Why Authors Should Draw

I've just finished reading an excellent book by Cat Bennett called The Confident Creative.

I do remember being quite good at art when I was at school but got thrust down the academic route and now I'm one of those people who's drawings look like they are done by a 7 year old.

I would dearly like to be able to draw and paint but it's one of these things on the To Do list that I never seem to get around to.

I've even got as far as the third chapter of Betty Edward's Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain but other stuff got in the way of going any further - mostly writing as it happens.

When I read Cat's book, I realised that being able to draw is not something which is a nice-to-have skill - perhaps just so I could do my own illustrations or even my front cover. My current designers don't have to worry about their jobs just yet though!!!

There are areas of the brain (and mind) that are activated, exercised and honed by the very act of drawing. As such, for authors, drawing actually makes you a better writer.

I tested this out as a theory over the last two weeks while working on the 1st draft of my next book. Before I started the project, I did the mind expanding exercises in Cat's book and even sketched a couple of versions of ideas for a front cover. Then before starting each chapter, I spent five minutes doodling around the themes I was writing about.

I found that this got me completely in the zone, as much as any meditative practice, and took my mind into new areas of exploration. I ended up writing in a different way than I have done before and than I had consciously planned. I found I was using more layered metaphors and using much more descriptive language.

I am so thrilled to hear Cat is coming to the UK in September to run one of her Confident Creative Weekend Retreats and have booked on it already.

Useful links:

Get The Confident Creative on Amazon

The Confident Creative Retreat - 25th & 26th Sept, Central London

Betty Edwards - Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain