Most of us will agree that creative writing is a magical process that allows you to put your thoughts into words and see them transformed on the page. It might not be easy to put into practice but the ability to write creatively is a skill that can be honed and developed.
What exactly is creative writing and where does it come from? The answer to these questions is tied inextricably with the way we understand ourselves and our place in the world. While there are many schools of thought on the subject, the psychological and sociological factors that influence who we are and how we function can be applied to the study of creative writing.
The Dual-process Theory Of Creativity
The origin of creative writing can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the French psychologist Alfred Binet first described the process of creative thinking. In his studies of mental illness and creativity, Binet developed a theory that was later named the “dual-process theory of creativity.”
The theory posits that there are two distinct modes of thought: originality and fluency. Originality, which can be described as innovative thinking, is represented by factors such as novelty-seeking, risk taking, and independent-thought. Fluency, which refers to the ease with which ideas can be expressed, is associated with factors such as low inhibition and attention to detail. While both of these mindsets are necessary for creative thinking, they do not necessarily act in unison. This is where the “twosome” concept comes in.
The Psychologists’ Rorschach
Binet’s theory of creativity was essentially a response to what he perceived as a decline in cultural standards and an increase in mental illness in modern society. To illustrate the point, Binet cited the example of the Austrian painter and psychologist Wolfgang Lauster, whose paintings were said to be “exhibits of feeblemindedness” at the time. This was because artists of that era were considered members of the upper classes and were therefore more likely to be afflicted with mental illness. The example used by Binet was that of a “normal” man named Rorschach who, frustrated by the inability of psychologists to interpret the seemingly random blotches and squiggles that he was endlessly drawing, decided to create a psychological test to reveal the innermost thoughts of his patients.
Rorschach’s artwork was based on an inkblot test first performed by the Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach in an attempt to understand the “psychic landscapes” of his patients. The test is considered to be one of the most influential psychological tests of all time because it has had such a profound impact on the field of psychology and because it continues to be used today in clinics, prisons, and other places where mental health professionals work with clients.
The Creative-Thinking Mindset Of An Artist
While researchers were busy trying to figure out what part of the brain controls creativity, the visual arts were taking a different approach. Rather than studying which areas of the brain are responsible for the creative process, they began to look at the skills and attributes of creative artists and how these related to everyday life. One of the most famous studies in this regard is that of the French Neurologist Désiré Despine. Despine spent years examining the habits of famous painters, sculptors, and composers and found that they all shared a set of qualities that enabled them to excel at their craft. He named these qualities “neo-cortical thinking” and “introspective thinking.”
Neo-cortical thinking, or flexible thinking, allows for the generation of new ideas and concepts, which is essential for creativity. Flexible thinking is often associated with factors such as novelty seeking and the ability to take risks – in other words, the exact qualities that make up originality. Introspective thinking, or deep thinking, on the other hand, is a type of thinking that involves careful consideration of the process of thinking rather than the product – in other words, the type of thinking necessary for fluency. The downside to this type of thinking is that it can sometimes lead to analysis paralysis and a lack of swiftness in problem solving. For example, if you’re trying to write a poem and you are bogged down in over-analyzing each word, you’ll never be able to move forward.
Why Should You Care?
These days psychologists and neuroscientists are better at explaining the processes behind creative thinking rather than simply attributing it to one area of the brain or another. For example, there’s evidence that the prefrontal cortex, a part of the brain located just above the eyebrows, is responsible for inhibitory functions, such as organization and discipline. This means it has an active role to play in the creation of a well-structured piece. As for which area of the brain is responsible for the creative process, we can no longer say for certain: different parts of the brain are responsible for different aspects of creativity. Nevertheless, we do know that various parts of the brain are involved in the creative process and that these parts work in concert rather than in isolation.
The Importance Of Independence
Creative writing is a form of self-expression that allows for complete independence. Ingenious and creative writers alike may choose to work in solitude, or at least cut back on the socialization that occurs in the classroom. The ability to retreat into your “writing cave” and come out with a work that is both original and well-structured goes a long way to proving your worth as a writer. The benefits of working in solitude are numerous and include the ability to set your own hours, engage with a creative community, and establish your own rules for the workplace. Many geniuses have become famous for working in isolation, and the stigma that used to be associated with this type of behavior has slowly faded. In the 21st century, the ability to work and think independently has become a prized quality, and creative writing has become the prime example of this.
Novelty–Familiarity Neglect
Besides the fact that it’s completely free, a luxury that even those with modest means cannot afford, writing is also a very time-consuming process. As mentioned, a good portion of the creative writing process involves letting your mind wander, forming ideas, and then bringing them back into coherent narratives or poems. This requires a lot of concentration and dedication, not to mention a fairly empty head. In addition to this, the literature we have available to us is filled with stories that we have all heard, seen, or read before. Our brains instantly latch on to these ideas and incorporate them into existing schemas, so when we sit down to write, the blank page can feel a little bit intimidating.
If we look at the history of art and literature, we can see how this feeling of intimidation manifests itself. Most of the great masters and geniuses in literature and the fine arts worked in complete solitude, far from the distractions of the world. The only people they encountered were those who served a specific function: they were either students, who posed no threat to their creative process, or slaves, who were there to carry out menial tasks and provide security in case someone decided to harm them. While we do not know for certain if this phenomenon occurs in the subconscious of creative writers, it is safe to assume that it does.
Why Is It Safe To Assume?
We’ve established that working in solitude is both good for the health of the creative process and beneficial to the writer’s bottom line. This, in turn, makes us question why it was dangerous in the first place for so many brilliant men and women to choose this route. After all, being a genius has never been easier; all you need is a laptop and a room with a view. Is there something wrong with wanting to get away from it all and spend some quality time with your thoughts? Well, yes, there is something wrong with this. And it has less to do with the health concerns of those in complete isolation and more to do with the fact that being alone with your thoughts does not necessarily lead to great creative output. Inexperienced writers, who perhaps lack the necessary training or guidance, may even suffer from anxiety and depression due to the stress that comes with working in solitude.
These days, psychologists and psychiatrists have begun to recognize the importance of adequate training and supervision in this regard. Creative writing, a form of self-expression that can be both personal and cathartic, may require specialized knowledge that comes only from working with a trained and qualified professional. Perhaps more importantly, it requires a lot of patience – a quality that is difficult to find in the twenty-first century.