WRITING PROMPT
What Does Stream Of Consciousness Say About You As A Writer?
Let’s find out
There’s a radio show on the BBC called Just A Minute where the contestants have to talk for 60 seconds on a given topic without hesitation, deviation or repetition.
It’s been running since the Cretaceous Period. Maybe before.
It’s a fun programme where contestants need to maintain a focused stream of consciousness. It’s not something I’d be any good at unless the topics were The Beatles, Bruce or West Ham which is unlikely.
However, writing non-stop on the first thing that comes to my head is a whole different kettle of fish for some reason. Writer's block is not something I’ve ever experienced as such but what I do suffer is deviation from what I was supposed to be writing because of the large number of things rumbling around simultaneously through my head that spill out.
If I were on Just A Minute talking on any topic, I’d fail on deviation within a second or two.
This is because my mind more closely resembles the lyrics from End Of The World by REM or Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start The Fire but without the choruses. Because that’s repetition and that’s not allowed.