Daniel Sluman’s 5-Day Writing Challenge – Day 2

Bisociation

In The Act of Creation, Arthur Koestler introduces us to bisociation, the idea that creative breakthroughs come from the unlikely collision or juxtaposition of two (potentially unrelated) concepts, ideas, or factors, to create a new imaginative creation. I want you to try this yourselves, by exploring the impact of something physical, specific, and tactile, against a notion that is abstract. I have given some examples below; you can pick one from each category and see what happens on the page when you play with them together. I’ve also linked you to a great explanation of Koestler’s ideas.

Once you’ve picked one item from each column below, set a timer for five minutes, and just free-write into the clash between the two things. Don’t take your pen off the paper or your fingers off the keys until the timer goes so that you don’t overthink it! You may be surprised at what comes out.

Category 1

brick
empty vase
car keys
can of paint

Category 2

sunlight
weather
winter
beauty

To read Arthur Koestler’s Theory of Bisociation, click here.