Write Something New Today: Wordl Consequences

A word association writing exercise

Writing is about finding connections — between experiences and emotions, between actions and reactions, between images and meanings, between the before and after, between the author and the reader — all the tiny invisible lines that draw us together as weird, confused little humans, right?

Via Twitter

I’m a big believer in the fact that you can turn anything into a story; that it’s impossible to run out of ideas, because every tiny scrap of input and stimuli we receive into our overloaded minds each day has the potential to say something about something.

And one idea leads to another to another to another, like an endless game of consequences…

So look, I’m not the first person to use Wordl as a writing prompt, but every time I remember to play I always find myself staring at the results screen and marvelling at the progression of words and thoughts that got me there.

It’s a fascinating social experiment — which words we start with, which words we choose, if we use letters we’ve already eliminated just to try out a different combo, if we’re tactical or pragmatic or completely unhinged in our pursuit of that winning lexical answer.

And, because ideas really are everywhere, we can use this rich word-resource to create a daily story prompt.

It actually feels a bit exposing to share my Wordls with you, but in the name of science I shall — and I cordially invite you to use them as jumping off points for your own writing!

So here’s how it goes.

1. Take one of the Wordl screenshots below, or use your own from today’s puzzle (and start screenshotting your favourites for the future!).

2. Let your connective brain get to work. Is there a natural shape to the progression of words? Does it already tell a kind of story?

3. Take a few minutes to brainstorm around each of the words — noting down any sensory details they remind you of, any memories they might be associated with, what emotions come to the surface, what situations they conjure up…

4. Then think more intentionally about the connections between the words. How can you jump from one to another? What are the six degrees of separation between them? (I’m gonna say there’s no requirement to connect them in the linear order they appear, but if you feel like an added challenge then you can always enforce that rule yourself!)

5. Now… write. Freely. Freewrite. Follow the connections and the gut feelings and the wavering shape of the story created by your ideas. Follow the journey of your writing and don’t question it. It may take you in an entirely different direction to your original notes. So what. Go with it. let yourself be a weird, confused little human and discover what your unconscious brain is trying to say today.

When you’re done, please share your ideas in the comments! I would really, truly love to hear what you come up with.

And the best part is, this is an exercise you can do every day if you so wish! My camera roll is full of little Wordl screenshots, ready to be turned into stories, so there’s really no excuse not to write something new.

I don’t use all of them, of course, and sometimes this whole exercise is just that — an exercise, a practice — and it doesn’t have to go anywhere.

But each iteration helps sharpen your instincts for finding those connections; for seeking stories in everything; for creating narrative arcs out of random yellow and green letters.

Our word-brains are great, huh?

Happy Wordling!