I was wondering last night. I have been told that I don't think outside the square...that I LIVE outside the square. I mean with the way I perceive things, the way I approach problems and issues. I think it is called Linear thinking. My mind comes at things from odd angles so I come up with ideas no one else thinks of. Do you think it is a writers mind? Do any of you guys do this too???

deb

I reckon that to be a writer you have to think outside the square, because you need to be able to see around the corner to find out what is coming next.
I don't live inside the square either, I like to think of it as an icosahedron, shaped just like a virus capsid. Or maybe its cream pie shaped......

Deb, I've heard that term a lot, but I've never been 100% sure what "the square" actually is. I know my kids are taught creative thinking and/or linear thinking at school. They're trained to think about thinking, so they have strategies to approach problems (ie De bono's six hats), instead of using the usual models. But I think what you're talking about is intuitive leaps. As far as I know some writers do have that - the ability to solve their character's problems by leaping past logic to somehow 'see' what happens. Or, their characters solve the problem for them which is kinda the same thing.

But when you say you 'live' outside the square, I'm not sure what you mean. (Unless you're like my sister who was a hippy in the Daintree Rainforest for a couple of years )

I think the odd angles are all just part of the adventure of writing. Most of us in this group seem to
write from beginning to end, enjoying the leaps in our imaginations and discovery process as much as completing a story.

What amazes me is how most people seem so normal and 'square' when you first meet them. Most people are polite and nice and you imagine them living normal everyday lives. And then bit by bit you discover these bizarre and unusual things they have done in their lives. Like living in the Daintree for two years! I'm a real homebody so to me that is such a leap, to make the decision to choose that path for that ammount of time - it's wonderful.

Anybody have any wierd and wonderful adventures? I guess my biggest would be be dancing on TV, and getting married in Las Vegas. I forget how unusual that was but for me it was perfect and normal and everyday...and part of my square.

Helen, I must know what you do for a living. Suddenly there is mention of stethiscopes (sp?) and "virus capsids". Reconciling this with fixations on cream pies is fascinating!