My First Ever Click Flick : Word Count : Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus

I'm a writer, not a videographer. But every once in a while I like to mix things up a bit. I fell upon the idea of creating my own video about writing thanks to Gretchen Rubin, and her blog The Happiness Project. On her truly marvelous site, she features two works she calls one-minute movies. Truth be told, her films are each a bit longer than a minute, but they inspired me.

And thank goodness I have a talented 15-year-old son. He's been composing music since he was nine and he's been addicted to technology even longer. He wrote the music for me and did the technical work. The title, Click Flick, came from my pal Peter Wilson, who has a better eye for headlines than just about anyone I know.

Okay, that's all I'm going to say. Instead of reading my column, you're invited to watch my three-minute video.

If you have time, please be sure to leave a comment below.

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A former daily newspaper editor, Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a free weekly newsletter on her website Publication Coach. Click here to read more articles by Daphne Gray-Grant.

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Comments from our users:

An interesting video. Your son is extraordinarily talented.

I love it. Thank you for sharing your extremely helpful thoughts on writing. Yes. Your son has a great talent too. Just what I needed this morning.

That was great Daphne! It encapsulates several good ideas that you have taught us. We would like to see more.
Thanks, JIM

I name this video "a miracle" because it represents my personal writing-words;symbols;sketches,[etc.:] search/research. Believers in 'a god,She'; 'God,Himself'; and the 'Methods of Science' (I'm 2/3 of 3) may find a useful useful method for 'connecting-the-dots' of their own thinking/experiences. MF: EdD, PhD! [And "'just' {1950's talk} an old Crone, ...{83 this year. Does that age 'qualify me'?}]

What a thoughtful and inspirational video with a very important message. Thank you!

Thouht provoking! Thanks!

Terrific video; great visually, audibly and instructionally (not a word? no matter). I really like the way the words are juxtaposed with the images and the fading of the text works, too. Kudos to you and your son.

Thanks for this video, on behalf of myself and my writing students. BTW, did you compose this video without looking at it?

Very much agree with your use of a dictaphone. I just write for my website, 'Dolphin Address', www.janploeg.nl , I call it 'my talk mate', after 'talk-o-matic' and he's got a name: 'Ocki' after 'Ockham's Razor' a notion in science that warns to not assume more than the facts.

Great video and music. I totally agree that it's the thinking that's harder than the writing. When editing other people's writing, you can clean up little errors, but it's much harder to fix faulty thinking. I try to give a little advice on my blog sometimes at http://www.ellenwrites.com.

Quite frankly, I loved it! It is warmly amusing--just delightful. I liked the sticky notes outline also--not so rigid, you know.

You have a 15-year-old jewel there. Thanks for sharing both of you with us.

Great video! I'm in the middle of dissertation-land, which often feels like a mucky swamp, so your writing tips, and personal journey through the swamp, come at an auspicious moment. Thanks!

Thought provoking and I almost feel in watching this that you are taking a small buy yet giant step in learning how to "Write for this Medium" almost the opposite of what www.vook.com is trying to do...Thanks

Thanks so much for your comments, everyone. It was tons of fun making the video and a great chance to work with my son who is both gifted (in music & verbal processing) and severely learning disabled (in reading & written output.)

I think it's good to work outside your own comfort-box every once in awhile. Now I have to figure out what to do next!

English teachers, elementary teachers and middle school teachers have been trained to teach this way since the early 90s. If only students would always do that. Many just don't recognize writers block is pervasive and something they can, and must unblocked by themselves. Methodically. They can. Everyone else (adults who moved through school too late to be trained in mind mapping, etc. -- there are dozens of techniques), glad you're catching up. It works, doesn't it? See? Kids? Are you paying attention?

Very cool! The point of writing is communicating, one mind to another, and there are many more ways to communicate than putting one word after another. Pictures, gestures, snorts, laughs, hmmms, rolling eyes, clenched fists--and film, moving changing images, all communicate. Designing, scripting, and editing a film like yours is writing! Congratulations on a fine piece of work!