The Writing ProcessThe Writing Process

I.3 Invention TechniquesI.3 Invention Techniques

The Purpose of Invention The Purpose of Invention TechniquesTechniques

is to help you generate content quickly and is to help you generate content quickly and painlessly.painlessly.

NOTE:NOTE:Inventing should be done quickly, almost without Inventing should be done quickly, almost without

thinking.thinking.It tends to be messy, maybe incoherent to anyone It tends to be messy, maybe incoherent to anyone

else.else.That’s okay.That’s okay.No one else will see it.No one else will see it.

Four Principles for InventingFour Principles for Inventing

Give yourself enough time to really play.Give yourself enough time to really play.

Don’t work at thinking; don’t think of working.Don’t work at thinking; don’t think of working.

Don’t be too sure of where you’re going.Don’t be too sure of where you’re going.

When finished, reread what you’ve written:When finished, reread what you’ve written: Look for bright spots, surprisesLook for bright spots, surprises Look for an angle or an unexpected insightLook for an angle or an unexpected insight

Five Invention Techniques:Five Invention Techniques:

Free writingFree writingFocused Free writingFocused Free writingBrainstormingBrainstormingMappingMappingCubingCubing

Free WritingFree Writing

Sit down in front of a typewriter or computerSit down in front of a typewriter or computer Set an egg timer for ten minutesSet an egg timer for ten minutes Clear your mindClear your mind Begin writing, about anything at allBegin writing, about anything at all

Note:Note:

There are no rules in free writing:There are no rules in free writing:

Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, punctuationDon’t worry about spelling, grammar, punctuation

How it Helps:How it Helps:

Breaks up writer’s blockBreaks up writer’s block

Gets creative juices flowingGets creative juices flowing

Focused Free WritingFocused Free Writing

When you’re confident you can write freely,When you’re confident you can write freely,

try this:try this:

Free write, but focus on the topic of your Free write, but focus on the topic of your essay.essay.

Let your mind run freely on the topic as you Let your mind run freely on the topic as you write. write.

How it Helps:How it Helps:

Generates specific content for your paperGenerates specific content for your paper

with a minimum of time and effort.with a minimum of time and effort.

BrainstormingBrainstorming(making a list)(making a list)

Set timer for ten minutes.Set timer for ten minutes.

List everything you can think of associated with List everything you can think of associated with your topic.your topic.

Don’t judge:Don’t judge:

write down everything that comes to mindwrite down everything that comes to mind

When you’re finished:When you’re finished:

Cross you items that don’t belong.Cross you items that don’t belong.

Draw arrows to connect items that go Draw arrows to connect items that go together.together.

Keep Doing It:Keep Doing It:

Brainstorm your thesis.Brainstorm your thesis.

Brainstorm your map.Brainstorm your map.

Brainstorm details, descriptions, evidence.Brainstorm details, descriptions, evidence.

Brainstorm paragraphs, even sentences.Brainstorm paragraphs, even sentences.

How it Helps:How it Helps:

Generates specific material quickly and Generates specific material quickly and easily.easily.

Effective at any stage of the writing Effective at any stage of the writing process.process.

MappingMapping(the word association game)(the word association game)

Set aside ten minutes.Set aside ten minutes. Write your topic in the center of the paper and Write your topic in the center of the paper and

circle it.circle it. Playfully free associate,Playfully free associate,

drawing a line between the topic worddrawing a line between the topic word

and the next word it suggests to your mind.and the next word it suggests to your mind.

• Continue making connections until the line runs Continue making connections until the line runs out.out.

When the line runs out:When the line runs out:

Begin again, from the topic word or from Begin again, from the topic word or from another spot on the line.another spot on the line.

Don’t try to make sense of the chains of words.Don’t try to make sense of the chains of words. Don’t try to make them connect logically.Don’t try to make them connect logically.

When you’re done:When you’re done:

Allow your mind to wander over the Allow your mind to wander over the connections.connections.

Free write for ten minutes based on Free write for ten minutes based on connections you’ve discovered.connections you’ve discovered.

How it Helps:How it Helps:

Mapping helps the mind make Mapping helps the mind make connections.connections.

Mapping can help suggest a structure for Mapping can help suggest a structure for the essay.the essay.

Mapping takes little time and effort to Mapping takes little time and effort to generate a lot of material.generate a lot of material.

CubingCubing(looking at your topic from six sides)(looking at your topic from six sides)

DescribingDescribing ComparingComparing AssociatingAssociating AnalyzingAnalyzing ApplyingApplying ArguingArguing

DescribingDescribing

What does your subject look like?What does your subject look like?What size is it?What size is it?What color?What color?What shape?What shape?

ComparingComparing

What is your subject similar to?What is your subject similar to?

What is it different from?What is it different from?

AssociatingAssociating

What’s it make you think of?What’s it make you think of?

AnalyzingAnalyzing

Where does it come from?Where does it come from?Where’s it going?Where’s it going?What are its parts?What are its parts?How are its parts related?How are its parts related?

ApplyingApplying

What can you do with your subject?What can you do with your subject?

What uses does it have?What uses does it have?

ArguingArguing

What arguments can you make for your What arguments can you make for your subject?subject?

What arguments can be made against it?What arguments can be made against it?

How to do it:How to do it:

Select a topic, subject, or part of a subject.Select a topic, subject, or part of a subject.

Hold it in focus.Hold it in focus.

Limit your writing to 3 to 5 minutes for each Limit your writing to 3 to 5 minutes for each perspective.perspective.

Write about your subject from all 6 perspectives.Write about your subject from all 6 perspectives.

Two other strategiesTwo other strategiesto help generate content:to help generate content:

JournalsJournals

Reactive ReadingReactive Reading

JournalsJournals

A writing journal is a notebook of freewrites.A writing journal is a notebook of freewrites.

Build up ideas for writing by jotting downBuild up ideas for writing by jotting down things you see, experience, or think aboutthings you see, experience, or think about observations and overheard conversationsobservations and overheard conversations sketches of people who catch your sketches of people who catch your

attentionattention your goals and prioritiesyour goals and priorities your dreams and desiresyour dreams and desires

Reactive ReadingReactive Reading

Keep a list of new words and ideas you Keep a list of new words and ideas you learn in your reading.learn in your reading.

Write about your associations, reflections, Write about your associations, reflections, reactions, and evaluations.reactions, and evaluations.

Summarize or copy good or important Summarize or copy good or important passages and comment on them.passages and comment on them.