Today’s post is by author, editor and coach Jessica Conoley (@jaconoley).
Every writer’s brain contains an analyzer switch. The switch regulates analytical thinking, which is the part of brain that dissects drafts and figures out how to improve projects during revisions. Conversely, it regulates ideaphoria—which is the quality that helps us bang out a first draft in record time because ideas are flowing at an exponential rate.
Most of us have no idea the switch is there. We assume our brain is hardwired at its current static setting. This assumption keeps us saying things like, “I love drafting, but revisions are the worst!” While our critique partner says, “First drafts are stab-my-face-off awful to write. I can’t wait until I have enough words to start revising.” We mope over the skills we seemingly don’t possess (which others have clearly been naturally blessed with), which slows our writing process and triggers a slew of mindset issues.
If any of this sounds familiar, and you wish you could amp up your ideaphoria or analytical abilities, I’ve got great news for you. Your brain isn’t hardwired, it’s fancy and neuroplastic. Therefore, you can improve the weaker side of your writing practice by consciously adjusting the setting on your analyzer.
To adjust your analyzer
All you need is a little imagination with a touch of visualization.
- Imagine your analyzer switch. Maybe it’s a round knob like the kind that turns on your dining room light, or a stereo volume dial, or some other type of dimmer switch. Mine looks like a soundboard with sliding levers that move up or down. The important part is this is NOT an ON/OFF toggle switch.
- Decide the appropriate setting for the type of writing task you are getting ready to work on.
- Visualize adjusting your dial to the setting. For me that looks like sliding the levers all the way up to engage my analyzer. When I slide them all the way down, I’m at the 100% ideaphoria setting.
This takes less than ten seconds to do and can profoundly impact your productivity.
My default falls to the 95% analytical side of the spectrum. The highly analytical side is great when I’m editing, and awful when I’m drafting. When I began turning down my analyzer before drafting sessions, I found my inner critic was muted and my compulsive need to stop, re-read, and assess the quality of my words was mitigated exponentially.
My prolific page count clients default to a high ideaphoria setting. After implementing analyzer adjustments before they write, they have shared revisions are much more palatable and efficient.
How to use your analyzer settings
Turn your analyzer up/decrease ideaphoria when you:
- Need to cut word count
- Research
- Copy-edit
- Read to study/improve craft
Turn your analyzer down/increase ideaphoria when you:
- Need to increase word count
- Draft fresh content
- Brainstorm
- Over-think to the point of paralysis and need to get unstuck
Set your analyzer somewhere in the middle when you:
- Re-read a draft you’ve set aside for some time
- Beta read
- Plot/Outline
- Try out a new genre or form of writing
Because you’re a writer I know you have the creative ability to experiment with this very simple exercise.
Scientifically the visualization primes your mind to work in a certain brain-space, cues your body that it is time to get to work, and empowers you to take ownership of your ability to learn and modify your behaviors. You’re reinforcing a growth mindset which is key in your evolution as a writer.
Let me know how adjusting your analyzer worked for you. If you find a certain task benefits from turning your switch up or down, please share in the comments below.
Jessica Conoley is a writer, coach, speaker, & founder of The Creative’s Apprentice. She spends her mornings writing—fantasy novels, business how-to articles, & creative non-fiction. Afternoons are dedicated to helping creatives’ own their worth. She simplifies their business practices, coaches them through limiting misbeliefs, & connects them with a support community. Her specialty is helping writers become happier & more creative as they increase productivity & live their dreams.
IDK which I love more: the visual of the levers on a soundboard, or the term ‘ideaphoria’. Great article!
Lissa, “Ideaphoria” was introduced to me by the Johnson O’Connor Research foundation as I was finding my way to a writing career. Turns out people with high analytic & ideaphoria abilities are innate editors & writers.
(They also turn out to be particularly well suited for disaster management.)
I blame the soundboard on having friends in the music industry.
Have a good day.
Wow! Thanks so much, Jessica. I’ve got to try this. I know about the right brain-left brain sort of thing and have experienced the difference but have never known how to switch these on and off. Maybe this is the answer.
You’re welcome, Ann. I’m glad it resonated with you, and hope it helps. It took me a few weeks to get into the habit, but once I did I found it to be effective. Best of luck with your writing.
This is a good awareness and seems like it would be a good technique. I think guided by subconscious more than anything, I might edit at different times and spaces than when I ideate. I might be more intentional about that now.
It is often enough said that the best decade in life overall is one’s 50’s due to experience, perspective and a great balance, relatively speaking, in energy and a certain detachment. All of these things makes writing and editing so much easier compared to past decades. Main difference is begin way calmer yet still energetic and inspired.
I love this. What you’ve described is very much what is required to perform improv (I’ve got a background as an improv performer) & learning to focus on cranking out ideas with no regard to their quality (as an improviser) is absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me as a writer. But when I try to convey it to other writers, they often think it’s something I can do because of this other scary skill set. I’m going to give them your article for another perspective that will take them to where I am sure they can go.
I’m so glad it resonated with you, Oona. The improv connection isn’t one I had thought of previously, but it makes total sense to me!
I hope your friends find merit in the article as well, and they’re lucky to have a friend like you who encourages them to stretch outside their comfort zone in their writing.