Most of us are inspired to write because we want to express ourselves. There is something we want to say badly enough to do the often challenging work of planning, research and seemingly endless redrafting to arrive at something we feel adequately captures our thoughts.
But writing is also a way to work out what we think. It also helps us to capture what we don't know, at least not at the beginning of a project. Often, we aren't fully aware of what we want to say, about what matters or where we will end up, so much of our thinking is formed and clarified during the process of writing. Writing then rewards us by allowing space for
our ideas to grow and take shape in ways they wouldn't if we never wrote them down. In this sense, writing allows us to discover and express the hidden potential in us.
Try this quick exercise to connect with yours.
1. Write down a title at the top of a blank page. Pick any topic you want.
2. Next, ask yourself, 'what do I have to say about this topic?'
3. Now spend five minutes writing whatever comes to mind about that topic - this can include your thoughts in answer to the above question. Just keep writing until the time is up.
4. Once done, read over what you have written and ask yourself, 'how much of this did I know I would say at the start?'
Let me know what you discover about yourself!