Many times when I sit down to write this column, I've got a good idea about what I'm going to write about. I never really have it thoroughly planned, but I've at least got a theme and a viewpoint that I know I can natter on about for 300 to 500 words.
But there are almost as many times when I have no idea what I'm going to write about when I sit down at the computer. On these occasions, I just put my fingers on the keyboard, start typing and see what comes out. This approach is called stream-of-consciousness writing.
When you're writing something stream-of-consciousness, you just keep on writing down everything that comes into your mind as it occurs to you. I must add that it helps to be a quick typist if you're going to try this particular approach. I would also never suggest this style if you're working on an important paper for school. Those types of assignments usually require research and a certain kind of structure. They're as much about planning as they are about writing.
Writing a stream-of-consciousness piece is all about writing and not that much about structure. Since I am writing about my own opinions and experiences, it is not important that I do research or plan out the flow of what I'm writing to fit some kind of set formula — the kind of method that teachers like to assign because it is easier to evaluate and grade.
None of this is to say that writing down what's currently on your mind is easier than carefully planning out and executing a piece of writing — quite the contrary. Stream-of-consciousness writing demands a strong command of all aspects of grammar and style and the ability to self-edit on the fly. It takes a fairly quick mind and a level of self confidence that borders on arrogance. After all, who in their right mind would assume that a reader would want to read something that a writer had written off the top of his head?
In fact, the stream-of-consciousness method is a lot more about the writer than it is about the reader. I have to admit that I'm sitting here writing this just to see if I can do it, with rather less thought to whether a reader will find it interesting.
I do believe, however, that somebody who's interested in writing in general might find reading a column like this to be interesting. It's a view into a process that some readers are not at all familiar with, but one that is part of our literary history.
If you plan to study writing in the future at any more advanced level, you might actually be faced some day with an assignment requiring you to write a stream-of-consciousness essay or story. I certainly remember having to do so both in high school and later in university.
If you ever do have an assignment like that, I'll give you two pieces of advice: First, don't think too much. Just sit down and start typing. Second, please do a better job than I have done today.
Sean Vale
Editor
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