Writing Process Methods for the Different Learning Styles
I work as a supplemental instructor at my college. Basically, I lead a hour-long session after each class that implements new study strategies and writing techniques to supplement the class lecture. Every student has a unique learning style, so I go out of my way to design session plans that are helpful to everyone.
A few weeks ago it occurred to me: I tailor the essay writing process according to learning style, so why don't I do this for creative writing? And thus this post was born.
Before we get started, I think it is important for us to acknowledge two facts:
1) This post is a day late because I've been traveling. I suck at timezones (and also at keeping track of dates), so thus a Saturday post.
2) I wrote the majority of this post while sitting in the San Francisco airport. My seat is sticky. I don't know why. It's freaking me out. I hope you appreciate my sacrifice. Also: I'm pretty sure San Francisco is the portal to Hell.
Okay. That is all. Here we go:
Tips for Visual Learners
Use a whiteboard. If you can find a way to have this whiteboard in your line of sight as you write, you'll find this tool particularly helpful. Jot down notes, magnet drawings to the board, do whatever you need to do to visually ground yourself in your writing. This is particularly helpful during the drafting stage.
Use a highlighters/different colored pens. When you go to edit your story, print it out and have at it with colorful writing tools. I tend to color-code my editing notes like so:
Editing for Vengeance Hunter. So many notes, but it was worth it. This helps me quickly and easily see what needs to be fixed (and how to fix it).
Draw a concept map. A concept map is a fun, easy way to brainstorm. You put a main idea in the center circle (maybe a character's name, maybe a town, maybe an important plot-point). From there you branch out and draw more circles with connecting ideas inside. You keep branching out until each idea becomes more and more specific. This is great for drafting, re-writing, world-building....Pretty much everything, honestly. You should try it.
Draw a (regular) map. If you're writing fantasy or sci-fi, you may want to create a map of your town/world/planetary system. It doesn't have to be pretty. It's just something that will help you get a sense of direction as you write. I, personally, can never picture my world's map in my mind, so having a visual is a lifesaver. Without it, my characters would end up traveling in weird switch-backs and possibly into the ocean.
Change font/color/size of document. Stuck in a particularly boring or frustrating scene? Struggling to edit because you don't know where to start? I have a simple hack for you: Change your story's font into something very different from what you've been using. Or switch from black font to green. You can even try changing the orientated of the document to layout...or switch the font from 12 pt to 14. These things will force you to see your story in a new way, thus jumpstarting your brain.
Watch Youtube videos, movies, and documentaries. Movies are the visual learners best friend. When researching for world-building, action sequences, etc, go watch some videos on your chosen topic. This will help you better absorb information so that you can more realistically portray it in your stories. I recommend Khan academy to help you collect some basic knowledge.
Pinterest. Similar to Youtube and documentaries, Pinterest will help you visually organize your thoughts while also providing inspiration. Use it for research and drafting.
Tips for Auditory Learners
Fun fact: Auditory learners also tend to really enjoy speaking as a way of learning. Another fun fact: I cannot retain auditory information to save my life, so this is the learning style I am weakest in.
Record yourself explaining your ideas. You know how you'll be chatting with a friend about a story (or chatting to yourself about a story...No judgement) and you suddenly stumble across a great idea? But then you sit down to write it and don't remember exactly what it was? Yeah. That sucks. To avoid this issue, record your ideas on your phone. Or on an audiorecorder. Or, if you want to be super retro: A tape recorder. Do they even make tape like that anymore? I don't know. Star Lord would be proud of you, though.
When you go to write, listen to your audio notes as a guide. This is great for drafting and re-writing.
Read your story aloud. Seriously. Please do this. When you edit, make sure you read your story out loud. Reach each word slowly and individually to catch mistakes or weird flows. I'd also recommend reading each paragraph backwards (the last sentence of the paragraph first), as this forces you to slow down and see how each sentences stands on its own.
Have your computer read your story aloud. Again, this is for editing purposes (and even for re-writing purposes, if you need a new perspective). Most word-processors have a text-to-speech option where it'll read your story back to you in a very strange, robotic voice. The robot will naturally stumble over mistakes or awkward sentences, so this is a great, easy way to detect mistakes.
Listen to podcasts. You know how I said videos are good for world-building/idea generating/research for visual learners? Well, podcasts are the auditory learner version of that. I know that some auditory learners even like to have podcasts playing in the background as they write. This would personally drive me crazy, but some people find that it keeps them focused and grounded, so you may find it helpful.
Use dictation tools. Instead of typing or hand-writing your stories, try speaking them into your computer. Most world-processors come with a free dictation tool. They aren't great, but they're still very helpful. Kyle Robert Shutz wrote an awesome post on how to make the most out of this function.
Talk it out. Talk to friends or family about your writing. Bounce ideas off of your writing friends. Do write-ins with friends of yours.
Tips for Tactile Learners
AKA "kinesthetic learners," but kinesthetic is hard for me to spell (and even when I spell it correctly it still looks wrong), so I'm going with tactile.
Use notebooks. Because tactile learners rely on touch and action to learn and create, paper and pen can be very helpful. It grounds us in our writing, keeps us focused, and engages all the senses. However, if you can't write using a notebook (perhaps because of chronic pain, like me), then trying typing on a keyboard. The feel is still there, which is great. As a tactile learner, I think this is why I find dictation difficult for creative writing: I'm lacking the kinesthetic (hey, I spelled it right first try!) aspect that my brain craves.
Travel and explore. Writing about the ocean? If you can, go visit a beach! Or at least a large body of water.
Virtual reality or Google maps are decent options if you don't have the means to travel. However, visiting a place in-person can help you immensely because you get to touch, see, smell, and hear everything around you. This gives you all sorts of ideas for writing description...or for world-building in general. Likewise, test out specific activities you are writing abut. For example: Go to a shooting range, teach yourself to sew, attempt pottery, etc.
Use a standing desk/sit on a ball. Tactile learners don't always operate best when sitting still. Try writing while standing up or while balancing on one of those weird yoga balls that I would absolutely injure myself on. I personally like to write while sitting in bed, preferably wrapped in a blanket. There's something about the sense of touch that helps me get writing.
Act out character actions. This is preferably done in the privacy of your own home (unless you're okay with looking like a mad person). Don't be afraid to mirror your character's facial expressions, hand gestures, or even action scene choreography. This will give you new ideas for how to approach writing specific scenes...and will also keep you engaged.
Use index cards/sticky notes. Yes, whiteboards are awesome for tactile learners, but this will take things to the next level. Use index cards and sticky notes during drafting and revising. You can block out scenes on them (or even draw portions of a concept map on different cards/notes). The fact that index cards and sticky notes are small means that you can re-arrange them in multiple orders, thus allowing you to find new combinations for your story.
I googled learning styles and learned that there are seven (count em', SEVEN) different learning styles. However, all of them branch from these three main styles, so I'm going to stop here. However, before we go:
Music is important. I've found that people of every learning style find music incredibly helpful to their writing process. Some listen to music with lyrics, some listen to instrumentals or filmscores. Some people (like me) do a pulsing method where they'll listen to music during some writing processes (like drafting), but not others (like editing). I recommend experimenting with your background sound as you write to find what works best for you.
What learning style are you? Tell me all about your favorite writing methods!
Related articles:
A Pantster's Guide to Planning a Novel: 6 Tips to Get You StartedInside the Creative's Mind: 9 Things You Should Know
12 Writing Myths You Need to Stop Believing
Enjoy this post? Take a look around. If you like what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every Friday!
Some links are Amazon affiliate. Thank you for your support!
A few weeks ago it occurred to me: I tailor the essay writing process according to learning style, so why don't I do this for creative writing? And thus this post was born.
Before we get started, I think it is important for us to acknowledge two facts:
1) This post is a day late because I've been traveling. I suck at timezones (and also at keeping track of dates), so thus a Saturday post.
2) I wrote the majority of this post while sitting in the San Francisco airport. My seat is sticky. I don't know why. It's freaking me out. I hope you appreciate my sacrifice. Also: I'm pretty sure San Francisco is the portal to Hell.
Okay. That is all. Here we go:
Tips for Visual LearnersUse a whiteboard. If you can find a way to have this whiteboard in your line of sight as you write, you'll find this tool particularly helpful. Jot down notes, magnet drawings to the board, do whatever you need to do to visually ground yourself in your writing. This is particularly helpful during the drafting stage.
Use a highlighters/different colored pens. When you go to edit your story, print it out and have at it with colorful writing tools. I tend to color-code my editing notes like so:
Editing for Vengeance Hunter. So many notes, but it was worth it. This helps me quickly and easily see what needs to be fixed (and how to fix it).
Draw a concept map. A concept map is a fun, easy way to brainstorm. You put a main idea in the center circle (maybe a character's name, maybe a town, maybe an important plot-point). From there you branch out and draw more circles with connecting ideas inside. You keep branching out until each idea becomes more and more specific. This is great for drafting, re-writing, world-building....Pretty much everything, honestly. You should try it.
Draw a (regular) map. If you're writing fantasy or sci-fi, you may want to create a map of your town/world/planetary system. It doesn't have to be pretty. It's just something that will help you get a sense of direction as you write. I, personally, can never picture my world's map in my mind, so having a visual is a lifesaver. Without it, my characters would end up traveling in weird switch-backs and possibly into the ocean.
Change font/color/size of document. Stuck in a particularly boring or frustrating scene? Struggling to edit because you don't know where to start? I have a simple hack for you: Change your story's font into something very different from what you've been using. Or switch from black font to green. You can even try changing the orientated of the document to layout...or switch the font from 12 pt to 14. These things will force you to see your story in a new way, thus jumpstarting your brain.
Watch Youtube videos, movies, and documentaries. Movies are the visual learners best friend. When researching for world-building, action sequences, etc, go watch some videos on your chosen topic. This will help you better absorb information so that you can more realistically portray it in your stories. I recommend Khan academy to help you collect some basic knowledge.
Pinterest. Similar to Youtube and documentaries, Pinterest will help you visually organize your thoughts while also providing inspiration. Use it for research and drafting.
Tips for Auditory Learners
Fun fact: Auditory learners also tend to really enjoy speaking as a way of learning. Another fun fact: I cannot retain auditory information to save my life, so this is the learning style I am weakest in.
Record yourself explaining your ideas. You know how you'll be chatting with a friend about a story (or chatting to yourself about a story...No judgement) and you suddenly stumble across a great idea? But then you sit down to write it and don't remember exactly what it was? Yeah. That sucks. To avoid this issue, record your ideas on your phone. Or on an audiorecorder. Or, if you want to be super retro: A tape recorder. Do they even make tape like that anymore? I don't know. Star Lord would be proud of you, though.
When you go to write, listen to your audio notes as a guide. This is great for drafting and re-writing.
Read your story aloud. Seriously. Please do this. When you edit, make sure you read your story out loud. Reach each word slowly and individually to catch mistakes or weird flows. I'd also recommend reading each paragraph backwards (the last sentence of the paragraph first), as this forces you to slow down and see how each sentences stands on its own.
Have your computer read your story aloud. Again, this is for editing purposes (and even for re-writing purposes, if you need a new perspective). Most word-processors have a text-to-speech option where it'll read your story back to you in a very strange, robotic voice. The robot will naturally stumble over mistakes or awkward sentences, so this is a great, easy way to detect mistakes.
Listen to podcasts. You know how I said videos are good for world-building/idea generating/research for visual learners? Well, podcasts are the auditory learner version of that. I know that some auditory learners even like to have podcasts playing in the background as they write. This would personally drive me crazy, but some people find that it keeps them focused and grounded, so you may find it helpful.
Use dictation tools. Instead of typing or hand-writing your stories, try speaking them into your computer. Most world-processors come with a free dictation tool. They aren't great, but they're still very helpful. Kyle Robert Shutz wrote an awesome post on how to make the most out of this function.
Talk it out. Talk to friends or family about your writing. Bounce ideas off of your writing friends. Do write-ins with friends of yours.
Tips for Tactile Learners
AKA "kinesthetic learners," but kinesthetic is hard for me to spell (and even when I spell it correctly it still looks wrong), so I'm going with tactile.
Use notebooks. Because tactile learners rely on touch and action to learn and create, paper and pen can be very helpful. It grounds us in our writing, keeps us focused, and engages all the senses. However, if you can't write using a notebook (perhaps because of chronic pain, like me), then trying typing on a keyboard. The feel is still there, which is great. As a tactile learner, I think this is why I find dictation difficult for creative writing: I'm lacking the kinesthetic (hey, I spelled it right first try!) aspect that my brain craves.
Travel and explore. Writing about the ocean? If you can, go visit a beach! Or at least a large body of water.
Virtual reality or Google maps are decent options if you don't have the means to travel. However, visiting a place in-person can help you immensely because you get to touch, see, smell, and hear everything around you. This gives you all sorts of ideas for writing description...or for world-building in general. Likewise, test out specific activities you are writing abut. For example: Go to a shooting range, teach yourself to sew, attempt pottery, etc.
Use a standing desk/sit on a ball. Tactile learners don't always operate best when sitting still. Try writing while standing up or while balancing on one of those weird yoga balls that I would absolutely injure myself on. I personally like to write while sitting in bed, preferably wrapped in a blanket. There's something about the sense of touch that helps me get writing.
Act out character actions. This is preferably done in the privacy of your own home (unless you're okay with looking like a mad person). Don't be afraid to mirror your character's facial expressions, hand gestures, or even action scene choreography. This will give you new ideas for how to approach writing specific scenes...and will also keep you engaged.
Use index cards/sticky notes. Yes, whiteboards are awesome for tactile learners, but this will take things to the next level. Use index cards and sticky notes during drafting and revising. You can block out scenes on them (or even draw portions of a concept map on different cards/notes). The fact that index cards and sticky notes are small means that you can re-arrange them in multiple orders, thus allowing you to find new combinations for your story.
I googled learning styles and learned that there are seven (count em', SEVEN) different learning styles. However, all of them branch from these three main styles, so I'm going to stop here. However, before we go:
Music is important. I've found that people of every learning style find music incredibly helpful to their writing process. Some listen to music with lyrics, some listen to instrumentals or filmscores. Some people (like me) do a pulsing method where they'll listen to music during some writing processes (like drafting), but not others (like editing). I recommend experimenting with your background sound as you write to find what works best for you.
What learning style are you? Tell me all about your favorite writing methods!
Related articles:
A Pantster's Guide to Planning a Novel: 6 Tips to Get You StartedInside the Creative's Mind: 9 Things You Should Know
12 Writing Myths You Need to Stop Believing
Enjoy this post? Take a look around. If you like what you see, please don't forget to subscribe by email for a new post every Friday!
Some links are Amazon affiliate. Thank you for your support!
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