I'll post more about the spiral tomorrow or Thursday. If you haven't given me a description or definition, there's still time, and I've learned something different from each comment. Tonight, I wanted to talk about something else.
When I was fortunate enough to be in aikido class in Alaska, our instructor, Master Mike, regularly imparted the little bits of wisdom that you think only come from martial arts instructors in movies and TV. I wasn't there long enough to compile a compendium, but there are a few that have stuck with me.
Aikido is a Japanese martial art that focuses a great deal on balance and intentionality. These two were stressed again and again when learning how to walk and pivot. The saying was, "Turn head, body follows."
As with most instructional aphorisms, there are two aspects to this. One is descriptive. When you turn your hear, your body naturally wants to follow.
The other aspect is proscriptive and prescriptive. If you just want to look, look with your eyes, not with your head. If you turn your head and don't allow your body to turn with it, your balance is going to suffer. If you turn your body without first turning your head, you won't have much balance to start with. Therefore, when you want to turn, turn your head and then let your body follow. If you don't want to turn, don't turn your dadgum head.
I don't want to draw a cheesy analogy specifically between turning your head and some aspect of writing that should always lead the way. There are probably some valid comparisons to be made, but I suspect they vary wildly from one writer to another and I know that they are entirely beside my point.
Here's my actual point: however you write, be aware and be intentional. Don't write blindly. Know the impact of each part of your writing on the rest, and make conscious decisions to do each thing you do. In a general sense, every character or action you introduce (for instance) impacts the story as a whole. Understand the implications of those introductions, and then make them with that knowledge in mind.
In a particular sense, most authors have strengths that will drive their writing. Know what yours are, know how the rest of your writing follows in behind, and write like you might it. Let your strengths lead the way, and allow the rest of your writing to follow.
Turn head, body follows.
.Nevets.
