Most of us are very fortunate to have been born into an era of extraordinary technological advancement. Since before the birth of Christ, humans have always strived to create greater wonders for themselves and their surroundings.
Now, more than ever, technology has enabled us to accomplish something incredible: it has allowed us to communicate with one another more effectively than ever before, opening up whole new fields of exploration in terms of potential for personal growth and creative expression.
While this may be the case, the sheer volume of information we now need to process on a daily basis can make it more difficult to keep up with. Aspiring writers in particular may find the sheer volume of knowledge required to be a successful creative writer overwhelming without adequate preparation.
Fortunately, there are courses available that can prepare you for the rigors of mathematics and science. While these may not be necessary for everyone who aspires to be a creative writer, they can prove invaluable for those who do. In this article, we will discuss three compelling reasons why you should take a math course in creative writing:
Math Can Help You Discover New Ideas
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a) a creative writing student who needs additional inspiration for a story, or b) an aspiring creative writer who needs some help making the ideas contained in your head come alive on the paper.
In either case, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s talk about inspiration.
The simple truth is that stories written by the mathematically inclined tend to be more interesting and appealing to readers. Stories that exploit the principles of mathematics and science not only contain more information, but they also often prove more stimulating to write. A course in mathematics can help you identify the underlying principles that govern reality and allow you to discover how to better apply these to your creative projects. Let’s take algebra as an example.
Algebra is the study of abstract mathematical concepts and their practical application in the real world. In other words, algebra is all the stuff that happens when you add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers.
To illustrate the point, let’s consider the number 4. If we were to multiply 4 by itself (4 x 4 = 16), we would end up with the number 16. But if we were to divide 4 by itself (4 / 4 = 1), we would arrive at the number 1. In other words, algebra is all the things you can do with numbers that don’t go away and don’t come again (like Multiplication and Division).
Now, let’s say you’re a writer who has an idea for a story about a mathematician who discovers that the world is actually a hologram. Your brain is cooking, and you can already feel the ideas starting to form, but you don’t have the words to express it. What do you do?
You could take a class in mathematics and discover that the world is in fact a hologram. You would literally have the materials to write a whole novel about this. Or, you could take a course in English literature and discover that Shakespeare was in fact an advanced mathematician. Here’s the thing: if you have the materials to write about a subject matter, you most likely will come up with some brilliant ideas regardless of whether you’ve had formal training or not.
So, how does this relate to creativity? Mathematics is the study of patterns and order. Often, when you are presented with an unexpected situation, you will find that you can’t make sense of it at first, but then, suddenly, the patterns and flow of events become intuitive. This is because you’re starting from a different point of view. The more you know, the more you realize there is to learn. This is the type of creativity that mathematics encourages. In other words, it’s all about discovering new ideas and seeing things from a different perspective.
Math Can Help You Discover New Perspectives
In the same way that mathematics can provide you with new ideas, it can also allow you to discover new perspectives. While we often think of perspectives as viewpoints, mathematically, they are more abstract. In other words, the perspective you adopt in mathematics provides you with a new way to look at the world. This is incredibly useful in terms of creativity, as you can start from a different point of view and see the matter in a new light. This is also one of the primary reasons why mathematics is so important for artists: it provides them with new ways to experience and express the beauty of their subject matter. Let’s take geometry for example.
The study of geometry is all about relationships between objects. In other words, geometry is all the stuff you can learn about solving for x that doesn’t involve algebra (like Solving Equations and Determining Area and Volume). Let’s say you have the greatest writer in the world, and you want to challenge them to a writer’s saga. You want to put their talents to the test and see what they can come up with when they are working from a blank slate. This is the perfect opportunity for you to learn about relationships and patterns in terms of geometry. You will define a beginning point (a shape) and then work your way throughout the entire creative process, monitoring and appreciating the saga as it unfolds. This is a crucial step in the development of a creative mind. It requires you to be both critically and judgmentally mindful of your own work, while also being open to new ideas that may spring up along the way. This is an introspective approach that will serve you well in your writing, no matter what stage you may be at.