seeing what’s in front of you.
You may even want to do a blind contour drawing, which means you don’t look at the paper until you’ve finished. Your image might turn out abstract, but you’ll get great practice at really seeing what you’re drawing: the wear at the toe of the shoe, the beads of fuzz on the laces, and the tiny flakes in the rubber sole.
The Bigger Picture
Over time, you’ll become more confident in your drawing ability. You may want to focus on drawing certain objects that appear in your writing, or just choose a variety of things that stretch your powers of observation.
No matter what your drawing practice, you’ll find yourself with a wealth of new details that can be used to spice up your written work. For more information about drawing and how it applies to writers, check out the books Everyday Matters by Danny Gregory and The Zen of Seeing by Frederick Franck. Your turn! Have you tried drawing as a way to improve your writing? Leave a comment and let us know! Kelly Watson is a web copywriter who writes blog posts and other marketing materials for small business owners who are too busy to do it themselves. She also has her own blog at www.OneWomanMarketing.com.
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