Brainstorming with Char
Exploring the Senses

Do you ever feel that your creativity is trapped? We all do at one time or another. The following are some ways to get that creativity flowing. Over a period of four weeks, we will do some exercises to release the door that slams shut in our minds, trapping our thought process.

Week 1. Sit back, relax and gently pry open the firmly shut door. During this week, make a list of everything you can possibly think of that has anything to do with Halloween. There can be spooks that fly around in the dark, kids who are trick-or-treating, scary movies or creepy crawlies. Anything that comes to mind that is spooky, eerie, creepy, or disgusting (yes Halloween can be disgusting too). Write these things down.

Week 2. This week, explore the items that you wrote down during week one. See what your imagination and senses can uncover from this simple list. Beside each item, write the first thing that comes to mind. Don't worry about how bizarre it may sound. The more bizarre, the better! This means the door is opening. Take as long as you need for this exercise. Do not push. Let the ideas flow.

Week 3. What the sense of touch can bring to mind is amazing. For this exercise, you will need a pumpkin. Close your eyes and touch the pumpkin. Feel the toughness of the skin and the little bumps and dimples. Open your eyes and pick up a knife. (I hope you have your eyes open at this point!) Cut a large hole around the stem on top and remove the pumpkin lid. Reaching deep into the pumpkin, begin to rip out the innards. No, you may not use a spoon. Feel the pulp squish between your fingers. Feel the smoothness of the seeds. After you finish cleaning out the pumpkin, pick up the knife again and carve a face or design in the side. Put a candle in and light it. Then sit back and look at the pumpkin. Watch the light flash out of the holes you carved and bounce off the walls. Now, write down all the feelings you experienced while carving this jack-o-lantern. What did you feel? What did you think?

Week 4. There will be a full moon on October 21, 2002. Go outside and experience this night. Let your senses take over. See, touch, smell and hear all the elements of the night. Feel the chill in the air. Touch any object-even a spider's web. Hear the night sounds. Observe the moon's fullness and watch it reflect off the objects that surround you. Smell the scents that linger in the air. Using the full moon and all the things you have written on your list, and remembering the sensations of touch from your exercise with the pumpkin, show your experiences in writing. I guarantee that you will have the makings of a fantastic story.

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