Exploratory Writing Skills
I was looking for inspiration this weekend. I have an old article improv and software testing that I’ve been wanting to dust off.
While looking for “inspiration” I noticed I was applying exploratory testing skills. I wanted to share with you how I was applying this to my writing process using Jon Bach’s exploratory testing mnemonic MR Q COMP GRAB C R&R (pg 20)
Modeling
I modeled the structure I wanted my writing to follow.
Resourcing
I found a ton of material online – see bottom of post for references.
If I were at home, in Toronto, I would reference my books on improv as well as my notes from my Second City classes
Questioning
On Saturday I spent a good deal of time asking myself
- -”Does this sentence flow?”
- -”How does this concept connect to this one?”
- -”Is this piece needed?”
- -”What can I add to this article to make it even better?”
- -”Would this add value?”
- -”Can I use this angle?”
- -Striped article from 4,000 words to just over 500.
- -Moved paragraphs/examples around
- -Looked for better segues
- -Set up a Yes And Exercise with someone interested in my writing
- -Proposed the idea of ‘Yes and’ with others
- -Does it count as pairing if you send you ideas to someone else and they didn’t respond yet ?
- -Reached out to a fellow writer about a possible collaboration
- -Writing vs gathering material,
- -Backtracking over an old topic vs branching out writing a new one
- -Backtracking over old examples vs branching out and writing a new one
- -Using my ideas vs looking at other peoples’ ideas
- -Continue questioning the value of the examples provided
- -Pair with other people to “Yes And” the ideas in my article
- -Submit articile to Better Software Magazine.
- How To improvise
- Good improviser/Bad improviser
- Being Present – Part 1
- Being Present Part 2
- Video – ‘Yes and’ description
- Video – ‘Yes and’ Demo
- Additional Inspiration
- Overcoming writer’s Block
- Improv Dictionary
- Manifesto of Play
On Sunday I asked
Chartering
Saturday’s Overall Charter: Strip article to bare essentials and rebuild it.
Individual Charters 1) re-read article 2) remove parts that don’t add value 3) rebuild by manipulating, generating/elaborating and refocusing and pairing
Sunday’s Charter: Go with energy – leave article alone – find more materials
Observing
Would you consider the feedback/comments I had received as empirical data about my work as observing?
Manipulating
Pairing
Generating/Elaborating
This was most of the day Sunday.
Refocusing
I went through each paragraph and refocused it on a common structure.
Alternating
While I don’t feel like I did a lot of alternating in either charter, I do think the nature of my charters created alternating
Branching and Backtracking
This was most of the day Sunday. I’m not sure how to describe this except for providing a report of the sites I followed and my thought process behind visiting each one.
Conjecturing
I’m not sure I used this skill based on my understanding of this skill.
Recording & Reporting
Recording my observations, thoughts, and findings. I did this throughout both days.
Reporting – Lots of time doing this – including this blog post.
Future Charters
Material Found
