How to Use Clustering to Jump Start Your Writing
by Vicki Meade
ne of the best techniques I've ever learned for breaking through inertia, stimulating ideas, and finding a direction for a piece of writing is "clustering." I was introduced to clustering by Annapolis author and writing instructor Laura Oliver, and over the years I've used it to jump start everything from personal essays to corporate reports.
Clustering is a powerful tool because it taps into the right brain, which drives creativity. Our right brain is where fresh ideas and original insights are generated. The left brain, in contrast, is more logical and orderly. Both are essential to good writing, but if your left brain is too dominant when you start a piece, it inhibits the free flow of thought. Clustering muffles the left brain for a time so the right brain can play freely. Here's how to do it.
- Write a nucleus word or phrase on a clean piece of paper. I usually choose a word that I consider, loosely, to be my topic. For example, if I'm writing a Mother's Day essay, "mother" would be a good nucleus word. If I'm writing an annual report for a client I might choose "service" or "business" or even a phrase like “improving our image." The nucleus word's purpose is to trigger associations. Emotionally charged words like "love," "loss," or "envy" are extremely effective, as are prepositions: "around," "beyond," "over," and so forth.
- Circle the nucleus and let connections flow, writing down each new word or phrase that comes to mind, circling it, and connecting it with a line. to the, word that sparked it. Attach to the nucleus each word that seems like an entirely new direction. But don't get hung up on which words connect to what. The idea is to let thoughts run quickly without editing, censoring, or worrying about proper sequence.
- Keep your hand moving all the time; do not stop. If you get stuck, keep circling words or thickening lines between them. You can even doodle, but do not stop moving your pen. As long as your hand is occupied, jotting thoughts and circling, your left brain—the "critic"—is occupied and thus is prevented from interfering with spontaneity and creativity.
- Cluster for three minutes or so—you'll probably fill the page. At some point you'll feel a mental shift or an "aha!" that suggests what you want to write about.
- Continue adding to your cluster if you feel there is more to explore, but you can start writing anytime you want. Refer to your cluster to stimulate thoughts as you write, but don't feel you have to include in your piece everything that's in the cluster.
- Write your piece without worrying about perfection. Get it all onto paper, and later, go back to polish using the logical left brain.
The book Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele Rico, Ph.D. (Penguin Putnam, Inc., 2000), explains the clustering technique clearly and thoroughly. It's a wonderful resource to help enhance your creative powers.