How I write or…Monkey Brain

My writing methodology

So many writers have generously shared their writing tips, secrets, habits, and methodologies in their posts. My writing method and habits here at Frantic Writing (https://open.substack.com/pub/unfinishedspeedwriting) are rather unusual, so I have, till now, been reluctant to share them, or even mention them on such a public forum. This is not because I do not like to share but rather, it is due to my embarrassment at the singularly strange aspects of my literary techniques. But I have been urged to contribute and so, finally overcoming my hesitation, I now for the first time, describe below my odd manner of writing. This was difficult for me to share. Be kind, and please do not judge me too harshly.

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Monkey Brain

When I look at my computer, my monkey brain takes over and my human brain fades away. Hyperactivity possesses me; my mind speeds up and flits from thought to thought, and at that moment I know I need to get to my laptop, I need to write.

My lethargy leaves me and simian energy fills my body. I leap around the room wildly waving my arms above my head and making grunting sounds, I place my knuckles on the carpet and swing my legs forward in a swinging gait. I roll on the ground, turning somersaults and then scratch my sides and underarms. I screech and start turning in circles until suddenly, the sleeping recesses of my human brain step in and remind me to get to the laptop while the energy is flowing.

With a great effort of will, I point my monkey brain to my desk, leap upon the chair, squat on the seat in front of the screen and make oooh, oooh sounds while my fists begin to pound the keyboard and then with a quiver, my fingers play across the letters.

With all my pent-up monkey energy, my prehensile digits begin typing furiously, hammering the keys with fierce speed. I raise my head to the ceiling, scrunch my lips into a tube shape and shout a “woo woo” of delight.

Words begin to fill the screen, but, as always, I have no idea what I am typing. Only my monkey brain knows. But for now, I am in an ecstasy of speed typing, the entire keyboard is jouncing up and down with my wild pounding. I screech with monkey delight and crook my leg and beat my foot in excitement against the chair seat in time to my typing. Oooh oooh I scream in a frenzy of typing.

Gradually, my energy fades, the monkey brain begins to yawn, my fingers slow down and then stop. They fall away from the keys, and one hand reaches up and scratches the fuzz atop my head. The other rubs my eyes. In a daze, the monkey brain begins to sleep, my human self wakes, exhausted, but curious to see what is on the screen….

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I hope you find this writing method of use. Thank you for reading. Perhaps, with sufficient encouragement, I may be persuaded to reveal some of my other unusual writing secrets.

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Disclaimer: I’m adding this disclaimer because my lovely wife was a little concerned at the possibility that a reader may even remotely imagine that this post describes my actual writing method. 😅 So no, this was not an actual description of my writing process (although, I may be tempted to try this technique out - you never know, it may provide interesting results). It was just another crazy Frantic Writing story - I have to have some outlet for my sometimes hyperactive imagination.