Writing experiments are an easy way to become a better writer through curiosity and playfulness as a channel to writing improvement. Writing experiments focus on results being what they will be, thus ruling out the unfortunate sense of failure that overcomes many writers.
Writers are often curious, passionate and driven by learning how to improve and unfortunately may get discouraged when this leads to something other than the outcome we wanted. With writing experiments, we have freedom to see if something new works without being attached to what is right and what is wrong.
Your English Writing Teacher is NOT in your blogging room.
There are no “red pencil flashbacks” with writing experiments!
Today I actually failed with my ongoing #rolloverandwrite writing experiment. My response? Hey, for 40 days this worked beautifully. Now, how may I tweak it and start over? No beating myself up or deciding to never try again! Instead, a joyful experiment with a tiny change and back at it!
Watch this short video to learn about my most recent writing experiment.
Examples of writing experiments may include writing X for #number of days. I wrote at leasy one haiku poem for 377 consecutive days, for example. NaNoWriMo is a form of writing experiment. Some AuthorTubers borrow writing routines of favorite authors to see how it works in their lives and then share on YouTube.
Writing experiments are not about failing what you are trying, they reinforce any feedback being constructive feedback. Not Bad Writer/Good Writer. Not “I’m no good” instead, “Its all good!”
A New Way to Define Success as a Writer and Blogger
If you are putting words on the page, you are a success. Maybe my next writing experiment will be to try a week of writing badly or writing ridiculously or writing melodramatically. Normally, that would be horrifying! With writing experiments it is fun and may lead to learning something I wouldn’t have learned otherwise.
And now it’s your turn –
What writing experiment would you like to try? Remember, passion not perfection. Curiosity and playfulness will help all your results feel good. Ask questions in the comments or send me an email.
Let’s have fun with our next writing experiments!
Julie JordanScott is a multipassionate creative who delights in inviting others into their own fullhearted. artistic experience via her creativity coaching individually or in groups, courses and workshops. To receive inspiring content and videos weekly and find out more about Coaching, Courses, Challenges and what’s going on in the Creative Life Midwife world? Subscribe here:
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Tamara says
Every time I write a blog post, it’s sort of an experiment. I don’t sit down and note what the sense and purpose is, how many words I want to use, etc. I have a story to tell, and I write as I go. Plus English is not my first language.
So while my approach sounds terribly unstructured, it’s the way my brain works, I have fun, and I’m usually quite happy with the outcome. I call this a win.
jjscreativelifemidwife says
I would definitely call it a win, too! That’s fantastic!
Jeanine Byers says
Well, I have been reading about transformational marketing, and would like to get better at writing that way on social media. It is an experiment, because I feel challenged to do it well. No telling what will happen, LOL!
jjscreativelifemidwife says
Hooray! Practice is always the most important thing of all with writing. Can’t just think about it, we actually need to do it. 🙂
Angie Vallejo says
Love love love this! Very encouraging, especially for me this month as I take on a blogging challenge, and a personal challenge of writing a minimum of 10,000 words on my novel.
jjscreativelifemidwife says
It can get easy to become overwhelmed. Let me know how you are doing as we go along so we may continue to encourage each other!
vidya says
Well, I will join you for that melodramatic or ridiculous writing challenge 🙂 I recall reading some of those haiku..
jjscreativelifemidwife says
I love being ridiculous. Watch for a blog post about my playful creativity with dancing. 🙂
Dr.Amrita Basu says
Every time I do the UBC it’s a challenge to keep the momentum up even later.I fail ,I try again and I am trying again but differently I hope.