Writing with your eyes closed feels like playing the piano.
Writing with your eyes closed is mighty fun. I could do it on my netbook easily, but now I have a new laptop and I am a little clumsy, but I reckon that in two weeks at most I will be able to do it gracefully, even faster than before, because the new keyboard is wider, and my nimble fingers have more space for their dizzy dance.
How to do it
Anyone who writes on a laptop can pull it off. A comfortable chair is the only essential requirement. I also wear a black hat, which a certain Anna thinks magical, but it seems unlikely to me that the hat has anything to do with it. If you do have a hat, you’d better put it on though, just to be sure. You might also want to draw the curtains and lock the door, to prevent misinterpretations.
- Straighten up your back, hold your head high, and clear your conscience.
- Take a deep breath, close your eyes, and paint the blackness in vivid colors.
- Write, converting the scenes in your head into black-stained whiteness.
The longer you keep your eyes closed, the better, but you can open them every thirty seconds, to make sure you’re still at your desk. Seek to gradually increase your blindness to at least three to five minutes, or how long it takes you to write a paragraph.
The benefits of writing with your eyes closed
- Just like me, you might see better with your eyes closed. The scenes will be more vivid.
- Writing no longer feels like a physical act, but like spellcasting in the dark.
- Your eyes get much deserved rest. Writing on a laptop is tiring for the eyes. I hate having heavy eyes. Writing with them closed, even if it is for just 30 seconds, relieves some of the strain.
- You do not get to see your typos and grammatical errors right away.
- You do not notice your bad sentences right away, which is good, because it keeps the story flowing. You edit later.
- If you play piano music in the background you feel as if you’re playing the piano. I always wanted to play the piano, and this is the closest I’ll get to doing it.
Applications
Writing with your eyes closed works with any kind of imaginative writing: first drafts, character sketches, brainstorming, descriptions, blog posts. Of course some typos will make it on the page, but the more you practice, the fewer they will get. For writing with your eyes closed to be effective, you have to edit only after you write everything down.
To make writing with your eyes closed a habit you have to do it consciously, daily, for at least a week. But once you get used to it, it no longer becomes a conscious act, and your eyes will close instinctively the moment you create a new document and begin writing your story.
Warning!
Don’t write with your eyes closed if you’re drunk or sleepy or both! Have you ever heard the sound of a hatted pate hitting the desk? I have.
Related articles
boy with a hat 
I’m going to try this. I play my piano with my eyes closed, so why not type?
You can play the piano… I am envious. What pianists do you like?
J.S.Bach
Angela Hewitt’s Keyboard Piano Concertos. Love those.
I have to say, this article was entertaining… but the warning was the joyful ending of my day! And I’m writing this with my eyes wide open since I’m sleepy from the day and drunk from your writing.
Dear Julie,
If I could send a bunch of troubadours under your window to sing you, I would do it.
Each time you leave a comment on this blog, the sun here peeps through the clouds. 🙂
Vincent Romance Mars, with such wish you did so! 🙂
i have typed while turning around and looking at someone before. I was surprised I could do that. So writing with my eyes closed shouldn’t be no problem.
Typing while turning around and looking at someone else is dangerous – cricked neck!
lol. Well when my mom is talking to me I don’t have a choice sometimes. :p
I like felt senses…I like to meditate while or before or even after I write. Thanks for the reminder…your putting in to words a great feeling way to write
I try to meditate too Randy, but cheerfulness breaks in.
I’ve written with my eyes closed before on paper and it’s a beautiful feeling because you end up writing so much that you would have censored otherwise.
I’d have a try doing it on a laptop but I imagine there would be a lot of typos and gibberish..
Handwriting with your eyes closed is though! Didn’t you end up writing on your desk?
I cannot do it.
not really. you can always feel the edges of the sheet. You do end up overwriting a bit though..
Yes, I think I will do this today.
At your green desk? In your green slippers? On your green laptop? With your green glass of water close at hand? Inspired by your green sirens and muses?
Oh yes. A green glass of water sounds a bit disgusting, though.
Also, I didn’t write it with my eyes closed, but this post inspired me to finish the latest post on my blog.
I often write/type with my eyes closed. It’s especially productive if you do it the moment you wake up and write/type whatever comes to mind, no matter how crazy, disturbing or silly it may sound. A stream of consciousness… you’ll be surpised at what spills out of you. I’ve gotten many ideas for poems this way. It’s also great (cheap) therapy!
Cheap therapy indeed! I also like to brainstorm ideas just after I wake up. The mind is still dreamy from the night’s sleep, and that’s good for the imagination.
What a wonderful and inspiring idea. But I have to say, the best part was the disclaimer 🙂
The hat did attenuate the impact, a little. 🙂
I can play the Doctor who theme and a bit of Pirates of the carribean on the piano with my eyes closed. It’s very difficult though. Anyhow, this looks like an interesting idea and I think I’ll give it a go. 🙂
Oh! You can play the piano. I tip my hat to you.
I’ve drawn pictures with my eyes closed! But, I’ve never tried doing the same with writing so far. I’m pretty sure I will though. 🙂
Drawing with your eyes closed is probably harder than writing with your eyes closed. 🙂
A good idea — one that I’ll need to try.
this is such a good idea! im so excited to see so much more with my eyes closed. thank you 😀
I bet that when you close your eyes you see gypsies.
that’s what they all think. but i actually see a lot of pretzels. sometimes, i think i even smell them.
I have a sneaky suspicion that everything you say is a lie.
hey look! a squirrel! *runs away*
Closed eyes reveals myself more than eyes wide open. Adnan Kakazai.
I have an enormous pink hat, which I never seem to have the right occasion to wear. Thanks for giving me one 😉
Going to give it a go 🙂
I think that sounds like a splendid udea!! trulu! 😛 eyes opened: i needs some practise, but if I do it every day I’ll probably become a better (master) typer!
I compose with my eyes closed and then write it down…
I really like your blog! You have some very interesting ideas–ideas that make me think. Anyway, I’m going to try this sometime!
His sounds like a dangerously brilliant idea. I might give it a go. I’ve always found it hard to visualise when writing creatively and I think this might help.
I will definately try this today!! 🙂 after studying physics, geography and spanish… yes, school is indubiously interfeing with my writing! :`(
*interfering.