Curiosity is one of a writer’s greatest tools.
Asking questions helps us notice details, uncover deeper memories, build richer characters, and strengthen our stories.
Even if curiosity doesn’t come naturally, we can develop it by asking more questions, paying closer attention, and exploring the ordinary with fresh eyes.
This week, we try a simple exercise that lets questions feed our curiosity.
Please share your exercise and tell us how curious you are in the comments section below.
But whether you’re naturally curious or not, always remember: The only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
I have always consider3ed myself a curious person, which has been
pointed out by other people here, can drive other people nuts. That hasn’t
stopped me, though. I’ll research with whatever tools I can, questioning,
reading, and, in later years found Google to be a very good friend.
I generally consider myself to be deficient in curiosity, and when I saw this vlog I wondered whether it had something to do with my personality type. I have probably changed over the years, but when I was first tested against the Myers-Briggs criteria I was sorted as an INFP (introvert/intuitive/feeling/perceiving). I asked Google AI about the most and least curious M-B types and discovered that INFPs have “deeply internal, human-centric, and abstract” curiosity. I’m not sure about that, or even what it means, but I found myself asking questions so I’m probably more curious than I thought! My curiosity… Read more »
I am a curious person all the time. I ask questions when I don’t understand something or see something unfamiliar. I read every that grabs my attention and if I see something on the TV screen that triggers my curiosity I go to Google and hit search. My husband calls me a perpetual student, and I am one. I often wonder how in the era surrounded by technology, the younger generation uses this wonderful tools for the wrong reasons. Patricia, I smiled and laughed throughout this whole segment. One thing came to mind. Years ago when as a young, shy… Read more »
I am naturally a curious person as well. Case in point, yesterday I was on my lanai and the flower bush outside the screen had bees zeroing in on each orange flower. A giant bee landed. I watched that bee which we used to call “yellow jackets” for quite a while. His size, bright yellow stripe, fuzzy body. I wondered where he came from, how much he weighed and so on. Wildlife has always been my main source of curiosity. Nature never ceases to amaze me. I believe that helps me clarify and bring out details in my writing. Good… Read more »
I am a naturally curious person, which drives my wife nuts. I’ll read anything my eyes come across. I read the instructions for everything we buy. I push all the buttons to see what they do. I have to examine all the cool things when we go to the store. My wife gave my sons instructions to steer me away from the tool section at Lowe’s, but her plan was foiled when they told me. But for all my curiosity, I don’t think I saw things in detail. Writing has taught me to examine smaller moments in time and small… Read more »
I’m a curious person, too, but I have a difficult time staying on track. I call it “going down the rabbit hole” as one thing leads to another to another and to another. I’ve never really thought of it as a good thing.
What a wonderful vlog episode! I have always asked a lot of questions, but was scolded for it. I was never grateful for this tendency. Letting myself ask more questions will feel like my thoughts have been let out for recess. I will try the suggested exercise.
I suppose I will need to get the answers organized….. and that’s a whole ‘nuther episode. 🙂
Now you can explore all you want, Kit. No one can stop you! It’s a wonderful world if you’re curious.