How Being Curious Will Help Your Writing and Drawing.

the White Rabbit, original illustration by Andy McNally

Curiosity is a very important trait for writers, creatives, and artists, perhaps not so much for cats.

Have you ever noticed that a child will explore new objects in the world by getting on the ground or climbing up so that they can look at something from different viewpoints? How is the thing shaped? What does a word sound like? What are the words or things use or purpose?

The quote-unquote correct purpose of an object or word is not important. This is why a large cardboard box can become a spaceship, a car, or a cozy space to draw for a child.

When we are young, we are naturally curious about the world around us. As we get older, we become less curious and take the world at face value or worse learn to memorize and repeat what others have told us, without questioning whether we believe it or not.

Curiouser and Curiouser

Do you question what you believe first, or do you explore and then see whether your discovery fits with your beliefs?

Let your curiosity lead your writing and drawing. Save editing and refinement for the end of the process.

Yes And…

In Improv comedy there is a principle of Yes And for participants. This principle suggests that a participant should accept what another participant has stated (“yes”) and then expand on that line of thinking (“and”). Just like in improv comedy, curiosity can help us see the world as a place for Yes And, where we take in what we discover and then expand on that line of thinking. By using our curiosity we can explore and find new opportunities and possibilities in our writing and drawing.

original illustration by Andy McNally

As writers and artists, it is our responsibility to explore and question the world with wide-eyed enthusiasm. I want to explore things that interest me in the world, especially things that try to make the world a better place. The next step is to share what we learn and our enthusiasm for this discovery with others. It is up to them to determine whether this new curiosity fits with their own beliefs.

Are you curious enough to follow your own white rabbit?

Stay curious.

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