When all else fails- cluster. It’s a writing technique that I use
often. I use it to expand an inkling
that hasn’t yet become an idea. I use it
when I have bogged down. I use it just
to play with words.
What is a cluster, and how does a person
cluster? – The first step is to choose a beginning word or phrase. It isn’t necessary to spend a lot of time
choosing this beginning; it will be written in the center of the page. Then associate words are added and words that
come forward from those. You can circle
them if you like and draw little dashes that suggest the order they
arrived. The center word usually ends up
with a number of word chain legs, as some ideas will be loosely connected and
need their own development. Again, don’t
think too much about what you are doing and why these phrases or ideas are
coming forth. THEN, there is a little
bit of magic that happens. The thing
that you want to write about will jell in your mind. The click happens. That’s when you write.
My cluster this morning is around an
inkling that I believe holds a storyline.
Cluster pages, here I come.
