Name: Accidental Genius
ISBN: 9781605095257

Accidental Genius

When it comes to creating ideas, we hold ourselves back. That's because inside each of us is an internal editor whose job is to forever polish our thoughts, so we sound smart and in control, and so that we fit into society. But what happens when we encounter problems where such conventional thinking fails us? How to get unstuck? For Mark Levy, the answer is freewriting, a technique he's used for years to solve all types of business problems, and generate ideas for books, articles and blog posts. Freewriting is deceptively simple: Start writing as fast as you can, for as long as you can, about a subject you care deeply about, while ignoring the standard rules of grammar and spelling. Your internal editor won't be able to keep up with your output, and will be temporarily shunted into the background. You'll now be able to think more honestly and resourcefully than before, and will generate breakthrough ideas and solutions that you couldn't have created any other way. Levy shares six freewriting secrets designed to knock out your editor and let your genius run free. He also includes fifteen problem-solving and creativity-stimulating principles you can use if you need more firepower--seven of which are new to this edition--and stories of problems he and others have solved through freewriting. Also new to this edition: an extensive section on how to refine your freewriting into something you can share with the world.

What Hacker News says

luthfurOct 2020

I start by writing a quick statement about the purpose and the audience of the piece. I keep it at the top of the document as I outline and flesh out the writing. This ensure the material stays tight and on topic.

Similar to you, I write the material out in a single flow and then revise/edit later. I like to let the piece rest and revise at different sitting or a different day. This way I am able to read and critique the piece with fresh eyes.

I prefer writing in the morning.

I don't use any writing app, just hammer it out in Google Doc, or these days in an EverNote note under a notebook called Writing.

I also like to free-write on a topic from time-to-time to explore and uncover interesting concepts. (Checkout this book on free writing: https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Genius-Revolutionize-Think...)

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klautMay 2012

How To Get Rich - Felix Dennis

Accidental Genius - Mark Levy

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cepostaAug 2011

i agree with some of the recommendations already posted here, but i also highly recommend a technique known as 'freewriting.' it's based on the concept that ideas aren't endpoints, they're stepping stones to other ideas. the more ideas you have, regardless of quality, the better chance you'll navigate to a really good idea. i saw a review here on HN of an excellent book called Accidental Genius. here's the link to the review: http://www.dextronet.com/blog/2011/07/accidental-genius-summ...

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DetrusJul 2011

http://750words.com/ is a cute tool for the writing exercises. I'm not a writer, just checked it out for a few days and didn't read the Accidental Genius book.

I got bored the second day. I didn't write down anything interesting, my free writing was so boring I didn't bother to read it after. Maybe I need more guidance like this book provides. Typically I write things down when I get an idea during thinking, not to do a writing exercise.

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