FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I use WordFlame?
Please read the steps here.

2. Do I really need to listen to the sound of the ocean to relax (Step 1)?
No. Please feel free to relax your body and mind through other means.

3. Why am I using paper instead of typing into my computer (Step 2)?
You can definitely use your computer to write and use WordFlame, but there is a tendency to edit your work when you should be concentrating on writing and capturing images. Very often a writer will keep "fixing" a paragraph or sentence to death and then lose that creative flow that happens when a story gets into the groove. Writing on paper helps focus the writing activity on creating the story. You can always type and edit your story later into the computer.

4. I need help in trying to list ten images from the WordFlame (Step 3).
Here's a suggestion: if you were going to tell the story of your life using only in terms of the WordFlame, what would your list look like? For example, if your WordFlame is "Dogs," you can try and list down all the dogs that you've known in your life, starting from the first dog to the last. If your WordFlame is "Playing," think of all the times you've played anything, again starting from your earliest memories to the present. The words are meant to be a starting place. If the word "Playing" evokes images of theatre instead of the playground or games, go with that.

5. What if I can't list ten images in 3 minutes (Step 3)?
That's ok. You can proceed with the list of images you have or you can try a different WordFlame. The 3 minute limit is meant to give some structure to this step. If you have unlimited time, you may spend too much time making a list instead of writing.

6. How do I pick the "strongest image" (Step 4)?
The strongest image should be the one that evokes the most emotion to you or the most vivid image. If the image is one that you can see precisely in your mind, or the one that brings anger or tears or happiness to you, that's the one to pick.

7. What if I don't want to write about the one with the strongest image (Step 4)?
That's ok, pick one randomly. It should be a good exercise to get you to dig more deeply into images.

8. What's with the questions on Step 5? What if I can't answer some of them?
Step 5 deals with trying to help you flesh out your images. If you answer the questions, it should bring to you the substance of the image and help you paint a more vivid picture. If, while you're answering the questions, you start writing full prose, go with it. When you get stuck, come back to the questions and see if it spurs some more writing.

9. Do I have to take the questions in Step 5 literally?
No, you can go metaphysical and answer the question "What is above you?" with "A cloud of depression" instead of "The ceiling."

10. I'm at Starbucks and I can't play the soundclip of the questions (Step 5). What should I do?
You can read the questions here.

11. In Step 6, it says to start with "I am..." My story is about my uncle or my ficitional character. What should I do?
Writing in the first person will help you get into the mind of the character or scene more closely. You can re-write it later to adapt to your character. If you master this process, you will not have to use "I am..." anymore and go directly to third person or whatever point-of-view.

12. Why am I limited to writing for 10 minutes only after I answer the questions (Step 6)?
This is because most people who write tend to edit their work as they are writing the story and this causes the act of writing to slow down. The point is to write, not edit, and if you were given only 10 minutes to write about the image, you wouldn't spend all that time editing. You can edit later. After you finished writing.

13. How do I apply this technique to fiction writing?
You can use the fictional image you have in your mind and answer the questions in Step 6 as if they were being asked to the character in your image. Put yourself in the mind of your character, answering the questions in the first person. You can change the point-of-view when you've complete the exercise.

14. How did you come up with WordFlame?
WordFlame is based on a very simplified version of Lynda Barry's writing workshop Writing The Unthinkable. This blog is not even close to what Lynda teaches in the workshop. Lynda believes that the key to writing is the image which we access through our memories. She also teaches a method of teaching your mind and body to prime itself to the process of creating. I highly recommend this workshop.

You can also get the book (a work of art really) that she published based on this workshop. The book is called What It Is. You can buy it here.

15. I have another question not answered here.
You can write me an e-mail at nomilkpleez @ yahoo dot com.


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