Encouraging Writers: Free Association

A Word Game

I propose a new game to grow a budding community of fiction authors. The idea is to encourage ourselves to write, improve our skills as a master pens-person, and provide constructive and positive feedback .

The idea is simple, provide a word or a phrase that uses (even very loosely) the chosen word / phrase in a paragraph or a page or alludes to it. The whole point is to encourage the cognitive juices to flow. Free association.

I never knew that this was a writer's skill or what it was called. I used to do this ages ago when I aspired to be a fiction author (I still do!). The term used then was "Descriptions on the Spot."

Example

To start out with an example, I asked my fiance, @edgeland, to provide me with a word. She suggested 'Island'.

Here goes nothing ...

Island : Free Association

Karl sat on the beach looking over the vast expanse of the ocean. How many days had it been since he'd been deserted on the island? He had lost count after 2 years. Week by week, he would create a new marking on the makeshift hut he had constructed.

With nothing but his mind and will to survive, Karl had weathered storms, fought off famine, been ill and recovered, and most of all managed to maintain a level of sanity.

But it was difficult to keep sane with no one around. Homo sapiens are a social species and no interactions for 2 years would wear down even the most resilient mind.

Conclusion

It doesn't matter if the resulting prose is good or bad. It's all about instaneous and off the cuff writing, whatever comes to your mind, with little to no edits.

I hope that aspiring writers will take part in #descriptionsonthespot!