Place your unorthodox tips here - Writers Forum

CroZ · 11-12-2005, 11:25 PM

This isnt really about writing but about imagination so if your looking for writing tips your in the wrong place.

1. Juggle: The side of your brain used for juggling is also used for imagination, so by juggling a few objects in your hands your actually strenghtening the creativity in your brain. Not for most people I know but if you ever feel a little bit tired of writing you can take a break to juggle, therefore your still excercising you brain, but in a different way.

2. Beware of healthy foods: We all know that certain foods can make you think better like tuna and salmon. But what I found from taking to much of these was that I was thinking to clearly, I couldnt be creative because my brain wasnt flowing freely enough. After about a week of backing down from the healthy eating I slowly grew back to normal.
That may not make sense but think about it, people who lack a healthy diet are usually believed to have some form of mental deficiency (Due to chemicals interacting with foods:Chips, burgers, in your body) so eating healthy will calm you down and make you more rational and well, sane. But honestly what writer here could call her/himself rational? We need that wacky creativity in our minds conjur up new ideas. Seriously you try it and see what happens. Although it may work differently for other people.

3. Watch anime/Manga's: Alot of people say these are just for kids (because there cartoons, peh) but if you actually watch these you'll find yourself watching films unlike anything you've ever seen before and thus open you up to a whole new level of creativity. I recommend anything by Hayo Miyazaki, he created a lil film called "spirited away" something that was snatched up by Disney far to quickly just to push his name out of the way so it would seem it was their own creation.

4. Kind of on the same note as above but check out Japanese movies, .eg. Old Boy, Hard Boyled. For another perspective on creativity. Besides they're all gonna be westernized by Hollywood sooner or later, but actually made worse. Think about it, "The ring" broke the charts over here, even though anyone who saw both said that they preferred the origional Japanese version.
I just feel that if we took a lesson from the east we would open up a whole new world of fiction.

Any way those are just my two cence, if you have any other strange methods that help you wright then by all means join in.

Ilan Bouchard · 11-13-2005, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroZ

2. Beware of healthy foods: We all know that certain foods can make you think better like tuna and salmon. But what I found from taking to much of these was that I was thinking to clearly, I couldnt be creative because my brain wasnt flowing freely enough. After about a week of backing down from the healthy eating I slowly grew back to normal.
That may not make sense but think about it, people who lack a healthy diet are usually believed to have some form of mental deficiency (Due to chemicals interacting with foods:Chips, burgers, in your body) so eating healthy will calm you down and make you more rational and well, sane. But honestly what writer here could call her/himself rational? We need that wacky creativity in our minds conjur up new ideas. Seriously you try it and see what happens. Although it may work differently for other people.

Can't say that makes much sense to me. Eating unhealthy foods such as chips and burgers doesn't give you wacky creativity, it gives you lethargy, pimples, and more hunger.

I really don't think eating tuna is going to affect anyone's ability to write.

CroZ · 11-13-2005, 12:54 AM

Well it might have been just conicedence but different foods reflect how you behave, tuna makes you more rational/inteligent (Look it up) and most fiction writers wouldnt really want a rational mind to make an interesting plot.
Theres probably a better explanation than that out there but its just what I felt.

Edit: Oh and eating unhealthy/fatty foods slows down your chemical flow, which isnt good for either, just so long as its balance.

teflon · 11-13-2005, 01:18 AM

Eating frozen peas will make one's finger's sluggish, resulting in impatience, anxiety, and bringing on writer's pain and suffering necessary to write a masterpiece.

suzakugaiden · 11-13-2005, 01:30 AM

No offense, but your advice ranges from confusing to completely nuts.

"people who lack a healthy diet are usually believed to have some form of mental deficiency"

Most of america lacks a healthy diet. And I've NEVER heard the people who don't eat well are mentally deficient thing before.

"so eating healthy will calm you down and make you more rational and well, sane."

A) I'm a vegetarian.
B) I eat organic foods as much as possible.
C) My daily fat intake is probably around 50g.

I'm not sane or rational. At all.

Also a lot of anime, from what I've seen, is poorly written and really derivative, and lacking in execution.

mammamaia · 11-13-2005, 09:54 AM

i'm guessing he was just kidding around with this bit of silliness... at least i hope he was!

CroZ · 11-13-2005, 02:16 PM

Well that was the idea,
its basically just some wierd/differents ideas I decided to take down.

But that juggling thing is a fact. It might be something to try if you ever feel down on your skills and can't wright. The others are just extras I threw in for the sake of it.

Oh, and its true that many Mangas/Animes are dodgy as hell but alot of the times when they dont explain all the facts of the story actually make it even better. Now that just might be for some of us, because frankly I think its annoying when characters have to explain every little detail. I also prefer loosely planned stories as they're less predictable and more believable than the usual: introduction of the characters/Set objective/bit where everything goes wrong/they get back on top/go solve problem.

tanmay · 11-13-2005, 04:04 PM

hehe... nice timepass read.

Ilan Bouchard · 11-13-2005, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroZ

But that juggling thing is a fact. It might be something to try if you ever feel down on your skills and can't wright.

Better get back to that juggling.

I'm also curious as to how this would work. As far as I know, juggling strengthens the part of your mind that multitasks, as well as the part for hand-eye coordination. How would this improve your imagination?

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroZ

Well it might have been just conicedence but different foods reflect how you behave, tuna makes you more rational/inteligent (Look it up) and most fiction writers wouldnt really want a rational mind to make an interesting plot.
Theres probably a better explanation than that out there but its just what I felt.

Edit: Oh and eating unhealthy/fatty foods slows down your chemical flow, which isnt good for either, just so long as its balance.

Actually, tuna has lots of mercury in it, which leads to Alzheimer's, which will definitely prevent you from being rational or intelligent, or anything much that involves the mind.

I couldn't find anything that indicated eating fish lead to rational thought. Have you a link?

CroZ · 11-13-2005, 05:48 PM

First of all I heard the juggling thing on Brainiac, so I'm not sure how to back it up, but I you can rumage through this link that tells you lots of benefits. Considering I didnt find more on it i'll go to the Brainiac forum and ask why that is.
http://www.jugglingworld.biz/perform...ucational.html
Juggling effects all portions of the brain not just reflexes. Dont forget Juggling is in a way an unappreciated art form and you have to be creative to muster up different patterns.

Fish (Omega 3) improves a little known section of your brain known as greymatter which holds back any irrational thoughts and actions. With less greymatter you will become more open minded (if you can use it right), it sort of acts as a mental sponge.
But it would also be wise to note most murderers have a shortage of greymatter, so dont go crazy or anything. You can take that literally if you want.
Horror writers should be extra vigilant though.

casperthesheet · 11-13-2005, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroZ

3. Watch anime/Manga's: Alot of people say these are just for kids (because there cartoons, peh) but if you actually watch these you'll find yourself watching films unlike anything you've ever seen before and thus open you up to a whole new level of creativity. I recommend anything by Hayo Miyazaki, he created a lil film called "spirited away" something that was snatched up by Disney far to quickly just to push his name out of the way so it would seem it was their own creation.

That's a horrible idea. Anime/Manga is such a waste of time. This is coming from someone who used to be a huge fan. I knew some people who watched anime and all the creativity they could pop out was a carbon copy of what they just veiwed.

Juggling on the other hand...it's a great way to pass time.

journyman161 · 11-13-2005, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Fish (Omega 3) improves a little known section of your brain known as greymatter which holds back any irrational thoughts and actions. With less greymatter you will become more open minded (if you can use it right), it sort of acts as a mental sponge.

Laugh? I nearly wet myself... Such technical terminology.
Yes, Omega3 fats are VERY good for the brain functions & have recently been shown to provably reduce risk of senility & even alzeimers.
With less grey matter, you lose brain function then you become dead. Please, at least get the terms right. Greymatter is a non-tech term for the cells that make up the working portions of your brain. You know them there thingies called neurons.

jordanazor · 11-13-2005, 10:18 PM

My year 8 science teacher made us do an assignment on the juggling thing. According to him it actually *increased* the amount of gray-matter in the brain.

Hodge · 11-13-2005, 10:31 PM

Exercising any part of your brain will increase its mass and capability. The best way to become more creative is to do more creative things.

Haruka · 11-14-2005, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casperthesheet

That's a horrible idea. Anime/Manga is such a waste of time. This is coming from someone who used to be a huge fan. I knew some people who watched anime and all the creativity they could pop out was a carbon copy of what they just veiwed.

Well that would depend on the type of person. If your doing it just for fun and entertainment then there's nothing wrong with watching/reading anime or manga.

I watch and read a lot of anime and manga myself, I used to do it for fun only but now I discuss thoroughly with other people and have serious conversations about plot, animation, voice acting and such concerning it. (this probably sounds stupid to some people)

Many of my best plots stem from the idea (or hope) to some day make it a real anime or manga (yes, I do want to become a mangaka) and that's what drives me, and no there not just carbon copies of what I just saw, perhaps your friends didn't have enough imagination and creativity to make something of their own.

And about the juggling, hmmmm..... I think I'll try it, sounds found ^^ I'll keep my current diet though.

BTW, it's Hayao not Hayo