How to build your curiosity as a writer

What is that element that can make a human write??

That thing that could make a person imagine to the point that they just have to put it down so they don’t miss something.

To me, that’s curiosity.

To you, it could be another thing.

But here’s my equation.

Human brain (idle)?

+?

sights something of interest sent to it by the zealousness of the eyes?

+?

fired by the need to know more about that thing of interest (curiosity)?

+?

thinking?

+?

actual research (scouring everywhere)?

+?

articulating findings?

=??

A written work of art.

Easy Peasy.

Many times I read some works and wonder what exactly was in the mind of the writer and what could have inspired them.

But wait a minute. Why should a writer be curious?

Let’s go to Google

In an article by Michelle Richmond , she believes that a writer who does not cultivate their curiosity will only produce lazy work and will not be able to draw a good line that makes one want to read.?

For her, you can’t always write about what you know because you won’t get that edge, you need to branch out.?

The Regal Writer says curiosity is a habit for the highly productive writer. They believe curiosity makes you creative and because of the new ideas, you can create something different.

Heather Demetrios wrote a whole poem about curiosity and I’m intrigued. According to Heather, all her works feature her curiosity because the curiosity allows her to go deep in her work and she believes it should work the same for you.

But really, how exactly do you want to whip something creative if you are not asking questions and are willing to make something catch people’s attention?

For me, you are no writer if you are not intrigued by everything you see around you and want to probe into it.

How do you even know you are a curious type?

It’s in everything you do.

You watch movies and can’t wait to see what happened in the last episode because of your innate curiosity as a human.

I say all humans are curious.

And I have to admit that the humans who do not wait for a series to be complete and watch every episode every week are legendary.

Because each episode ends with massive suspense and I still wonder how you bear to wait till next week for that new episode or chapter.

Whew…LEGENDS. ??

Back to what I have on curiosity.

If you peek out of your window when you hear your neighbour pass or you tune in your ears every time to check what that person might be saying about you.

Or you are always asking questions in general. Then you are a curious person.

But then there are degrees to this thing. Are you mindfully active on the right things or always pursuing to know the wrong things?

You are curious about your neighbour’s activities but not about the task you are supposed to have completed hours ago. Because if you were curious, you would have completed it.

Why are you channelling your observation skills to the wrong thing?

Here’s how to do it right.

Build up your curiosity to the right things - this way

1. Always write down every single idea you get. I find myself going back and exploring what I wrote because you just never know where the curiosity for those things could take you. The Writer Psyche is a result of what I wrote ages ago.

So write down the things you find yourself being curious about and selectively work on the ones that you know would bring active results.

Take for example you wanted to write a book and you have been thinking and curiously researching on what storyline to add in. Wouldn’t you agree with me that it would make sense sometime and you have pushed your curiosity right?

2. Read. I’m not saying you should read anything you see. Read what builds your fancy. This is where many writers get it wrong. Modern-age movies show you a man who is well-read and knows about physics, chemistry, and just about anything on earth and then you want to be this man.?

So you go and pack as many books as possible but you can’t seem to go past the first chapter. Easy, you don’t like that subject. Now twist it.?

Imagine you love discussing psychology and one day you buy this really interesting novel on psychology. Every chapter speaks to you and by the time you know it, you are at the middle of the book with lots of notes taken.?

So yes, feed your inquisitiveness but also go for books on subjects of interest. Read things you are currently researching. If something is of interest and you would like to add it to what you are writing, just read more about it.?

Preferably you can also read blogs from different people if you can’t finish as many books. Don’t know about you but reading blogs also counts as reading to me.

Most times, what I read today might show up in my work 5 years later. You just never know. Enjoy your reading. It’s not a chore.

3. The Regal Writer says you should ask questions: According to them, asking questions should be a part of your toolbox for writing. Questions like What if? I wonder. They help you know what else to look into to complete what you are working on to produce beautiful results.?

4. Another point from the Regal Writer is to watch people. And I very much agree with this. Most of my posts and stories come from watching people, trying to know their actions.?

You can learn more about people by reading too and watching movies but don’t ignore what you could gain by just moving through your street and observing the actions of people you see. The next episode you need to write might just be a street away from you.

The fact that I wrote an entire Newsletter on why you should read a writer , says a lot.

I once read of a lady who turned into a viral sensation by writing about her neighbours. ?? (oh well…I didn't say you should spy on neighbours tho. Just saying you should be observant because most of what writers produce is what should resonate with humans. And what more could resonate with humans than the actions of humans themselves?)

Now, after all is said and done, you want to be careful to not get lost in your curiosity that you end up not writing anything.?

Yes, that’s possible and I’ve done it many times. I come up with so many ideas and get so lost in writing new ones that I end up not working on all the ideas I have. So be careful with that one.

Curiosity is something that works for anybody who wants to be creative and not just for writers.

Never forget these:

1. Always probe. Ask questions. How could it be different and special? I once read that even after writing, editing involves not just grammar correction but actual changes to whatever you just wrote, it could even be the whole plot and this is why you ask questions.
2. Always want to know more. Always observe. Get out of your head and into the real world. Do you want to create what makes people hmmm and nod? Then you have to know more about those people.

BE CURIOUS!

Will this be useful for you or do you think I should have added something? Let me know.

Welcome to a new week of exploration.

See you next week. ????

If you are not subscribed, kindly subscribe and learn more with me as we explore the psyche of the writer every week.

This could and may not become a podcast. Who knows? We love writers in this space.

See you again next week.