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NEW PARIS BOOK IN PROGRESS IN 2024: CAPPING CREATIVITY, RINGFENCING WRITING, AND THE RIGHT TO RAMBLE – Blog  28

My next book is in progress ... a reflection on boundaries and freedom in the creative process …

MARTINA NICOLLS

Dec 5

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Creativity is often portrayed as boundless, an unrestricted river that flows freely, uninhibited by rules or conventions. Yet, in the world of writing and creative expression, many writers find themselves paradoxically seeking boundaries—capping their creativity, ringfencing their writing, and, at times, even curbing their own right to ramble. Exploring the tension between freedom and structure, the challenge is self-imposed limits and the vital necessity of allowing our thoughts to wander.

Capping Creativity or Exploring Creative Freedom

At the heart of creativity lies a paradox: the more we try to control creativity, the more it seems to slip through our fingers. On one hand, creativity thrives in a state of freedom – a wild, uncharted territory where ideas are allowed to come and go as they please. On the other, the pressures of deadlines, productivity, and societal expectations often push creators into tight corners, where they feel compelled to ‘cap’ their creativity to meet specific goals or to satisfy an audience.

In the world of writing, this manifests as a constant balancing act. Writers often struggle with the desire to remain ‘true’ to their creative impulse, while simultaneously trying to meet external expectations – commercial, academic, or professional. The term ‘capping creativity’ refers to the practice of setting limits on one’s own imagination, often in response to external pressures or internal doubts. Writers may begin to filter ideas too early, worrying that their writing won’t ‘fit’ into a particular genre or form, or that it might not be well-received.

In a way, capping creativity is a survival mechanism. It allows writers to control their output, streamline their process, and produce work that fits into a given framework. But it can also stifle innovation and spontaneity, leading to a sense of creative exhaustion or self-imposed mediocrity.

Ringfencing Writing: The Need for Structure

While creativity flourishes in freedom, the act of writing requires structure or ‘ringfencing.’ Ringfencing refers to the practice of creating boundaries around a specific piece of writing or a creative project to focus and prioritize attention. It’s a way of limiting distractions and carving out a dedicated space for a particular work, making it ‘off-limits’ to other ideas or projects.

In writing, ringfencing can be incredibly useful. It provides a clear focus and allows writers to work within certain parameters – whether those are thematic, stylistic, or formal. A novel might be ringfenced by its genre; an essay by its structure; a short story by its narrative arc. These limits are not necessarily restrictive – they are tools that can enhance creativity by offering a framework within which ideas can expand and evolve.

However, the danger lies in becoming overly rigid. When the walls around the work become too confining, creativity is further stifled. Writers may feel trapped within their own boundaries, unable to explore new possibilities or break free from the expectations they've set. In this sense, ringfencing can become a double-edged sword, offering both structure and limitation.

The Right to Ramble: Embracing the Wandering Mind

One of the most beautiful – and often underappreciated – elements of writing is the ‘right to ramble.’ The act of rambling in writing allows for unstructured exploration, where the mind can wander freely, without the need for immediate results or linear thought. Rambling is a departure from the constraints of ‘purposeful’ writing, allowing writers to follow their thoughts wherever they lead.

In many ways, rambling is the antidote to capping creativity and over-ringfencing the writing process. It’s a form of liberation that allows writers to step outside of the confines of their self-imposed limits. Rambling invites writers to embrace tangents, ideas that seem unrelated at first, and the messy, chaotic process of discovery. Often, it is during these rambling moments that some of the most profound and unexpected insights arise.

Think of writers sitting down without a plan, letting their fingers dance across the keyboard, following one thought after another until they’ve arrived somewhere entirely new. The freedom of rambling encourages the organic flow of ideas, where unexpected connections can be made and new perspectives emerge.

But, like everything in the creative process, rambling needs balance. It is easy to fall into a state of perpetual wandering, never quite finishing a piece of work or pinning down a coherent thought. Without some level of discipline or purpose, rambling can feel aimless. This is where the interplay between creativity, structure, and freedom becomes essential. Writers must learn when to roam and when to reign it in.

The Dance of Freedom and Discipline

The key to productive creativity lies in finding a balance between capping creativity, ringfencing writing, and the right to ramble. While structure is necessary for progress, too much of it can suffocate the flow of ideas. At the same time, unrestricted freedom can lead to creative stagnation if not harnessed properly.

Rather than viewing these elements as opposites, writers can embrace them as complementary forces. The ‘caps’ on creativity can be flexible – loose boundaries that help to focus attention, rather than stifle imagination. The act of ringfencing can provide a container within which creativity can thrive, while still leaving room for spontaneity and evolution. And, of course, the right to ramble should never be completely discarded; it is essential for writes to allow themselves the time and space to explore the uncharted terrain of their mind.

Creativity, after all, is not a straight line but a series of meandering pathways, often taking unexpected turns. Writers need the freedom to wander but also the discipline to return to the page with intention and purpose. The dance between these forces – structure and freedom or discipline and spontaneity – is what makes writing an exhilarating, unpredictable journey.

Conclusion: Navigating the Creative Landscape

Creativity is not about rigid rules or the absence of boundaries. It’s about finding the right blend of freedom and structure, knowing when to cap creativity and when to let it flow, understanding when to ringfence the creative work and when to step outside its confines, and embracing the right to ramble through the wilderness of thought.

For writers, the creative process is an ongoing negotiation between these elements. By allowing space for both discipline and wildness, structure and spontaneity, writers can access a deeper level of expression and discovery.

The true magic happens when writers give themselves permission to explore freely, without fear of getting lost, knowing that the journey itself will bring them to unexpected and profound destinations.