Summary of "Writing the Unthinkable with Lynda Barry"
Summary of “Writing the Unthinkable with Lynda Barry”
Lynda Barry shares a creative writing exercise designed to unlock storytelling by combining meditation, sensory focus, and free association. The method emphasizes physical engagement (drawing and writing) and sensory awareness to help writers access memories and vivid imagery.
Artistic Techniques, Concepts, and Creative Processes
Preparation and Tools
- Use your favorite pen and paper.
- Set aside about 20 minutes for the exercise.
Meditative Warm-up
- Draw a slow, tight spiral on a piece of paper without letting the lines touch.
- Imagine getting “electrocuted” if the lines touch to encourage careful, focused drawing.
- While drawing, mentally scan your body from the top of your head to the soles of your feet and back up your arms, focusing your attention on different body parts. This helps relax and center your mind.
Sensory and Imagery Activation
- Listen to or think about a poem (Barry uses a poem by Rumi) to deepen sensory engagement.
- Recall an early memory or scene from your life to prime your imagination.
Word Association and Listing
- Given a prompt word (in this case, “car”), spend one minute listing all related images or memories that come to mind.
- Examples can include any type of car: a toy car, a family member’s car, a first car, or even a train car.
Selecting an Image for Story Development
- Review your list and pick one vivid image or, if unsure, choose the third item.
- Circle the chosen image.
The “X pand” Note-Taking Technique
- On a clean sheet, draw a large X from corner to corner.
- Title the page with the chosen image or phrase.
- Use the four quadrants formed by the X to freely write answers to detailed sensory and situational questions about the image, such as:
- Are you inside or outside the car? Which part?
- What seat are you in?
- What kind of light and season is it?
- Where is the scene located geographically and physically?
- What sounds, smells, and sights are present?
- Who else is there or was last seen?
- What is your age and purpose in the scene?
- What’s above, below, and around you?
Writing the Story
- Using a fresh sheet, start writing the story in first person present tense, beginning with the phrase “I am…”
- Write continuously for about 7 minutes without stopping.
- If stuck, write “tick tick tick tick” to keep the hand moving and encourage the story to flow again.
Finishing and Sharing
- After writing, read your story aloud to yourself or someone else to hear the rhythm and flow.
- This helps you experience the story differently than silent reading.
Further Writing Practice
- Identify nouns in your story (e.g., garden, street, garage).
- Write these nouns on index cards.
- Use these cards as prompts for future writing sessions, pulling a card without knowing what it is to allow subconscious creativity to emerge.
Key Advice
- Keep your hand moving to maintain flow and overcome writer’s block.
- Use sensory and spatial details to ground your story.
- Writing in the present tense and first person creates immediacy.
- Reading aloud helps refine and experience your story.
- Using random prompts (index cards with nouns) encourages fresh ideas.
Creator Featured
Lynda Barry – Writer, teacher, and creative facilitator leading the exercise and sharing her method.
Category
Art and Creativity
