Beauty Through Fog Shines

Because I Can

Doodling on a Tablet PC

What is it about doodling that is so...relaxing? And creative? When doodling, are you tapping into the subconscious? Opening up a deep dark crevice into the creative zone?

I've always doodled. As a kid, in grade school, my assignments were generally covered with little drawings in the margins...that is until my teacher, in third grade I believe, brought it to the attention of my parents and told me to stop.

At that time, it never dawned on me that there was anything wrong with the practice. It was all part of the creative process. A little like the artistic equivalent of the "um" or the "like" in conversation. A way of filling in the gaps while another part of the brain is processing information.

I still doodle. Not nearly as much or as often, but I still do it from time to time. Especially when I'm creating. It's often done subconsciously...my pen hand just seems to have a life of it's own. And it never has anything to do with the task at hand. It's just random squiggles that morph into a face, or a person, or an object, or a pattern.

It's all about patterns...and pulling them out of the ether, I think. And for me, it definitely enhances the creative process.

Anyway, since I've been using a Tablet PC, doodling has become a part of my creative process once again...when the words stop flowing, the doodling begins...and within a short time, the words return. When I'm writing fiction I'm in a different space -- it's like I've left my body and I'm actually in the story. Except, that's not quite right either, because I'm not feeling what the characters feel exactly...I'm still creating that space, expanding the universe. But I know my pulse slows and there's little awarness of my physical form...it's kinda like I'm floating, I guess.

I need to research this. Surely there's data on that place we go when we create, when the story takes off and we're just gone. And I think, for me, when the story hits a snag and my spirit begins to return to my body, doodling helps me stay there a little longer. Keeps me in that place of expanding boundaries while I chase after the muse.

Yeah, doodling, it's important.