process a problem”.
338
It is also possible that it will help one to see the so far
unappreciated significance of something that is mundane, common place or
taken for granted.
In the task of writing, these benefits of a lay off manifest in specific ways.
These include
sharper focus, tighter organisation, better emphasis and greater
clarity. A lay off will also
show how an idea is wrong, misdirected, out of
place or out of proportion, or it will throw up further ideas or new insights.
To capture the benefits of this it is important to understand that, in the lay off
period, the brain works on what has been put before it. Therefore, it will apply
its regenerative processes to any text that you have written. This is why there is
probably a significant advantage in writing something even if it falls far short of
what you want the finished product to be. It is still fodder for the background
work of the brain.
Judges have utilised and commented on the technique of refreshment through a
lay off. Sir Frank Kitto has referred to deferring writing and “putting it away
until the mind has recovered its freshness”.
339
Justice Ormrod vouches
strongly for the technique in arguing that “every case would decide itself, if
one gave it enough time”.
340
Dr Elms supports this notion by arguing with
regard to fact finding that when judging a case that, “albeit unconsciously, the
evidence is being analysed as you go along”.
341
Finally on this, there is a legal
anecdote recounted by Sir Frank Kitto. Sir
Hayden Starke told Sir Owen
Dixon that he would put a case away and
let it simmer. Dixon replied: “You
mean put it away until you have forgotten the difficulties.”
342
So, the point is that when you look at text on the next occasion after a lay off,
you will immediately see ways to improve it, such as fresh ideas or a better
way to organise it. This process is a bit like throwing seeds onto fertile ground
and coming back after a time. Some of the seeds will have taken root and
grown without any cultivation. While this is a good analogy, it is encouraging
to know
that unlike agricultural seeding, this metaphorical seeding nearly
always works.
By its nature, this technique takes time. Generally, the longer the period
between consecutive sessions of work on a text, the more this gestation of
___________________
338
Berlin (2008)
339
Kitto (1992) p 796
340
Ormrod (1981) pp 187-188
341
Elms in Sheard (2003) p 88
342
Kitto (1992) p 793
 |
 |
 |