A Day out with Mrs Dalloway

I've come over all anarchic following yesterday's post -- perhaps it's because I'm getting excited about going on the TUC's march against the cuts on the 26th and I've never been on a march before.  There!  I've admitted it.  I'm feeling better already.  In spite of my apathy I've always had a line drawn in the metaphorical sand and the coalition government is yomping right over it, so -- time for action!

I digress-- this is a creative writing blog -- think of the above as some kind of stream of consciousness moment, because actually that's what I want to talk about, a small and winding diversion wandering off from yesterday's ideas about breaking the rules.

Why not have a fit of the Mrs Dalloways yourself and follow in Virginia Woolf's footsteps by writing something in stream of consciousness mode?   Jot down anything that comes into your head; let your thoughts ramble far and wide.  Throw in some sensations, impressions, observations, memories and emotions as they occur to you.  Let yourself float free...

Then - in order to prevent this from being an exercise in mere self-indulgence, have a forensic look at what you have written.  Think hard about your thoughtless meanderings and try and analyse the themes and preoccupations which emerge.  It might even be worth writing a short list because that in itself is a way of imposing structure on something shapeless, of arranging your material. My guess is that the process will give you some insight into the ideas that inspire and inform your work and that writing something down spontaneously and then dissecting it may help to give you fresh access to your imagination.

It's a bit like opening a new door...

P. S.This is a door of many colours: black, pink, grey/blue, yellow, green, a worn work of art, (or nature) which at a quick glance you might just dismiss as something gray.  Moral: look closely; see with a fresh eye...