Share on Facebook or Pinterest:

The Good Enemy Writing Technique: Improve Your Writing and Serve Others at The Same Time.

Let J.R.R. Tolkien’s Ents and Elves Show You The Way

(Banner image, detail of painting “Communion” by Kat Bergman.)

By Thea Fiore Bloom, PhD

Ever worry the topic you’ve picked is boring?

“Sassy,” by artist and Charmed Studio subscriber Zoe Kowalchuk. Fused glass. 8″ x 9 1/4″ —2018. Used with permission.

Or that what your writing isn’t important so why bother?

Does the worry get so huge that it sometimes results in zero writing?

You’re not alone.

What Makes For Boring Writing Anyway?

Boring writing doesn’t come about because of a lack of talent.

Boring writing comes about because of fear.

We need to take our focus off our fear of being laughed at and retrain it on what our reader needs.

But how?

Got any anger lying around?

Meeting The Good Enemy: The Cure For Boring Art Blog Topics

When I realize my topic could be used as a sleep aid that serves no one, I throw it out.

When I start over I rely on a technique called “The Good Enemy.”

Back in 2010, I was desperate to finish the outline for my doctoral thesis in mythology.

But I was stalled by fear and hiding behind bland chapter topics.

Professor Ginette Paris suggested I try to stop concentrating on what I agreed with and start focusing on what ticked me off about certain author’s take on my topic.

“Push against the theory of others to find your own; think of other writers you disagree with as good enemies,” Paris said.

The next day I tentatively started typing on a standard take on my topic that always infuriated me.

I didn’t stop typing for 6 months.

When it finally came time for my defense I was dumbstruck to see many audience members laughing with me– not at me.

Some were even crying over the interview-based material; material that blossomed out of my indignation at what past scholarship overlooked when it came to soul.

Three morals of the story here:

1. If I can do it you can do it.

2. If you care about something enough to be aggravated about it, there’s a great chance you are not the only one. Take a chance on expressing something others think but never get to see in writing.

3. Our annoyance at a societal norm or another’s art or writing can act as a big red arrow that says “dig here for YOUR original idea.”

Need more proof that frustration can be a cure for fear-based topic selection?

How Ents and Elves Were Born From Tolkien’s Beef With Shakespeare

Look no further than the writing J.R.R. Tolkien produced as a result of his aggravation with Shakespeare.

Shakespeare’s decision to depict the traditionally intelligent elves/fairies of ancient folklore as whimsical airheads in A Midsummer Night’s Dream made Tolkien want to tear his ear hair out.

But instead of depilating himself, Tolkien used Shakespeare as “The Good Enemy.”

J.R.R.’s frustration became the creative fire that fueled his restoring of elves/fairies to what he saw as their rightful place; as intelligent, noble beings in the eye of the public.

He accomplished this via his Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

Tolkien also invented the Ents in direct reaction to what he viewed as Shakespeare’s big cop out in “Macbeth.”

Our writing goals may not be as grand as Tolkien’s but our work can be authentic and lively if we occasionally ask ourselves:

What am I ticked off at and what can I create about it?

The Good Enemy Technique in 3 Easy Steps

Do you know that little notebook all creatives are supposed to carry to jot down inspirations? Put it to use to hastily record mini-rants as well.
When you need a topic, whip out your big, cheap spiral notebook; free-write on what you initially scribbled out in the mini-rant notebook. (Try writing for 5 minutes on what artist/writer/person x included in their words or work that made you mad. Or try 5 minutes on what material you think that artist/writer/person x omitted to include or misrepresented in their work.
Now finish off by writing for 10 minutes on what would you would have liked to have seen instead and why. Your topic will emerge from this section and you may never need to mention the original source of the aggravation in your piece.

Great Art Blog Topics Can Come From Embracing Our Surly Side

“The Better To Find You,” by artist and Charmed Studio Subscriber Anvil Catlin Williamson. Paper, acrylic. 18″ x 18″ x 2″, 2016. Used with permission of the artist.

It’s fun not to always fight negative thoughts.

It will be a relief not to judge yourself for your “negativity” for once.

Fortunately for us creatives, negativity is everywhere. 🙂

So why not retrain your brain to be on the lookout for new material?

Next time you encounter a thought that makes you want to break crockery, don’t be so quick to shoo it away, and start reciting affirmations.

Tell your mind what my friend Briz always says to actual people at the coffee shop:

“Hey, if you got nothing good to say — come sit next to me. ”

— Doug Briz

_______________________________________________________________

Want to make your art writing even better?

Here’s the most popular Charmed Studio writing article for artists.

Want more help? Treat yourself to one-on-one writing coaching with me to identify and strengthen your authentic writing voice.

Should You Paint from Your Shadow Side?

Art Marketing for Introverts

Why Readers Unsubscribe and How To Feel Better

Start Writing Your Book in 7 Days, With Tea

51 Blog Post Topics for Heart-Centered Artists for 2020

This post is dedicated to Doug Briz and his beautiful wife Sally Hampton, two of the funniest people I’ve ever met.

______________________________________________________________________________________

Are you up for exploring a little negativity? Why or why not?

Is it easy for you to come up with topics? What method seems to work for you?

Tell me in the COMMENTS below! 🙂